By Garin Turner
(Image Credit: Air Force Athletics)
The Air Force Falcons (1-1, 0-1) opened Mountain West play with fireworks on the ground, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Utah State (2-1, 1-0) in a 49-30 loss Saturday. Both teams piled up rushing touchdowns, turning the game into a track meet that swung late in favor of the Aggies.
Ground Game Showcase
Air Force leaned on its signature run game, carrying the ball 61 times for 266 yards and four scores. Quarterback Liam Szarka shouldered much of the load, running 12 times for 40 yards and three touchdowns. Owen Allen added the other rushing touchdown, while Cade Harris and Dylan Carson combined for 125 yards.
Utah State countered with balance and explosiveness. The Aggies ran 34 times for 186 yards and five rushing scores. Quarterback Bryson Barnes was the difference-maker, punching in three touchdowns on the ground and throwing for two more through the air. Javen Jacobs (71 yards, one TD) and Anthony Garcia (17 yards, one TD) added support.
Momentum Swings
Barnes got Utah State on the board with a 7-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. After an Air Force field goal, he struck again through the air, finding Braden Pegan for a 54-yard score. Szarka answered with a 1-yard keeper to cut the lead to 14-10 at halftime.
The third quarter tilted the game. Utah State scored 21 straight points — a 17-yard run from Garcia, an 11-yard run from Barnes, and another deep connection from Barnes to Pegan, this time for 38 yards. Air Force managed a 1-yard score from Szarka, but trailed 35-16 after a failed two-point attempt.
The Falcons made one last push in the fourth. Szarka scored again from a yard out, then converted a two-point try to make it 35-24 with 12:30 remaining. But a costly interception halted the momentum. A personal foul penalty negated what would have been a Utah State field goal, and the Aggies capitalized, as Barnes ran in his third rushing TD from seven yards.
Szarka added one more touchdown run, but Jacobs sealed the win with a 52-yard breakaway, putting Utah State up 49-30 for good.
By the Numbers
Passing (Air Force): Josh Johnson 5/9, 112 yards, 1 INT; Szarka 6/14, 67 yards, 1 INT.
Passing (Utah State): Barnes 17/22, 287 yards, 2 TDs.
Rushing (Air Force): Harris 8 carries, 72 yards; Allen 16 carries, 53 yards, 1 TD; Carson 8 carries, 53 yards; Szarka 12 carries, 40 yards, 3 TDs.
Rushing (Utah State): Jacobs 9 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD; Davis 9 carries, 54 yards; Barnes 15 carries, 44 yards, 3 TDs; Garcia 1 carry, 17 yards, 1 TD.
Receiving Leaders: Pegan (Utah State) 2 catches, 92 yards, 2 TDs; Wolford (Air Force) 7 catches, 223 yards, 4 TDs on the season.
Looking Ahead
Air Force returns home for back-to-back Mountain West matchups against Boise State and Hawaii. The Falcons will also see service-academy rival Navy on the road before hosting Army later this season.
