Air Force conquers conditions, Baylor
Daniels, Roberts drive Falcons to victory in the frigid weather
FORT WORTH, Texas — Haaziq Daniels had a short scoring run and threw a touchdown pass in Air Force’s 30-15 victory over Baylor in cold conditions Thursday night 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 in Waco, about 100 miles south of Dallas-Fort Worth.
It was even uncomfortable for the Falcons, where the temperature back home in Colorado Springs at kickoff was below zero.
“Cold might be putting it mildly,” Falcons coach Troy Calhoun said. “I don’t think I’ve experienced anything like that. When it’s not warm, it’s not easy. It never is at the United States Air Force Academy. But these guys, just the heart, the guts and the right, extraordinary young people — I’m glad they’re fighting for our country.”
Daniels had a 2-yard touchdown run and a 15-yard scoring pass out of Air Force’s run-oriented triple-option offense.
Brad Roberts rushed for two touchdowns and Matthew Dapore kicked a 37-yard field goal for the Falcons (10-3), whose tight ends coach is former Hampton High and James Madison receiver Marc Bacote. He had been an assistant at Hampton University before going west.
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 by averaging 67.8 passing yards and 6.7 passes per game, Daniels was 4 for 7 for 103 yards, including his fourth touchdown pass of the season. It went to Caleb Rillos for his first touchdown catch in two seasons. Daniels set up his touchdown run with a 68-yard first-down bullet pass to Amari Terry thrown deep down the left sideline.
“I went with the wind,” Daniels said about the pass to Terry. “I didn’t want it to hang too much.”
“(No.) 4’s a good player,” Baylor linebacker Dillon Doyle said about Daniels. “He’s athletic, he can make all the plays and all the runs.”
Air Force, best in the FBS by averaging 330.9 rushing yards during the season, ran 67 times for 276 yards. Roberts, held to 25 first-half yards on 11 carries, finished with 116 yards on 37 carries for his school-record 20th game of triple-digit rushing yards.
Baylor, averaging 429.2 total yards during the season, gained a season-low 230 against a defense that led the nation allowing 256.4 yards per game.
The Bears’ leading rusher was “Sqwirl” Williams with 25 yards, and Baylor went 0 for 11 on third down.
“You have to give big credit to the (defensive) play-calling,” Falcons defensive back Jayden Goodwin said.
“From a team perspective, it is a disappointing end to a disappointing season,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “In previous games, there was more juice and excitement. I was way disappointed in the lack of that.”
Taking a knee
Air Force running back John Lee Eldridge III wasted little time after the final whistle to propose to his girlfriend, Shanice Atkins, on the field. She accepted.
The takeaway
Air Force: This senior class had double-digit wins in every full season: 11-2 in 2019, 10-3 last season and this season. “It may be an anomaly to be candid,” Calhoun said. “We realize we’re in a place where if you ever get to six wins in a season and get to a bowl game, that’s darn hard to do.”
Baylor: A team that was predicted to repeat as Big 12 champion limped to the finish on a four-game losing streak. Aranda will revamp his defensive staff, including hiring a new coordinator.