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FB: Wyoming Defeats Air Force 25-17

Nov. 12, 2011
Associated Press

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Freshman quarterback Brett Smith ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, lifting Wyoming to a 25-17 win over Air Force in a howling wind that was gusting up to 60 mph Saturday.

Smith finished with 75 yards rushing and threw for another 139 as the Cowboys (6-3, 3-1 Mountain West) snapped a five-game skid against the Falcons (5-5, 1-4), who lost starting quarterback Tim Jefferson when he went out in the first quarter with an undisclosed injury.

Defensive back Marqueston Huff sealed the win when he scooped up a fumble in the waning seconds and raced 48 yards for a score.

It was so blustery at Falcon Stadium the goal posts were teetering, tents in the parking lot were toppled and the traditional fighter jet fly-overs were scrubbed.

On the field, the wind definitely had an effect as Wyoming kicker Daniel Sullivan missed an early extra point when the wind whipped it wide right and Air Force punter David Baska had a kick travel just 12 yards.

Trailing 17-12 early in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys went on a 16-play drive that ended with a 2-yard TD run by Smith. He converted a fourth-and-10 to keep the drive going by hitting Mazi Ogbonna over the middle.

Given the strong wind, Wyoming decided against the extra-point attempt and went for a 2-point conversion. But Smith's pass attempt failed, making it 18-17.

The Falcons drove the ball deep into Wyoming territory, but Mike DeWitt's fumble was recovered by Mike Purcell with 1:47 remaining. Air Force got the ball back by spending all of its timeouts and forcing Wyoming to punt. The Falcons moved the ball to the Wyoming 34 in the closing minute but were pushed back by an intentional grounding penalty.

On fourth down, Brandon Hirneise caught a pass and tried to lateral it to a teammate. The ball bounced around the turf before Huff picked it up and breezed to the score.

Huff also had an interception on Air Force's final offensive play, a last-ditch attempt down the sideline.

Although the Cowboys won their sixth game, they aren't bowl eligible yet because two of their wins are against Football Championship Subdivision teams. Wyoming will host New Mexico next weekend.

Backup Connor Dietz did an effective job of leading Air Force in place of Jefferson. Dietz led the Falcons in rushing with 85 yards, but only attempted five passes in the gusting wind.

Asher Clark ran for 84 yards, while DeWitt scored twice.

Neither team mustered much offense in the first half, with the Falcons only passing once in the opening 30 minutes.

The Cowboys were more willing to put it in the air, with Smith completing 12 of 20 passes for 90 yards. He found receiver Chris McNeill for a 6-yard score with 26 seconds left before halftime to put the Cowboys up, 12-7.

Wyoming took the opening drive and methodically marched down the field and scored on Smith's 1-yard plunge. Sullivan's point-after attempt into the teeth of the wind was pushed wide right.

Air Force answered with an impressive drive of its own, moving the ball to the Wyoming 1 before Jefferson was stuffed on fourth-and-inches.

Jefferson left with the undisclosed injury and spent the rest of the game on the sideline.

Dietz entered on the next possession and drove the team down the field, culminating in a 9-yard run by Mike Dewitt. Parker Herrington made the extra point through the wobbly goal posts to give the Falcons a 7-6 lead.

Former Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry was honored in a halftime ceremony commemorating his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame next month.

"I'm just humbled and honored to have been selected," DeBerry said.

He coached the Falcons from 1984 to 2006, winning a school-best 169 games.

Lately, DeBerry's former team has been in the news as a possible fit for the Big East Conference.

"The only constant thing in football right now is change," DeBerry said. "It seems that the almighty dollar dictates a lot of what is being done and the considerations that are being made."