The headline above is not a lie. Kale Pearson threw for 224 yards while Air Force ran for 315 yards in their 48-38 defeat of Georgia State. Air Force usually does not have statistics like that, but it worked well for them on Saturday.
Air Force came out and used their rushing game for most of the first drive (8 runs, 1 pass) to score the game's opening touchdown. Jacobi Owens finished the drive from 2 yards out to make it 7-0 Falcons. Georgia State did bring the ball down to the Air Force 20 yard line, but Jonathan Lytle's fourth down rush was stuffed.
Air Force showcased their running game again on the second drive with six straight runs. Their seventh play of the drive was a pass, which resulted in Pearson's 37 yard touchdown pass to Garrett Brown for a 14-0 Air Force lead.
Georgia State got on the board with Kyler Neal running in from 25 yards out to cut the deficit in half at 14-7. Georgia State's next drive was over after one play when Jordan Pierce intercepted Nick Arbuckle's pass and gave the ball to Air Force at the Georgia State 14 yard line. Owens ran in his second touchdown of the day from seven yards out only three plays later to make it 21-7 Air Force.
On Air Force's next drive, Pearson used a 44 yard pass to Jalen Robinette to get down to the Georgia State 5 yard line. Two plays later, Pearson finished the drive himself with a 1 yard touchdown run. The two teams then exchanged field goals in the final minutes to make it the halftime score 31-10 in favor of Air Force.
Georgia State produced the first points of the second half with Nick Arbuckle's 15 yard touchdown pass Lynquez Blair, but Pearson and Air Force responded with a touchdown of their own. Pearson punched it in from a yard out once more and Air Force re-established their 21 point lead at 38-17.
Arbuckle would continue the good offensive performance on the next drive as he drove the Panthers 75 yards in 12 plays and ran it in from a yard out in to make it 38-24.
Once again, Pearson had an answer. His 22 yard pass to Garrett Brown restored the 21 point lead at 45-24. Georgia State did well to continue fighting with the Arbuckle to Blair connection coming up again. This time it was from 13 yards out and the score was 45-31.
Will Conant hit a 41 yard field goal to cap off a 5 minute drive for the Air Force offense. Georgia State responded quickly when Arbuckle connected with Kyler Neal for a 73 yard gain to the Air Force 2 yard line. Duvall Smith ran in on the next play from 2 yards out to make it 48-38.
That would be the final score after Air Force would run the final 4:57 off the clock with their patented triple option offense.
Kale Pearson finished 12 of 15 for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 2 touchdowns rushing. Jacobi Owens had 25 carries for 122 yards and two rushing touchdowns as well. Garrett Brown had 4 carries for 62 yards. Brown also contributed 6 catches for 96 yards and two scores. Jalen Robinette was the Falcons' leading receiver with 4 catches for 118 yards.
Georgia State's Nick Arbuckle had another fantastic passing performance. He went 26 of 42 for 414 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. He also had a rushing touchdown. Kyler Neal was the leading rusher at 80 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Joel Ruiz was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 95 yards. Kyler Neal was the second leading receiver at 93 yards on 3 catches, though he was aided in the yardage department on the 73 yard catch and run. Donovan Harden had 6 catches for 90 yards while Lynquez Blair had 5 catches for 74 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Air Force (2-1, 0-1) will have a bye next week. They have their second conference game of the season on September 27 against Boise State (2-1, 1-0) at home.
Georgia State (1-2, 0-1) has the difficult task of going into Husky Stadium next Saturday to face Washington (3-0).