Air Force dominated on ground

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — In many ways, Air Force's domination on the ground against UNLV tonight seemed inevitable.

The Falcons (7-4, 5-2 Mountain West Conference) entered the football game leading the league with 264 yards per game, and UNLV (4-7, 2-5) was last, allowing a 211.2-yard average.

Air Force rushed for 431 yards in the convincing 45-17 victory. Falcons tailback Asher Clark rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns.

“I think today the main issue was the perimeter,” Rebels defensive end/linebacker Jason Beauchamp said. “We started to control the stuff straight up the middle, and then all of the sudden we got the speed-option game.”

THE NEXT BIG QUESTION

UNLV coach Mike Sanford's job security has been an open question all season. This loss ensured he will end his fifth season at UNLV still not knowing what a winning season feels like. His record is 15-43.

“I’m not going to comment any further,” UNLV interim athletic director Jerry Koloskie said. “When the timing’s right, we’ll make the appropriate decision. We just want to get home tonight, regroup and go from there.”

BIG MISTAKE

Trailing 17-3 late in the first half, UNLV had a chance to grab some momentum, driving to Air Force’s 11-yard line. On first down, however, quarterback Omar Clayton threw into double coverage in the end zone to wide receiver Ryan Wolfe, and Falcons safety Chris Thomas intercepted.

“I didn’t see the guy trailing Ryan,” Clayton said.

If UNLV had scored a touchdown, it would have trailed by just seven points and taken momentum into halftime. The Rebels also were to receive the second-half kickoff.

The Falcons made the mistake more damaging by going 80 yards and scoring with 36 seconds left on tailback Savier Stephens’ 10-yard run for a 24-3 lead.

“I think it is a different game,” Sanford said.

LET IT SNOW

Snow flurries fell before the game and throughout the second half, intensifying as the night went on. The Rebels didn't know if they were going to be able to fly out of Colorado Springs, Colo., tonight or wait for Sunday and hope for the best.