The California Golden Bears blew out the Air Force Falcons 55-36 to win the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at the Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas today. With the win, the Bears end the season with a record of 8-5. With the loss, the Falcons end the season with a record of 8-6.
Despite what the final score said, it was a back and forth affair between these two teams to start. On the first possession of the game, Air Force went 11 plays for 68 yards that was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Jacobi Owens, giving the Falcons a 7-0 lead.
Cal would respond with 14 unanswered points in the first quarter, as running back Vic Enwere tied the game at seven with a one-yard rushing touchdown and Jared Goff would find receiver Bryce Treggs for a 30-yard touchdown to give the Bears their first lead, 14-7.
Air Force took the ball and flew like Falcons down the field before running back Tyler Wilson finished the job off with a 16-yard touchdown run to again knot the game up 14-14. After two punts, Cal took possession of the ball and tore up the Falcons defense with their golden bear claws, as Jared Goff passed it to Darius Powe for the five-yard touchdown to retake the lead, 21-14.
The game would start to fall apart for the Air Force Falcons, as they fumbled the ball and gave possession back to Cal. Bears quarterback Jared Goff would quickly take advantage of the turnover as on the first play he sent the ball 24 yards to Kenny Lawler to make it a 28-14 game.
Air Force got the ball back and from one yard out quarterback Karson Roberts made it a 28-21 Cal lead. The Golden Bears continued their quick-strike offense, as they went three plays for 78 yards that was capped off by a 14-yard touchdown catch from Kenny Lawler. Cal would lead Air Force 35-21 at halftime.
The route continued for Cal, as they would receive the kickoff for the second half. Jared Goff would lead the Bears down field and put up seven as Darius Powe caught his second touchdown pass of the game, making it a 42-21 Cal lead. Air Force would fumble it once again which led to an eventual Golden Bears field goal.
The Air Force Academy would respond after giving up 17 unanswered points. Quarterback Karson Roberts would throw his first touchdown of the game as he found receiver Timothy McVey deep down the field for a 57-yard touchdown. Running back Jacobi Owens would convert the two-point conversion, making it a 45-29 ballgame.
Once again, Air Force had trouble stopping Goff and the Cal offense. They would give up another touchdown on three plays that took only 1:13 off the clock. It was Kenny Lawler would was recipient of that touchdown, his third of the game.
After an Air Force interception and a Cal punt, Karson Roberts for the Falcons found Jalen Robinette for the 15-yard touchdown to make it a 52-36 game. Robinette was only one of three receiver to catch a pass for the Falcons.
The Cal Golden Bears put up the last points in this ballgame when Matt Anderson nailed a 30-yard field goal to solidify the win making it a 55-36 game.
Cal quarterback Jared Goff went 25-of-37 for 467 yards and a remarkable six touchdowns. Goff broke the single season touchdowns record for the Pac-12 that was set last season by Marcus Mariota with his 43rd touchdown this season. Goff also broke Aaron Rodgers’ Cal record for most passing yards in a bowl game with 467, as Rodgers had 394 yards.
Wide receiver Bryce Treggs led the Golden Bears with four catches for 143 yards and one touchdown. Kenny Lawler finished with five catches for 75 yards and three touchdowns, while Darius Powe added four catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
Air Force quarterback Karson Roberts went 7-for-14 with 149 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. As a team, the Falcons rushed the ball 53 times for 285 yards and three touchdowns.
This was Cal’s first bowl appearance since 2011 when they lost to Texas in the Holiday Bowl. This is Cal’s first bowl win since they beat Air Force in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl. This is Air Force’s first bowl appearance since the 2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, which they won.