Sept. 26, 2009
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AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - Reggie Rembert returned a fumble 47 yards for a score, the first of Air Force's two defensive touchdowns, and Erik Soderberg tied a school record with four field goals, lifting the Falcons to a 26-14 win over San Diego State on Saturday.
The Falcons (3-1, 2-0 Mountain West) have won three straight over the Aztecs (1-3, 0-1).
The opportunistic Air Force defense recovered two fumbles and picked off four passes, including a 47-yard interception return for a score by Anthony Wright in the third quarter.
Rembert had a day to remember, intercepting two passes, forcing a fumble and scooping up Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley's fumble and outracing everyone to the end zone early in the game.
This was the second game back for Rembert, who missed the first two following a suspension for an unspecified violation of Academy standards.
Both of Rembert's interceptions were of the spectacular variety. The junior defensive back had a diving interception to thwart a San Diego State drive late in the second quarter.
Rembert had another later in the game when the ball deflected off the hands and then the heel of receiver DeMarco Sampson and straight into Rembert's arms, who made sure he got a foot down before falling out of bounds.
Rembert also FORCEd a fumble and helped keep standout receiver Vincent Brown bottled up - until the fourth quarter, that is. Brown finished with 10 catches for 123 yards, most coming late in the game.
Brown hauled in a 3-yard TD pass with just over 3 minutes left, then had a 30-yard touchdown reception on the final play of the game as the ball was tipped to him in the end zone.
Connor Dietz filled in at quarterback for Air Force for a banged-up Tim Jefferson, who dressed but didn't play because of a sprained right ankle. Dietz efficiently led the team down the field, finishing with 64 yards rushing and another 51 through the AIR.
Savier Stephens ran for 71 yards while Jared Tew gained 68 yards on 23 carries, mostly up the middle on fullback dives.
Soderberg becomes the eighth kicker at Air Force to make four field goals in a game. He connected from 21, 48, 20 and 41 yards. His 48-yarder in the second quarter was a career-best.
He also missed from 45 and 35 yards.
Lindley played with a dinged-up finger on his throwing hand, completing 25 of 41 passes for 284 yards. He also threw four interceptions and was sacked three times.
The Aztecs struggled in the first half, their six possessions resulting in two punts, two interceptions, a fumble and a missed 54-yard field goal try. They also had no yards rushing in the first half.
Leading 13-0 early in the second quarter, Air Force debated to go for a first down on fourth-and-1 at its 29. With the play clock winding down, the Falcons quickly sent out the punt unit, only to have the ball snapped over the head of punter Brandon Geyer and out of the back of the end zone for a safety.
The Falcons scored with a second left before halftime, when Soderberg connected on a 20-yard field goal.