Air Force Rushes Past UConn 35-26 Behind Hodges’ Four Touchdowns

With the victory, Air Force improved to 6-2 on the season and secured bowl eligibility. The Huskies saw their two-game winning streak snapped, dropping their record back to .500 at 4-4.

Running back Kemper Hodges spearheaded the Falcons' attack with a career-defining performance. Hodges carried the ball 35 times for 200 yards and scored four touchdowns. Fellow ball-carrier Owen Allen chipped in with 70 yards on 18 carries, while Gage LaDue found the end zone for the Falcons' other score. Air Force's signature triple-option attack dominated the clock, racking up an eye-popping 41:54 in time of possession.

The Huskies took the opening kickoff but stalled on a quick three-and-out. A short punt handed Air Force short field position, and the Falcons quickly capitalized with a 10-play, 55-yard drive capped by a 7-yard scoring run from Hodges to make it 7-0.

After UConn turned the ball over on downs and followed with another three-and-out, the Falcons struck again before the first quarter closed. Hodges exploded through the Husky defensive front and outran the secondary for a 67-yard touchdown sprint, extending the Air Force lead to 14-0 with 1:27 left in the frame.

UConn responded early in the second quarter. Osborne directed a methodical 10-play sequence, which Trey Cornist finished off with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone to cut the deficit to 14-7.

Air Force answered right back, aided by two personal foul penalties against the UConn defense. The Falcons finished an 11-play, 77-yard march when Hodges plunged in from three yards out at 5:53 for his third score of the half, restoring a 21-7 cushion.

The Huskies countered before the intermission. Osborne orchestrated another 10-play drive and connected with Ryder Treadway on third-and-goal for a 2-yard strike—Treadway’s first touchdown as a Husky—trimming the margin to 21-14 with 1:56 left in the second quarter.

Special teams sparked the Falcons in the second half. Facing fourth down in the third quarter, Air Force dialed up a fake punt, and Hodges broke free for a 19-yard scamper to extend the possession. LaDue finished off the 16-play, 81-yard drive that drained 9:40 off the clock with a 4-yard touchdown plunge, pushing the advantage back to 28-14 with 2:34 remaining in the quarter.

The Huskies struck back instantaneously. Osborne connected with Julian Allen on a 20-yard pass before hitting tight end Alex Godavitarne, who slipped past the coverage for a 55-yard touchdown strike. The 30-second scoring drive brought UConn within eight at 28-20 after a missed extra point with 2:04 left in the third.

Momentum swung further toward UConn when their defense forced a three-and-out. Moments later, running back Kenji Christian broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run. Trailing 28-26 with 14:53 remaining, UConn went for the two-point conversion to tie the game, but Air Force's pass rush broke through to sack Osborne and preserve the lead.

From there, Air Force executed a masterclass in clock management. The Falcons orchestrated a 19-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 11:37 of the final quarter. Facing fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Hodges bulled across the goal line with 3:09 remaining, sealing the 35-26 victory with his fourth score of the afternoon.

UConn returns home to kick off a three-game homestand on Saturday, November 7, hosting the North Carolina Tar Heels. Kickoff is slated for noon ET at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.