Air Force beats James Madison to win Armed Forces Bowl

Air Force won the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl for the second consecutive year with a dominating 31-21 performance over James Madison.

The Falcons (9-4), which beat Baylor 30-15 a year ago, rushed for 351 behind their triple-option attack.

The Dukes (11-2), which were ranked No. 24 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, were playing in the school’s first bowl game after receiving a waiver to play in the game because not enough teams met the six-win bowl qualification.

James Madison finished a two-season transition from the Football Championship Subdivision this season and will compete as a full Football Bowl Subdivision member in 2024.

Air Force drove 86 yards on eight plays on its opening drive and took a 7-0 lead on Emmanuel Michel’s one-yard scoring run. It’s only the third time a James Madison opponent scored on its opening drive this season.

The Falcons never looked back.

James Madison’s pass-heavy offense struggled to string drives together. The Falcons forced five punts and held the Dukes to 283 total yards, nearly 150 fewer than their season average.

The Falcons won their fifth consecutive bowl game. They’re now 3-4 in the Armed Forces Bowl.

James Madison quarterback Jordan McCloud threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns on 20 of 33 passing, with an interception.

Air Force quarterback Zac Larrier only attempted five passes, but he made them count. His second pass went for a 42-yard score to Jared Roznos and gave the Falcons a 21-7 lead with 27 seconds remaining in the first half.

Michel finished with 203 yards on 35 carries. His 203 yards are an Air Force bowl record and the second most in the Armed Forces Bowl behind San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny, who had 221 yards in 2017. John Lee Eldridge III added 78 yards on eight carries, the bulk of it coming on a 51-yard run down to the Dukes’ 5 that set up Michel’s second one-yard scoring run and a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

The win snaps a four-game losing streak for Air Force.

“To be able to win four straight bowl games in our time here is a big deal,” said Michel, who gained 54 yards on a run up the middle on the Falcons’ first play from scrimmage. Michel finished with 950 yards in 11 games this season.

McCloud had touchdown passes of 18, 5, and 7 yards, including to Phoenix Sproles, who finished with five receptions for 55 yards. Elijah Sarratt led the Dukes with eight catches for 115 yards.

The Air Force defense was just too much for James Madison. The Falcons sacked McCloud four times, including three from linebacker Bo Richter, and recorded nine tackles for a loss.

“We did all we could, considering the circumstances [to prepare for the option],” said James Madison offensive line coach Damian Wroblewski, who was the acting head coach after former head coach Curt Cignetti took the head job at Indiana. “I thought our kids adjusted well. I think, offensively, our execution wasn’t consistent enough when it comes to the fundamentals of the game. It’s been a fun three weeks under some unusual circumstances.”

In the first half, Air Force linebacker Jonathan Youngblood intercepted a dubious decision from the right-handed McCloud, who was being pressured and attempted a left-handed pass. It floated up softly, and Youngblood came down with it.

“It put a little jolt right out of the blocks,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said of Michel’s 54-yard run. “The won 11 games, and they deserved to be ranked No. 24. They have a bunch of great years ahead of them.”