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6 p.m.
Football
at Wyoming
Saturday, September 28
Salt Lake City
1:00 PM MT
University of Utah
26
vs
30
Air Force*
Falcons Rally To Beat Utes
9/28/2002 12:00 AM | Football
Sept. 28, 2002
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Last-minute victories are becoming routine for Air Force.
Chance Harridge threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Don Clark with 17 seconds remaining to lift Air Force over Utah 30-26 Saturday. Air Force's last three wins came in overtime or the final minute of regulation.
The Falcons (4-0, 2-0 Mountain West) scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to win their fourth straight game. The Utes (2-3, 0-1) lost their third game in a row.
"We just believed," Harridge said. "We believed in what we're doing."
The Falcons took advantage of six Utah turnovers and a blocked punt in the come-from-behind win.
"At halftime, I told them that if they felt they were out of the ball game, then they would be," Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry said. "If they really believed, we'd be in great shape."
The Falcons are off to their best start since 1997.
 |  "I can't believe that we could do that to ourselves." Utah coach Ron McBride |
Air Force has been in close games with Utah the last few seasons. Last year, Air Force's 38-37 victory was not secured until linebacker Anthony Schlegel chased down quarterback Lance Rice at the 2-yard line as time expired.
Schlegel make 17 tackles Saturday.
"Once again, we found a way to win," Harridge said. "Wow."
Utah's Brandon Warfield ran for 193 yards and three touchdowns, but fumbled three times. The Utes amassed a season-high 148 yards on 13 penalties, including four for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"I can't believe that we could do that to ourselves," Utah coach Ron McBride said.
Harridge ran for the Falcons' first touchdown and threw two scoring passes to Clark, including the game-winner down the right sideline past Utah's Arnold Parker.
"It worked out just the way we drew it up," Harridge said. "It was amazing. Don had a heck of an inside release. And then, when he got an inside release, all I had to do was just set my feet and make the throw."
Air Force entered the game as the worst passing team in the nation. Harridge was just 6-of-16 for 99 yards, and the 20-yarder to Clark was the longest of the game. Utah held the Falcons to a season-low 188 rushing yards.
Utah dominated the first half and led 26-6 at halftime. But two fumbles and an interception allowed Air Force to cut the lead to 26-23 on Anthony Butler's 6-yard touchdown run with 10:24 remaining.
The Falcons nearly recovered a fumble by Utah punter Brian Lewis with 4:31 left, but the Utes grabbed it at their own 12-yard line and maintained possession.
Air Force then stopped Warfield on third-and-1 to force a punt with 2:58 left, and the Falcons drove 60 yards in nine plays for the winning touchdown.
Utah: 63, Cal Poly: 9 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
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