Air Force flies by Louisville in SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
By Troy Phillips
DALLAS — Between an ongoing pandemic, opt-outs, the transfer portal and coach departures, this Bowl Season has taken its lumps.
The Group of Five and one independent (Army), though, have landed more than a few lumps.
Air Force (10-3) dropped the Power Five to 0-5 against that group in 2021 bowls with a season-high 252 yards passing and a huge goal-line stand in the third quarter to take down ACC member Louisville 31-28 in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at Ford Stadium on Tuesday.
Louisville (6-7) never led and trailed 21-7 and 28-14 before cutting Air Force’s lead to 31-28 with 2:57 to play. Cardinals quarterback Malik Cunningham finished off a late 70-yard drive with a 22-yard fake-and-roll score that put the onus on Air Force to finish.
The Falcons did, first with receiver Dane Kinamon snaring Louisville’s onside kick. Brad Roberts milked more clock by running for a combined 22 yards on the next three plays out of the Air Force triple option.
Air Force quarterback Haaziq Daniels finished Louisville off with a 2-yard run on 2nd and 1. Daniels (9 for 10 for 252 yards, and two touchdowns) and receiver Brandon Lewis (five catches for 172 yards and two TDs) uncorked a pitch-and-catch session for which Louisville had no answers.
“The offense played well,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said. “The defense played well. This was just a great bowl win for the U.S. Air Force Academy. I was very proud of our players for keeping the ball on that last drive when they cut the lead to three points. That was the real key to winning.”
Air Force’s defense likely had the tide-turning moment with 4:04 to play in the third quarter. Trailing 28-14, Louisville drove 78 yards to the Air Force 2, but no further. Cunningham was sacked by Air Force’s TD Blackmon on first-and-goal from the 10.
Louisville tailback Trevion Cooley (92 yards rushing) gained six yards to the 6 for third down, was stopped short for four yards, and then for no gain to give possession back to Air Force on downs.
Alec Mock, Vince Sanford, Camby Goff and Trey Taylor were credited with shutting down Louisville’s path to the end zone.
That stand helped Air Force shave more time while surrendering no points, but Louisville answered by driving 51 yards on its next drive in less than two minutes. Cunningham found Tyler Harrell over one shoulder for a 34-yard score, cutting the Falcons’ lead to 28-21.
From there, Air Force reverted to classic service academy football, holding the ball for 17 plays (15 rushes) and 9:36. Matthew Dapore finished that drive with a 26-yard field goal for a 31-21 lead before Louisville cut it to three.
As of Tuesday, two Group of Five-versus-Power Five matchups in bowls remained; Central Michigan vs. Washington State in the Sun Bowl, and Cincinnati vs. Alabama in the CFP Semifinal to be staged at the Cotton Bowl.
Fort Worth-based freelance writer Troy Phillips has covered seven SERVPRO First Responder Bowls.