Army outlasts Air Force: Black Knights take down Falcons in dramatic fashion on last-second field goal

Final: Army 20, Air Force 17

Army kicker Dawson Jones drilled a game-winning 27-yard field goal as time expired to secure a 20-17 victory over Air Force on Saturday at Falcon Stadium, setting up a winner-take-all showdown with Navy for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. ET on CBS. The Black Knights, seeking their fifth trophy in nine years, overcame a late Falcons surge behind a balanced offensive attack and opportunistic defense.

After Air Force tied the game with a rushing touchdown by Liam Szarka with 1:26 remaining, Army went 65 yards in eight plays to set up Jones' game-winning kick. Cale Hellums' 42-yard deep ball to Brady Anderson with 32 seconds to play proved to be the biggest play of the game for Army, as it set up the winning field goal.

Hellums spearheaded Army's attack, rushing for 98 yards and scoring his 11th touchdown of the season on a 10-yard run that reclaimed the lead midway through the fourth quarter. Hellums also went 5-for-9 through the air for 102 yards, highlighted by a 40-yard connection to Noah Short in the first quarter that gave Army an early edge. Running back Briggs Bartosh added 74 yards on 11 carries, helping the Black Knights dominate time of possession and maintain control on the ground.

Air Force leaned on Szarka, who finished with 161 yards passing and 91 yards rushing with two touchdowns. The Falcons moved methodically down the field on a 12-play, 65-yard drive late in the third quarter, breaking through Army's red zone defense for the first touchdown against the Black Knights in 33 drives since 2022.

Army's defense forced three crucial turnovers and limited Air Force to just two scores on four red-zone trips. With the victory, the Black Knights not only extended their recent dominance over the Falcons -- winning seven of the last nine matchups -- but also claimed their first win in Colorado Springs since 2017, setting the stage for a high-stakes, winner-take-all clash with Navy for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.

Late 4Q: Army 17, Air Force 17

Army tried to convert a fourth-and-1 from its own 26 to seal the game, but Cale Hellums came up just short, giving Air Force another chance.

On third-and-1, an incomplete pass would have forced a decisive fourth down, but a late pass interference penalty extended the drive. On the very next play, Liam Szarka powered in from two yards for his second rushing touchdown with 1:26 left, tying the game.

Late 4Q: Army 17, Air Force 10

Air Force got a boost on a key play with Liam Szarka finding Cade Harris downfield for a 13-yard gain before taking a late hit that drew a 15-yard penalty on Army. That penalty quickly put the Falcons into Black Knights territory. With the game on the line and a fourth-and-6, Szarka dialed up a screen to Kade Frew, who picked up 13 yards for a first down. On the next snap, Szarka beat the corner blitz to connect with Jonah Dawson for a 16-yard gain. As Szarka went to attempt another pass, he was hit from behind, causing a fumble recovered by Army for its third takeaway of the game.

Mid 4Q: Army 17, Air Force 10

After Air Force tied the game with a long touchdown drive, Army answered on its next possession to retake the lead. The Black Knights faced a third-and-7, with Cale Hellums initially looking to pass before scrambling up the middle for a first down. He then capped the drive with his 11th rushing touchdown of the season on a 10-yard run to the end zone.

The 13-play, 75-yard drive chewed up eight minutes, giving Army control of the clock and momentum late in the fourth quarter.

End 3Q: Army 10, Air Force 10

Air Force finally broke through to tie the game after a long, methodical drive. Liam Szarka capped a 12-play, 65-yard march with a 3-yard touchdown run, marking the Falcons' first touchdown against Army in 33 drives since 2022.

The drive, which consumed 7:05, featured Szarka bouncing back from his earlier interception with an 18-yard completion as Air Force worked steadily toward the red zone. Army's defense had kept the Black Knights largely in check outside of the early big play, but the Falcons finally found the end zone to even the score heading into the fourth quarter.

Mid 3Q: Army 10, Air Force 3

Air Force mounted a long drive to try and get back into the game, highlighted by an early explosive connection as Liam Szarka found Jonah Dawson for an 18-yard gain. Three plays later, Cade Harris broke free for 17 yards, moving the Falcons near the red zone. But on third-and-7 from the Army 18, Szarka's second interception of the game kept the Black Knights' streak alive, holding Air Force without a touchdown since 2022.

