FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Arion Worthman threw a 56-yard TD pass early in the fourth quarter, Taven Birdow scored twice and Air Force’s methodical rushing attack kept Colorado State’s high-powered offense grounded in a 45-28 win over the Rams on Saturday.
Air Force (4-4, 3-2 Mountain West) rushed for 413 yards and dominated time of possession (41 minutes, 38 seconds to 18:22). Worthman completed just two passes, both in the fourth quarter and the last a strike to Ryan Reffitt with 11:53 remaining to make it 38-28. After a Rams punt, the Falcons went on a game-sealing 13-play, 98-yard drive that chewed up 7:09 and culminated with Worthman’s 7-yard scamper.
This game pitted the grind-it-out style of double-digit underdog Air Force against the explosiveness of Colorado State (6-3, 4-1). The Rams had the ball only fifth times in the second half, including once with seconds remaining.
The Falcons had a 17-play drive in the third quarter that consumed 9:59 and led to a 20-yard field goal by Luke Strebel, which made it 31-28. That one drive was longer than Colorado State had the ball the entire first half (9:28).
Worthman finished with 117 yards rushing for the Falcons, who captured the Ram-Falcon Trophy that’s been awarded annually since 1980.
Nick Stevens threw two TD passes to give him 63 for his career and move him one shy of tying the school mark held by Garrett Grayson (2011-14). Stevens also threw three interceptions.
It was the Rams’ first loss inside their new $220 million on-campus facility that opened this season.
THE TAKEAWAY
Air Force: The Falcons are 72-8 under coach Troy Calhoun when taking a lead into the fourth quarter. They’ve also scored at least 30 points in five straight games.
Colorado State: Suffers a big setback in trying to capture the Mountain division. The offense cooled in the second half and couldn’t get anything going.
UP NEXT
Air Force: Host Army on Saturday. The Falcons can’t win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy outright, but still has a chance to retain it. They have to beat Army and then root for the Black Knights against Navy on Dec. 9. Air Force lost at Navy 48-45 on Oct. 7.
Colorado State: Travels to Wyoming on Saturday. The Rams are 58-45-5 all-time against the Cowboys, including back-to-back victories in Laramie.
