AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — The Air Force Falcons’ quarterback competition continued into their season opener Saturday afternoon against Bucknell.
While both Josh Johnson and Liam Szarka had their moments against the Bison, it was Johnson who had the biggest ones in a dominant 49-13 victory.
Johnson threw touchdown passes of 62 and 40 yards — the former to Cade Harris for one of his three TDs — and finished with 112 yards on 4-of-7 passing in the Falcons’ 19th-straight season-opening victory.
Air Force has won five-straight, dating back to last season, the fourth-longest active streak in the nation, and the season-opening streak is second only to Ohio State.
Johnson’s 40-yard connection with Quinn Smith came on the Falcons’ second drive of the game. Last year, he threw one touchdown pass in his six appearances, and none of the four Falcon quarterbacks had a multiple-touchdown game.
Szarka, a Grandview High School alum, completed both of his passes for 47 yards on the Falcons’ very next drive, which ended with a 9-yard Harris scoring run and 14-0 lead. Szarka led another touchdown drive in the second quarter.
Harris finished with 66 yards on eight carries and 83 yards on three receptions. Dylan Carson and Maguire Martin also had rushing touchdowns. Korey Johnson returned a fumble 34 yards for a score.
The Falcons punted on their first possession, then scored four consecutive touchdowns before missing a field goal late in the second quarter.
After a 48-minute weather delay in the third quarter when the Falcons were up 42-10, the teams agreed to cut the fourth quarter to 12 minutes.
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