Half: Army 10, Air Force 3

With a successful 44-yard field goal in the final minute of the half, the Black Knights have full control heading into the locker room despite a slow start offensively. Field position and the turnover by Casey Larkin helped get Army going in the second quarter. The combo of Cale Hellums and Briggs Bartosh combined for 99 yards on the ground. That 40-yard touchdown strike to Noah Short was just the fifth passing play of at least 40 yards this season for Army, but it provided a timely boost to keep the offense rolling.

Air Force had an opportunity to put points on the board before halftime, but Reagan Tubbs missed a 40-yard field goal. The Falcons drove 52 yards in seven plays before coming up empty. Liam Szarka has 83 yards passing and just 29 yards rushing so far.

Late 2Q: Army 7, Air Force 3

Air Force began its drive pinned near its own end zone. Four straight runs by Liam Szarka gained some breathing room, but a costly interception by Casey Larkin handed Army a chance to extend its lead before halftime. That's the 11th turnover the Black Knights' defense has forced against the Falcons in four meetings.

Mid 2Q: Army 7, Air Force 3

Air Force has leaned on Liam Szarka early, with eight keepers for just 18 yards. Army's defense is tackling well to prevent him from reaching the second level. When Szarka isn't running, he's finding his targets through the air, completing his first four passes for 43 yards. His first incompletion came on a third-and-16 attempt as the Falcons tried to extend the drive.

Army has started strong on the ground, averaging 5.1 yards per carry with Cale Hellums picking up key short-yardage conversions. The Black Knights have racked up 82 yards on 16 attempts so far, though their offense continues to stall on obvious passing downs.

End 1Q: Army 7, Air Force 3

Army finally showed signs of life with a 38-yard burst from Briggs Bartosh -- its first first down of the game -- to cross midfield. A 15-yard penalty briefly slowed the drive, but two plays later, quarterback Cale Hellums connected with Noah Short on a 40-yard touchdown strike to the end zone, giving the Black Knights the lead heading into the second quarter.

Early 1Q: Air Force 3, Army 0

Army can't afford to get behind the chains -- but that's exactly what happened on its second drive. Facing third-and-7, Cale Hellums missed across the middle, leading to another quick three-and-out. Air Force responded with quarterback Liam Szarka finding Bruin Fleischmann for a 21-yard gain to jump-start the offense. The Falcons converted a short fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive. But Army held firm when Air Force tried to stretch runs to the edge, forcing a 52-yard field goal that Reagan Tubbs drilled to open the scoring.

Early 1Q: Army 0, Air Force 0

Army opens with a quick three-and-out -- and surprisingly, two pass attempts on the first series. That early defensive stand for Air Force set up its offense, where the Falcons mixed in some early misdirection, with Cade Harris getting four touches for 22 yards to set the tone.

Emotions ran high before kickoff as staff members from both teams appeared to exchange words -- and briefly shove -- in a minor altercation before taking the field.

There isn't an obvious trend to follow, with neither Army nor Air Force being particularly consistent against the spread this season while being on opposite sides of the over/under trends when it comes to totals. But the Falcons showed signs of life recently, finally prevailing for a win against Wyoming in Week 8 to snap a five-game losing skid, which included back-to-back defeats by a field goal. Momentum and historical home-field advantage gives Air Force the slight edge here.

Army has struggled historically in Colorado Springs, winning just four times at Falcon Stadium, most recently in 2017. Air Force leads the all-time series, 38-20-1. This will be Army's first visit to Falcon Stadium since 2019, making it a significant test for the Black Knights as they look to maintain recent success in the series and gain an edge in the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy race.

Army linebacker Andon Thomas leads the defense with 59 total tackles this season. One of the most experienced Black Knights on that side of the ball, the 6-foot, 230-pound senior has 20 starts since the beginning of last season. His presence will be key in slowing Air Force's attack, which has averaged 6.2 yards per carry over its last two games.

Army and Air Force rank among the FBS's top four rushing offenses in yards per game. The Black Knights average 275.6 yards per contest, while the Falcons are slightly ahead at 283.7. What stands out, though, is the difference in efficiency against FBS opponents: Air Force (55.4%) ranks third nationally, while Army (49.5%) is tied for 26th.

Army (3-4) has a chance to eliminate Air Force (2-5) from contention in the 2025 Commander-in-Chief's Trophy race when it travels to Falcon Stadium on Saturday for a key matchup in one of college football's most storied rivalries. The game kicks off at noon ET on CBS.

The Black Knights have controlled the series lately, winning six of the past eight meetings, though this will be their first trip to Colorado Springs since 2019.

Army vs. Air Force prediction, pick, spread: Second leg of Commander-In-Chief's Trophy race up for grabs

Cody Nagel