Live In-Game Updates: Baylor Bears Take on Air Force Falcons in Armed Forces Bowl
Just as everyone predicted, the coldest bowl game of the year will take place in Fort Worth, as Baylor (6-6) and Air Force (9-3) prepare to face off in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Thursday night temperatures are expected to reach single digits, with 35 MPH gusts sending the wind chill even lower. It won't just be cold – it could be the coldest bowl game since 1983.
Particularly in frigid weather, this matchup isn't great for the Bears. Air Force's triple option attack practices in the mountains of Colorado; Baylor's home games routinely run thermometers into the triple digits.
For a team named the Falcons, though, Air Force doesn't have much of an aerial attack – they've racked up nearly as many touchdowns rushing (34) as total complete passes (37).
Much of the Falcons' success comes on the back of Brad Roberts (308 carries, 1,612 yards, 15 touchdowns). Haaziq Daniels (614 yards, seven touchdowns) and John Lee Eldridge III (701 yards, four touchdowns) round out a balanced ground game.
Baylor's defense doesn't have any experience playing triple-option teams, and will be hard-pressed to defend the Falcons' multifaceted attack.
Air Force, meanwhile, features the third-best scoring defense in the country, allowing just 13.2 points per game.
Per the SI Sportsbook, Baylor is favored by 3.5 points.
Air Force wins the toss and defers.
FIRST QUARTER
Baylor goes three-and out. After two incomplete passes and just one yard gained, Baylor punts the ball away to the Falcons. The Bears down the ball at the Falcons' 45-yard line. Baylor 0, Air Force 0, 14:04/Q1.
Touchdown, Air Force! Brad Roberts breaks through the line for his 16th rushing touchdown of the season. The Bears blocked the extra point attempt. The Falcons proved to be uncharacteristically willing to throw the ball, as quarterback Haaziq Daniels threw for 20 yards and two first downs – more yards than he passed for in five full games this season. Air Force 6, Baylor 0, 5:20/Q1
Baylor goes three-and-out, again. A false start set the Bears back five yards, and three plays later, Issac Power was back on the field again, booting a frozen-solid ball 23 yards to the Air Force 42-yard line. Air Force 6, Baylor 0, 3:18/Q1
Air Force splits the uprights! John Lee Eldridge III opened up the drive with the first explosive play of the game, rumbling 34 yards up the left hash. But the Bears recovered, holding the Falcons to just four more yards and a 37-yard field goal. Air Force 9, Baylor 0, 1:13/Q1
SECOND QUARTER
Baylor punts. Sqwirl Williams ran for four yards on fourth-and-2, giving Baylor a first down for the first time tonight. But one yard and a delay of game penalty later, Issac Power was back on the field. He booted this one 50 yards, and the Bears downed it at the Falcons' 7-yard line. Air Force 9, Baylor 0, 12:20/Q2
Air Force boots it to midfield. Issac Power's punt pinned the Falcons inside their own 10-yard line, and they never escaped. Haaziq Daniels ran for 11 yards on the first play of the drive, but it stalled after that. Air Force's gunners downed Carson Bay's 30-yard punt on the 50-yard line. Air Force 9, Baylor 0, 10:18/Q2
Baylor misses a 37-yard field goal. Wide open over the middle, Josh Cameron kicked off the drive with a 31-yard catch-and-run, nearly doubling the Bears' previous yardage total (40). But the offense lost a yard across the next three plays, settling for a field goal which veered left. Air Force 9, Baylor 0, 8:11/Q2
Air Force turnover on downs. The Falcons ran for multiple first downs, but ultimately couldn't sustain the drive. The Bears stuffed Haaziq Daniels for a loss of five yards on fourth-and-1. Air Force 9, Baylor 0, 1:38/Q2
Touchdown, Bears! After struggling to gain yardage for much of the first half, Baylor's offense stepped up to the moment on the two-minute drill. The Bears marched 57 yards in one minute and 28, converting on fourth down and drawing a pass interference call to get into the red zone. Blake Shapen hit Hal Presley on an out route for the Bears' first points of the night. Air Force 9, Baylor 7, 0:06/Q2.
Air Force kneels out the clock.
HALFTIME: Air Force 9, Baylor 7
THIRD QUARTER
Touchdown, Air Force! Haaziq Daniels completes one of his longest passes of the season, hitting Amari Terry for 68 yards down the left sideline. He was shoved out at the Baylor 2-yard line, but Daniels finished it off himself, rushing it in for his 14th touchdown of the season. Air Force 16, Baylor 7, 12:28/Q3
Bears punt it away. Sqwirl Williams fell across the line for Baylor's third fourth-down conversion in as many attempts. But the Bears failed to convert on third down for the eighth time in eight tries, and had to punt it away for the fourth time tonight. Air Force 16, Baylor 7, 9:04/Q3
Air Force shanks a punt. After forcing a three-and-out, Baylor gets great field position, as the Falcons' punt bounces out of bounds 11 yards past the line of scrimmage. Air Force 16, Baylor 7, 7:15/Q3
Bears turn it over on downs. Blake Shapen runs short of the sticks on fourth-and-4 in Air Force territory. (Not that it would've mattered – a 15-yard penalty was called on a Baylor offensive lineman after the play.) Air Force 16, Baylor 7, 5:50/Q3
Air Force throws for a touchdown! Haaziq Daniels goes over the top to Caleb Rillos for his seventh passing touchdown of the season. This is just the fourth time this season the Falcons have passed for over 100 yards in a game. Air Force 23, Baylor 7, 2:29/Q3
Baylor turns it over on downs. Dave Aranda elects to go for it on fourth-and-7 from midfield – to no avail. Vince Sanford sacks Blake Shapen for a loss of seven, and the Falcons' offense will take over yet again. Air Force 23, Baylor 7, 0:55/Q3
FOURTH QUARTER
Touchdown, Air Force! Brad Roberts punches it in from the 1-yard line for his second score of the night. The Falcons have scored 21 unanswered points in the second haf. Air Force 30, Baylor 7, 12:40/Q4
Bears turn it over on downs – again. The Bears have ended their past three drives with failed fourth-down conversions, this time on an incomplete pass. Air Force 30, Baylor 7, 10:52/Q4
Falcons turn it over on downs. Baylor stuffs Brad Roberts for no gain on fourth-and-1 at the Baylor 15-yard line. The Falcons are now one for three on fourth down, though they have converted eight of 14 third downs. Air Force 30, Baylor 7, 4:25/Q4
Touchdown, Baylor! The Bears drive 85 yards in just four plays, topped off by a screen pass to Gavin Holmes, who followed his blockers 14 yards into the end zone. Blake Shapen dove past multiple defenders to convert the two-point conversion. Air Force 30, Baylor 15, 3:34/Q4
Air Force turns it over on downs. The Falcons run as much clock as they can, ultimately turning the ball over on fourth-and-2. Air Force 30, Baylor 15, 0:22/Q4
FINAL: Air Force 30, Baylor 15. The Falcons have now won double-digit games in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1998, while the Bears will enter the offseason with a 6-7 record and plenty of question marks.
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