Air Force beats Baylor in chilly Armed Forces Bowl
FORT WORTH, TEXAS » Haaziq Daniels had a short scoring run and threw a touchdown pass in Air Force’s 30-15 victory over Baylor on Thursday night in cold conditions in the Armed Forces Bowl.
The game kicked off with a temperature of 13 degrees and a wind chill of minus 4 at Amon G. Carter Stadium, the home of TCU, Baylor’s Big 12 rival. Baylor officials announced it was the coldest kickoff temperature in the history of the program based about 100 miles south of Dallas-Fort Worth in Waco.
Daniels had a 2-yard touchdown run and a 15-yard scored pass out of Air Force’s run-oriented triple-option offense.
Brad Roberts rushed for two touchdowns, and Matthew Dapore had a 37yard field goal for the Falcons (10-3). Roberts, a senior, ran for 116 yards, his school-record 20th career game with triple-digit rushing yardage.
Blake Shapen threw touchdown passes of 8 yards to Hal Presley in the second quarter and 14 yards to Gavin Holmes in the closing minutes for Baylor (6-7).
With Air Force last in the FBS averaging 67.8 passing yards and 6.7 passes
Air Force quarterback Haaziq Daniels (4) runs past Baylor cornerback Tevin Williams III during Thursday’s Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.
per game, Daniels was 4 for 7 for 103 yards and his fourth touchdown pass of the season to Caleb Rillos. He set up his touchdown run with a 68-yard firstdown pass to Amari Terry thrown deep down the left sideline.
Air Force, best in the FBS averaging 330.9 rushing yards during the season, ran 67 times for 276 yards.
Baylor, averaging 429.2 total yards during the season, gained a season-low
230 yards. The Bears were 0 for 11 on third down, 3 for 6 on fourth down.
The takeaway
Air Force: The Falcons were predictable with their triple-option ground attack but difficult to stop.
Baylor: The Bears lost their last four games ending a season in which they were picked to repeat as Big 12 champions.
INDEPENDENCE BOWL
Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6) vs. Houston (7-5), noon, ESPN
Line: Houston by 71⁄2
Series record: Houston leads 6-3
What to know: Louisiana-Lafayette seeks a fourth straight bowl victory and aims to secure a winning record in its first season since Michael Desormeaux took over as head coach following Billy Napier’s departure for Florida. The Ragin’ Cajuns are seeking their seventh bowl victory overall. Houston is seeking its second straight bowl victory and 13th overall . ... A key matchup is Houston’s passing game against Louisiana-Lafayette’s secondary. Cougars QB Clayton Tune’s 37 TD passes this season places him in contention for the national lead. The Ragin’ Cajuns have intercepted 15passes this season, led by defensive back Bralen Trahan with four. Trahan has 13 interceptions in his career . ... Louisiana-Lafayette DL Zi’Yon Hill-Green has 21 career sacks and needs one more to break the school record . ... Houston WR Nathaniel Dell has 1,354 yards and 15 TDs receiving, which placed in first in the nation in those categories for the regular season . ... Louisiana-Lafayette returner Eric Garror is one of five FBS players with two punt returns for touchdowns this season. His three career returns for touchdowns is tied for the school record . ... The Ragin’ Cajuns are playing in a fifth straight bowl game and 10th overall . ... ULL won the last meeting, 31-28, on Oct. 7, 2006, when head coach Michael Desormeaux played QB and defensive coordinator LaMar Morgan played safety for the Ragin’ Cajuns . ... Louisiana-Lafayette’s defense has forced 23 total turnovers this season . ... Houston is 5-2in its previous seven games . ... The Independence Bowl is Houston’s last game as a member of the American Athletic Conference before its move to the Big 12 for the 2023 season.
... WR Matthew Golden’s seven TD catches this season set a Cougars’ true freshman record. He is also the only freshman nationally to have four TD catches of 20-plus yards . ... Six of Houston’s 12games have come down to the final drive, with a school-record three games ending in overtime.
GASPARILLA BOWL
Wake Forest (7-5) vs. Missouri (6-6), 3:30p.m., ESPN Line: Wake Forest by 11⁄2
Series record: First meeting
What to know: Missouri is looking for its first bowl win since the Gary Pinkel-coached Tigers beat Minnesota in the 2014Capital One Bowl. The Tigers have lost three in a row since, including a 24-22loss to Army in last year’s Armed Forces Bowl in coach Eli Drinkwitz’s first bowl appearance at the school. Wake Forest looks to rebound after losing four of its final five regular-season games. Seven of the Demon Deacons’ 17 bowl appearances have come in the last seven years under coach Dave Clawson . ... A key matchup is Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman against the Missouri defense. Hartman has 107career touchdown passes and needs one more to break a tie with Clemson’s Tajh Boyd (2010-13) for most in Atlantic Coast Conference history. He also need 313yards passing to join North Carolina State’s Philip Rivers (13,484, 2000-03) as the only quarterbacks in ACC history to reach 13,000yards . ... Wake Forest LB Ryan Smenda
Jr. had 106tackles in 11games this year. His 344career tackles are the 14th most in the ACC since 2005 . ... Missouri QB Brady Cook completed 218of 334passes for 2,509yards. He has 13touchdown passes and seven interceptions . ... Wake Forest is averaging 36.8points. It’s the only program in the ACC to average at least 30 in each of the last six seasons . ... Missouri’s defense is allowing an average of 25points . ... WR Dominic Lovett, who led Missouri with 56receptions and 846yards, won’t play after entering the transfer portal. DEs Isaiah McGuire and DJ Coleman and S Martez Manuel all opted out of the bowl to prepare for the NFL draft . ... Wake Forest WR A.T. Perry has a school-best 28career TD receptions. He is one away from tying for fourth-most in ACC history.
— The Associated Press