Air Force began its 2025 football season with a decisive 49-13 victory over Bucknell at Falcon Stadium. Senior receiver Cade Harris played a key role, scoring three touchdowns—two on the ground and one on a long pass reception. Harris finished the game with 149 all-purpose yards, including 83 receiving and 66 rushing.
Junior quarterback Josh Johnson, in his second career start, completed four of seven passes for 112 yards and contributed two touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Liam Szarka made his debut and recorded 54 total yards, while junior Maguire Martin also debuted by leading the final scoring drive.
On defense, junior linebacker Blake Fletcher registered a career-high 11 tackles. Junior Luke Fisher added eight tackles, and linebacker Isaac Heubert tallied two sacks.
The Falcons scored first when Johnson connected with Quin Smith for a touchdown from the Bison’s 40-yard line. Szarka then led a five-play drive ending in Harris’s first rushing touchdown to put Air Force ahead 14-0 after the first quarter.
Bucknell responded early in the second quarter as quarterback Ralph Rucker IV threw a touchdown pass to Sam Milligan. However, Air Force regained momentum with an 11-play drive capped by senior fullback Dylan Carson’s rushing touchdown—his fifth consecutive game with such a score.
Later in the half, junior safety Roger Jones intercepted Rucker to set up another quick Air Force touchdown—a long pass from Johnson to Harris—putting the Falcons up by three scores at halftime. Air Force accumulated 341 offensive yards in the first half while holding Bucknell to just 150.
Early in the third quarter, sophomore cornerback Mikhail Seiken forced a fumble recovered by Korey Johnson for a defensive touchdown. Shortly after, another Bucknell error gave Air Force possession deep in Bison territory; Harris ran it in for his third score of the day.
A lightning delay interrupted play before Air Force extended its lead further behind Martin’s first career rushing touchdown during a lengthy fourth-quarter drive. Bucknell managed only two field goals after their lone early touchdown.
Bucknell entered the game having led their conference last season in passing offense and several other categories but was limited to just 266 total yards against Air Force defense. Rucker ended with 126 passing yards.
With this win, Air Force has now won 20 of its last 21 home openers and holds a streak of 19 consecutive wins in season-opening games—the second-longest active run nationally behind Ohio State (25). The Falcons are undefeated (29-0) all-time against FCS teams at Falcon Stadium under head coach Troy Calhoun, who is now also unbeaten (19-0) versus FCS opponents and remains perfect (6-0) in August games at home.
Air Force will next face Utah State on September 13 at Maverick Stadium before returning home on September 20 to host Boise State.
