2006 Week 11

In stunning fashion, the 5-3 Air Force Falcons demolished the top ranked team in the nation 77-35 in front of a packed house at Falcon stadium. In a game where everything had to go right for Air Force, everything did, as the Falcons shot out of the gates and took a 21-0 lead before Notre Dame got on the board in the first quarter. After scoring on their initial drive, the Falcons forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, recovered it, and struck again with another touchdown less than a minute later. The usually suspect Falcon defense then stepped up holding the Irish to a 3-and-out, and the offense responded with another scoring drive. With 1:32 left in the first quarter, the Irish were already reeling.

Notre Dame still had some fight, and Darius Walker broke off a 66-yard touchdown run in response, followed by a 43-yard pick six by linebacker Joe Brockington. Justin Handley then paused the Irish surge with a 72-yard touchdown run of his own, but Notre Dame returned the following kickoff for 89 yards and another touchdown to close out the first quarter. At the end of one, the Falcons found themselves up 28-21.

The second quarter was all Air Force, as the offense put together drive after drive, and the defense playing mostly Cover 3 with very few blitzes (something uncharacteristic for this team) confounded Brady Quinn and the Irish offense. Handley scored again, and Handley rushed for one and passed for two touchdowns to lead Air Force to the shocking 56-21 halftime lead.

Notre Dame tried to respond in the second half scoring twice early in the 3rd period, but the Falcons clamped down and denied the Irish the rest of the game. It was the most impressive team effort seen thus far by this young team.

Coach Hemmen, after the game, was in as much disbelief as most of the sports world seemed to be. "I don't know what to say," Hemmen said, trying to hold back a grin. "Everything just clicked today. We made blocks, we made tackles, we made good decisions and good playcalls. We grabbed the momentum early and were able to hang onto it throughout the game."

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis was distraught. "They brought different looks that we prepared for all week. I think we obviously underestimated this team."

The loss, Notre Dame's first of the season, deals a devistating blow to the Irish national championship hopes while simultaneously making Air Force bowl eligible. The Falcons face another tough test next week when they host the 20th rank Utah Utes.

[video] - Air Force recovers a fumbled kickoff setting up their second TD of the game.
[video] - Carney takes a nice option keeper for a 15 yard gain.
[video] - Carney misfires by a mile, as Notre Dame finally gets on the board with a pick six.
[video] - The Irish try to keep it close with an 89-yard kickoff return for a TD.
[video] - An ill-devised trick play for the Irish hands Air Force great field position.
[video] - Carney takes an option keeper in for another score.
[video] - With 18 seconds to go in the 2nd quarter, the Irish fumble their second kickoff of the game, setting up yet another Falcon touchdown pass just before halftime.
[video] - Carney extends the lead to 56-21 just as time expires in the first half.
[video] - Handley takes the option pitch and rumbles 40 yards for a Falcon touchdown.
[video] - Nathan Smith plays perfect man-to-man pass defense, deflecting a deep Brady Quin pass.
[video] - Handley breaks tackles and leap frogs his way to the endzone
[video] - The Falcon defensive line brings Quin down on a sack late in the game.
[image] - The ESPN Magazine cover shows off Notre Dame's shock.