COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Air Force leaned on its ground game all afternoon and never really let go, piling up 366 rushing yards in a 35-26 win over UConn on Saturday at Falcon Stadium.
Kemper Hodges was the engine. The fullback carried 35 times for 200 yards and four touchdowns, powering the Falcons to bowl eligibility as they improved to 6-2.
Air Force also got 70 yards on 18 carries from Owen Allen, plus a score from Gage LaDue. The Falcons controlled the ball for 41:54.
UConn dropped to 4-4 and saw its two-game winning streak end. Kalieb Osborne went 17-of-33 for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
The Huskies started with the ball but went three-and-out, and a short punt gave Air Force a short field to work with. The Falcons took advantage with a 10-play, 55-yard drive, finished by Hodges on a seven-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
Air Force kept pressing after another stalled UConn possession. Hodges broke through the line, outran the defense and turned a 67-yard run into his second touchdown of the first quarter, stretching the margin to 14-0 with 1:27 left in the period.
UConn finally answered early in the second quarter. Osborne guided a 10-play drive, and Trey Cornist finished it with a one-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 14-7. Air Force responded immediately, helped along by two UConn personal foul penalties, and Hodges finished an 11-play, 77-yard march with a three-yard score at 5:53 to make it 21-7.
The Huskies stayed in it before halftime. Osborne led another 10-play drive and found Ryder Treadway for a two-yard touchdown on third and goal, Treadway’s first as a Husky, trimming the lead to 21-14 with 1:56 left in the half.
Air Force opened the third quarter by turning to special teams and staying on the field. The Falcons converted a fake punt on fourth down, with Hodges picking up 19 yards to extend the drive. That set up LaDue’s four-yard touchdown run, capping a 16-play, 81-yard possession that lasted 9:40 and pushed the lead to 28-14 with 2:34 left in the quarter.
UConn answered fast. Osborne hit Julian Allen for 20 yards, then connected with Alex Godavitarne on a 55-yard touchdown, Godavitarne’s first of the season. The Huskies scored in 30 seconds, but the missed extra point left them trailing 28-20 with 2:04 remaining in the third.
After a three-and-out, UConn got another quick shot and Kenji Christian broke free for a 46-yard touchdown, setting up a two-point try to tie it. Osborne was sacked on the attempt, keeping Air Force ahead 28-26 at 14:53 of the fourth.
That was as close as UConn got. Air Force answered with a 19-play, 75-yard drive that burned 11:37 off the clock, and Hodges finished it with a one-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal with 3:09 left to seal it at 35-26.
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UConn Just Got Exposed In One Area Before A Huge Home Test
UConns trip to Colorado Springs offered a clear reminder of how quickly a game can get away from a team when the opponent controls the ground game and the clock. The Huskies fell 35-26 to Air Force, with the Falcons leaning on a relentless rushing attack and keeping possession for more than 41 minutes, a formula that left UConn chasing the game for much of the afternoon.
Kalieb Osborne did his part through the air, throwing for 263 yards and two touchdowns, and UConn avoided turnovers, but that was not enough to offset the long stretches Air Force spent dictating the pace. With a huge home test coming next, the loss leaves the Huskies with a familiar issue to sort through: how to handle an opponent that can shorten the game and keep their offense on the sideline. [Read more 🡒]
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Hurleys commitment has become part of the story as much as the wins. He has already shown a willingness to stay rooted in Storrs when bigger opportunities came calling, and this latest agreement only reinforces the sense that he is invested in what he has built there. For UConn, that matters just as much as the trophies, because stability at the top is what keeps the whole operation moving in the same direction. [Read more 🡒]