Air Force opens season with 431 rushing yards in 34-0 win over Duquesne

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) — Quarterback Liam Szarka had two rushing touchdowns and 17 players combined for 431 rushing yards in Air Force’s 34-0 season-opening win over FCS-opponent Duquesne on Saturday.

In a game that saw less than 100 total yards passing, Air Force had its way on the ground. Rocco Conti led with 74 yards on 10 carries and Kemper Hodges followed with 72 yards on six carries.

Szarka completed 3 of 5 passes for 19 yards and two Duquesne quarterbacks combined for 53 yards, completing 9 of 22 attempts. The Dukes (0-1) had only 54 yards rushing for a total of 107 yards of offense.

Air Force scored on the first possession of the game when Hodges' 4-yard run capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive that lasted nearly seven minutes. A 1-yard run by Szarka and two field goals from Carter Cremascoli made it 20-0 at halftime.

Szarka and backup quarterback Evan Medders each had short touchdown runs in the second half.

Air Force has a 20-game winning streak in season openers which is the third-longest active streak in the nation, trailing only Ohio State (26) and Alabama (25).

The Falcons improved to 31-0 against FCS opponents.

Up next

Air Force: vs. North Dakota State on Saturday

Duquesne: at Youngstown State on Saturday —-

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