Air Force rallied to defeat South Alabama in the second Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium on Friday.
Trailing 21-3 early in the second quarter, the Falcons dominated the rest of the way, pulling away for a 45-21 victory in front of an announced crowd of 33,868.
The victory was Air Forceβs fourth in nine bowl appearances under 10th-year coach Troy Calhoun. The Falcons finished the 2016 season 10-3.
South Alabama was seeking the first bowl victory in school history in its second postseason appearance. The Jaguars crumbled after their hot start β which included a 75-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage β and finished 6-7.
Air Force joined Nevada as champions of the Arizona Bowl, which launched last year.
After quarterback Dallas Davisβ 4-yard touchdown run gave South Alabama an 18-point lead less than five minutes into the second quarter, Air Force scored 42 consecutive points.
Air Force quarterback Arion Worthman was named Offensive MVP. Worthman passed for 207 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown to Jalen Robinette to open the second half, and rushed for 71 yards.
Air Force safety Weston Steelhammer, who gave up the game-opening touchdown, earned Defensive MVP honors. Steelhammer forced a fumble in the red zone in the second quarter and intercepted a pass in the third.
THIRD-QUARTER UPDATE:
Air Force continues to flip the script on South Alabama in the second Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
Down 18 points in the second quarter, the Falcons lead the Jaguars 38-21 through three quarters at Arizona Stadium on Friday.
Air Force scored 35 consecutive points over the second and third quarters.
With the scored tied at 21 at halftime, Air Force scored on the first play from scrimmage β just as South Alabama had to open the game. Quarterback Arion Worthman faked a pitch and hit a wide-open Jalen Robinette for a 75-yard touchdown.
After forcing a punt, Air Force drove 75 yards for another score. This time Tyler Williams, via Ironwood Ridge High, did the scoring, diving to the left pylon to complete a 6-yard touchdown run.
Air Force added a field goal late in the quarter and got the ball back with 1:15 left on an interception by Weston Steelhammer. It was the 18th of his career, setting an Air Force record.
Air Force outgained South Alabama 204-40 in the third period.
HALFTIME UPDATE:
The second Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl completely flipped late in the second quarter.
Down 21-3, Air Force scored the final 18 points of the half to forge a 21-all tie with South Alabama at intermission at Arizona Stadium.
The game began to turn when the Falcons, down 21-6, forced the Jaguars to punt for the first time late in the second quarter. Corliss Waitmanβs punt traveled only 8 yards, setting up Air Force at the South Alabama 35-yard line. Four plays later, Ronald Clevelandβs 14-yard run made it 21-13 with 1:49 remaining.
On the following possession, hot-starting South Alabama quarterback Dallas Davis fumbled, the ball slipping out of his hand on a second-down pass attempt. Santo Coppola recovered the ball at the 1-yard line. On second-and-goal from the 2, Jacobi Owens swept around the right side to make it 21-19.
After a South Alabama penalty, Air Force went for two. Arion Worthmanβs pass to Jalen Robinette tied the score with 25 seconds left in the half.
South Alabama appeared to be running away with it when Davis scored from 4 yards out to make it 21-3 less than five minutes into the second period. A 49-yard pass to Robinette, who made a leaping grab in double coverage, seemed to kick-start the Falcons.
Davis is 8 of 14 for 217 yards and one touchdown. South Alabama receiver Josh Magee has three catches for 126 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.
Worthman is 4 of 7 for 92 yards.
South Alabama has outgained Air Force 276 yards to 208. The Falcons have dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 18 minutes, 33 seconds.
FIRST-QUARTER UPDATE:
South Alabama jumped on Air Force early and hasnβt let up in the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium on Friday.
The Jaguars scored on the first play of the game and have a 14-3 lead after the first quarter on a partly sunny, 69-degree afternoon.
After a touchback on the opening kickoff, quarterback Dallas Davis threw a 75-yard bomb to Josh Magee, who beat All-American safety Weston Steelhammer on a post-corner route.
After Air Force β a 14.5-point favorite β countered with a field goal, Davis again went deep. This time he hit Chris Lewis for 51 yards to the Falconsβ 11-yard line. Two plays later, one-time Arizona commit Dami Ayoola scored from the 2 to make it 14-3.
Davis is 4 of 6 for 153 yards. Air Forceβs Tyler Williams, who played at Ironwood Ridge High, has a team-high 54 scrimmage yards.
