AIR FORCE ACADEMY — The Colorado State Rams have endured many long, somber bus rides from Falcon Stadium back home to Fort Collins.
Not Saturday night.
The Rams held on for a tense 21-13 victory over Air Force, turning the 125-mile journey into something of a joy ride.
CSU made its share of mistakes — early and late — but delivered enough big plays to notch a win at the Academy for the first time since 2002. It could well be the Rams’ final win here for quite some time because they are leaving the Mountain West Conference and Air Force behind when they move to Pac-12 in 2026.
“I started talking to the kids and telling them the CSU hadn’t beaten them here since 2002,” coach Jay Norvell said. “That was 22 years ago. I think we only have three kids that were alive (then).”
Added running back Avery Morrow, who rushed for 132 yards on 20 carries: “What did they say? It’s 22 years since we’ve won here? Man, that’s unacceptable. That is terrible. … I was 1 year old. That’s crazy.”
The game-clincher was an 85-yard, highlight-reel reception by sophomore receiver Caleb Goodie with 11 minutes left in the third quarter to put CSU ahead, 21-0.
Goodie cut across the middle, snared Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi’s pass with one hand, split the Air Force defense and sprinted untouched for the final 57 yards.
“One hand, jumping up in the air? Man, that’s a big-time play,” Morrow said.
CSU needed every bit of that magic because Air Force scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons’ best last-chance drive ended with CSU’s Dom Jones intercepting a pass at the CSU 45 with 2:30 left in the game. AFA got the ball back and sparked some hope for its fans, but quarterback John Busha’s final-second Hail Mary pass was batted down in the end zone. Air Force fell to 1-6 and 0-4 in the Mountain West.
Saturday marked the first time in Norvell’s three years at the helm that CSU won a rivalry game. The Rams, who improved to 4-3 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West, took a step toward playing in a bowl game for the first time since 2017.
In fact, Saturday marked the first time the Rams have a winning record after the midpoint of the season since ’17.
Overmatched Air Force, which has seen 41 players start for the first time this season, had defeated CSU seven straight times and had won 15 of the last 17 games in the series.
The Falcons finally found the end zone on a 33-yard pass from Busha to Tylor Lathom with 11:49 left in the game. Busha’s 1-yard TD turn capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive to cut the Rams’ lead to 21-13 with 5:50 left. AFA went for the two-point conversion but failed.
CSU led 14-0 at halftime, snuffing out the Falcons’ lone scoring threat of the half on the final play when Gabe Kirschke blocked Matthew Dapore’s 45-yard field goal attempt.
“I feel like those plays are huge and that’s what you’re looking for,” said Kirschke, who also recovered a fumble and was credited with 1 1/2 sacks.
Kirschke had a feeling he was going to block the kick.
“We had good penetration, and I timed it up right, and I got my hand up there,” he said. “I was close the last couple of weeks so I knew that at one point I was going to get one.”
The Rams dominated the Falcons in those first two quarters, outgaining them 233 to 101 in total yardage. Truthfully, the game should have been a blowout, but CSU’s mistakes and Air Force’s stout third-down defense kept the game relatively close.
“I was really proud of our effort, this is a tough place to win,” Norvell said. “It wasn’t a perfect game. We have to hold onto the ball, but we found a way to win. This was an important win.”
The Rams’ opening drive was easy-peasy — until it wasn’t.
They cruised 73 yards in just six plays, with Morrow’s 50-yard burst setting the Rams up at the AFA 5-yard line. But on second-and-goal from the 1, Falcons senior free safety Camby Goff forced Morrow to fumble at the 2, and senior linebacker Osaro Aihie recovered for the Falcons.
Novell called the first drive “heartbreaking.” Morrow called it unlucky.
“(Goff’s) helmet literally hit the ball,” Morrow said. “It wasn’t a punch out or anything. It was like, ‘Boom, right on the ball.’ He got the best of the play but I think he got lucky.”
CSU used some sleight of hand to take a 7-0 lead with 5:28 left in the second quarter. Running back Kobe Johnson took a pitch from Fowler-Nicolosi and tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vince Brown II.
CSU’s defense set up the second TD. Kirschke forced Kemper Hodges to fumble and Buom Jock recovered at the AFA 28. Five plays later, freshman Jalen Dupree pushed in from the 1-yard line with 2:47 left in the half.
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