Air Force football secured its first road win of the season with a 26-13 victory over San José State at CEFCU Stadium in San José, California. The Falcons improved their record to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in Mountain West play, while San José State dropped to 3-6 and 2-3 in the conference.
After falling behind 3-0 in the first quarter, Air Force responded with a strong second quarter, scoring 16 points. Liam Szarka contributed two rushing touchdowns, and Peyton Zdroik added a safety to give the Falcons a halftime lead of 16-3.
San José State narrowed the gap in the second half by scoring ten unanswered points, bringing the score to 16-13 early in the fourth quarter. Air Force countered with a ten-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Szarka connecting on a twelve-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Quin Smith.
The Spartans managed another field goal to make it a one-score game at 23-16. However, Air Force maintained control by executing an eleven-play, sixty-yard drive that concluded with senior Reagan Tubbs kicking a thirty-three yard field goal. This extended Air Force’s lead to 26-16 with just thirty-one seconds remaining.
Junior running back Owen Allen led Air Force’s ground attack with 109 yards on twenty carries—his third game surpassing one hundred rushing yards in his last four appearances. Szarka also contributed eighty-seven yards on twenty-seven carries. The team recorded forty-one passing yards overall, with senior Bruin Fleischmann leading receivers at twenty-nine yards from two catches.
On defense, linebacker Dallas Daley made seven tackles for Air Force. Levi Brown and Jaylin Reese each recorded interceptions during the game.
Air Force will play next Saturday against UConn at 2 p.m. ET; the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports.
