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 37-yard 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.
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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 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 first-down 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.
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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.
