Sept. 4, 1999
By AARON J. LOPEZ
AP Sports Writer
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - Fisher DeBerry apparently is serious about putting the "Air" back in Air Force.
Cale Bonds led a surprisingly effective passing attack, and Scott Becker and Jeremy Laster each ran for two touchdowns as Air Force beat Villanova 37-13 Saturday in a season opener.
"They have a chance to be totally unstoppable," Villanova coach Andy Talley said, "because they can do so many things in the running game and then they can pull up and throw the ball."
Bonds, in his first year as the starting quarterback, was 11-of-17 for a career-high 199 yards. He also ran for 64 yards on 16 carries to help the Falcons win their fifth straight season opener and 10th straight game overall.
"How many times did we throw?" Bonds said. "Seventeen? That's not really a whole lot of passes. They probably threw 60. It's just a matter of taking what the defense gives us. We have to counter with something."
With Villanova pressing up front, Matt Farmer was able to run free in the secondary. He finished with 92 yards on seven catches - the most receptions by an Air Force receiver in 16 seasons under DeBerry.
"They've said in the past that we'll throw more, and it really never happened," Farmer said. "I'm thankful for the opportunity to get that many catches. It's not often we throw the ball that much to the same person."
Chris Boden and Murle Sango accounted for both Villanova touchdowns, connecting on scoring passes of 12 and 39 yards. Boden finished 27-of-45 for 304 yards. Sango had eight catches for 109 yards.
The passing game was Villanova's only real threat as the Wildcats adjust without injured running back Brian Westbrook, who had 1,046 yards rushing and 1,144 yards receiving last year.
Westbrook's absence showed as the Division I-AA Wildcats finished with 25 yards rushing and 304 passing.
"It was tough," said Boden, who has 11 career 300-yard passing games in 25 starts. "I think for a little bit, they could just pin their ears back and know that they were going to get the pass and just pass rush us."
Though Air Force showed uncharacteristic offensive balance, its steady ground attack was the difference, keeping Villanova's defense on the field for extended periods.
The Falcons, third nationally with 267 yards rushing per game last year, had 385 Saturday. They finished with 584 yards overall.
"I saw the defensive line had their hands on their hips," Laster said. "They were through."
After falling behind 7-0, Air Force closed the first half with 24 straight points, and Villanova got no closer than 11 in the second half.
"Coming into this game, we knew we'd have to play pretty flawless to stay on the field with them," Talley said. "It was obvious after the first half that we were leaving our defense on the field too long."
Laster's second touchdown run pushed the lead to 18 points midway through the fourth quarter, and Leotis Palmer closed the scoring with a 20-yard run with 46 seconds remaining.
Bonds completed his first seven passes and had 152 yards by halftime, while halfback Scott McKay and fullbacks Becker and Laster took care of things on the ground.
Becker had touchdown plunges of 1 and 2 yards, and Laster scored from 1 yard out. Air Force added a 26-yard field goal by Jackson Whiting with seven seconds left to take a 17-point halftime lead.
Villanova, which fell to 0-6 against Division I-A teams, took its only lead on Sango's 12-yard touchdown catch less than five minutes into the game.
Air Force had no trouble coming back, and the Falcons gave DeBerry his 121st career victory. He is tied with Army's Red Blaik as the winningest coach in service academy history.
"I guess that means I'm getting old," DeBerry said. "That's about the only thing that I can figure."
