COLORADO SPRINGS — Liam Szarka’s arm got to take a break Saturday. Instead, the Air Force Falcons just rode their quarterback’s legs.
Szarka topped 100 yards rushing for a program record fifth straight game, and the Falcons nabbed a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions to secure a 24-21 victory over Wyoming in Mountain West Conference play at Falcon Stadium.
The win ended a five-game losing streak for Air Force (2-5 overall, 1-4 Mountain West), which had lost a series of shootouts after opening the season with a 49-13 win over Bucknell.
Ironically, the Falcons’ 24 points on Saturday constituted their lowest point total of the season. And Szarka’s 33 yards passing, coming after the Grandview High School product totaled 911 yards through the air the previous four games, were his fewest of the season.
No matter. With the Air Force triple-option ripping off 5.9 yards per carry, the Falcons chewed up 330 yards on the ground to hand Wyoming (3-4, 1-2) its fourth loss in five games.
Owen Allen added 105 rushing yards, but interceptions from Roger Jones and Max Mustell were what turned the tide late.
Wyoming quarterbacks Evan Svoboda and Kaden Anderson each threw a fourth-quarter pick to the Mountain West’s worst turnover defense (four before this game). In a 14-14 game, Svoboda was intercepted by Jones in the end zone from the 3-yard line.
Air Force went 80 yards in eight plays, with Kade Frew taking the lead on fourth-and-1 with a 9-yard rushing score.
Anderson threw another interception to Mustell on the following possession with 4:39 remaining, setting up a 41-yard field goal into the wind from Reagan Tubbs.
Anderson threw a touchdown for Wyoming with 1:02 remaining. He was 23-of-29 passing for 209 yards. But the Cowboys failed to recover the ensuing onside kick.
Air Force’s defense entered the game allowing 40 points per game (134th in FBS) and 496.7 total yards, and 323.3 passing yards per game, both the worst in FBS football. Wyoming tallied 409 total yards.
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