FORT WORTH, Texas — Haaziq Daniels ran for a touchdown and threw for another as the Air Force Academy defeated the Baylor Bears 30-15 in freezing weather in the Armed Forces Bowl.
At kickoff, the temperature was just 13 degrees, but with the wind chill factored in, it was minus 4 at Amon G. Carter Stadium. In fact, Baylor officials announced that it was the coldest kickoff temperature in program history.
Even the Falcons were feeling the effects of the low temperature, where the temperature was nearly identical back in Colorado Springs.
Air Force (10-3) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as they took their opening drive and marched down the field. Daniels was responsible for two key plays on the drive, a 9-yard run on a third-and-14 and then completed an 8-yard pass to David Cormier on fourth down to keep the drive alive.
Eight plays later, Brad Roberts punched it in from two-yards out to give Air Force a 6-0 lead.
Air Force, came into the game with the nation's best rushing attack, averaging 330.9 rushing yards during the season. The Falcons ran the ball 67 times for 276 yards.
Roberts, despite being held to just 25 first-half yards, finished the night with 116 yards on 37 carries for his school-record 20th game of hitting the century mark in rushing yards.
Blake Shapen threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Hal Presley in the finals seconds of the first half to cut the lead to 9-7. However the Bears would never get any close the rest of the game.
Daniels added a 2-yard touchdown run on the Falcons opening drive of the third quarter. He set up his own score on the previous play, hitting Amari Terry with a 68-yard strike deep down the left sideline and put the ball at the Baylor 2.
Then later in the quarter, Daniels threw a 15-yard touchdown toss to extend the Falcons lead to 23-7 with 2:29 remaining in the third quarter.
Roberts would add another touchdown to begin the fourth quarter, to make the score 30-7 in favor of the Falcons and put the game out of reach for Baylor.
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.
Baylor (6-7) struggled all night on offense, as they managed a season-low 230 yards. The Bears averaged 429.2 total yards during the regular season.
The Bears’ leading rusher for the game was “Sqwirl” Williams with just 25 yards. Baylor went an abysmal 0 for 11 on third down conversion attempts.
Air Force 9 0 14 7 = 30
Baylor 0 7 0 8 = 15
First Quarter AFA—Brad Roberts 2 run (kick blocked), 5:20. AFA—Matthew Dapore 37 field goal, 1:13. Second Quarter BAY—Hal Presley 8 pass from Blake Shapen (John Mayers kick), 0:05. Third Quarter AFA—Haaziq Daniels 2 run (Matthew Dapore kick), 12:28. AFA—Caleb Rillos 15 pass from Haaziq Daniels (Matthew Dapore kick), 2:29. Fourth Quarter AFA—Brad Roberts 1 run (Matthew Dapore kick), 12:40. BAY—Gavin Holmes 14 pass from Blake Shapen (Blake Shapen run), 3:34.
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