Air Force put up a strong fight against Colorado State, but a last-minute Hail Mary was knocked down in the end zone, allowing the Rams to leave Falcon Stadium with a 21-13 victory on Saturday night.
This win breaks a seven-game losing streak in the series and marks CSU’s first triumph at this venue since 2002. It could also be their last visit for a long time, as the Rams will join the Pac-12 in 2026. For part of the fourth quarter, it seemed the Rams might fall victim to a curse at this stadium, or perhaps Air Force was just ready to turn the tide. “We’re fighters,” said Falcons senior safety Camby Goff. “We fight to the last minute.” The Falcons were down 14-0 at halftime and 21-0 with 12 minutes to go when their comeback began. A 32-yard touchdown run by Tylor Latham, showcasing some impressive moves to evade defenders, got Air Force on the scoreboard with 11:49 left. The Falcons then took possession again and drove 73 yards, with quarterback John Busha finishing the drive with a 1-yard touchdown.
“We were in a good rhythm; we were playing freely,” said fullback Dylan Carson, who rushed for a team-leading 60 yards. “It felt relaxed. We were moving the ball downfield with some energy and passion. I believe that’s the best way to play football—when you’re feeling free.” Busha returned to the field after an injury to Josh Johnson, who had made his first start after Quentin Hayes got hurt in practice. This season has certainly been a rollercoaster. The Falcons (1-6, 0-4 Mountain West) attempted a 2-point conversion while trailing 21-13. Coach Troy Calhoun explained that since the success rate for 2-point conversions is around 45%, they had a decent chance of converting at least one. If they had succeeded on the first attempt, they would only need a PAT for the next touchdown. “If it doesn’t pan out, you have to take responsibility,” Calhoun said.
After another stop, a turnover, and yet another stop, the Falcons gained possession with 1:47 left and no timeouts. Busha, who had a challenging game with 175 yards and a touchdown on 10-of-25 passing, along with two interceptions, tried to connect for a score but had the pass deflected. “It’s definitely going to sting,” Carson said. “Nobody wants to be 1-6, but we’re making significant improvements. Some teams in this situation might just give up, but we believe in ourselves.”
This marks the latest instance of teams breaking losing streaks against Air Force during a tough season for the program. Navy ended a four-game slide, New Mexico snapped a five-game drought, and now Colorado State has ended a seven-game losing streak in the series. However, the Rams seem to be on an upward trajectory. Colorado State (4-3, 2-0 Mountain West) quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi threw for 178 yards and had a punt downed at the Air Force 1-yard line. Running back Kobe Johnson threw a touchdown, Averay Morrow rushed for 132 yards, and Caleb Goodie caught three passes for 103 yards and a score. The Rams appeared set for a decisive victory but ultimately fell short. For an Air Force team looking for silver linings, that was a clear takeaway. “We’re really close,” Goff said. “We can get this done.
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