Air Force wins an OT classic over Navy 35-34

<p>Posted by Keith Arnold on October 1, 2011, 4:20 PM EDT</p>

<p>In a game that looked like it was all Air Force’s, Ken Niumatalolo (spelled correctly on the first try by the way) rallied his Navy Midshipmen in a thrilling second half comeback. Navy executed a fake punt, recovered an onside kick and capped it all off when it scored a touchdown and made its two-point conversion with 19 seconds left to overcome an 18 point fourth-quarter deficit and send the game to overtime.</p>

<p>And that’s just when the game got really interesting…</p>

<p>From there, Navy got the football first and methodically drove the field. But stopped short of the first down on a third-down keeper, Niumatalolo rolled the dice, eschewing a chip shot field goal to go for it on 4th and one.</p>

<p>The gamble paid off, as quarterback Kriss Proctor picked up the yard on a QB keeper, then snuck in on the next play to score overtime’s first touchdown. But Proctor had a little too much fun doing it, and drew an unsportsmanlike penalty flag for taunting an Air Force defender.</p>

<p>The penalty became the game’s defining play, as the ensuing point after attempt was blocked by Air Force linebacker Alex Means.</p>

<p>Down six points, Falcons quarterback Tim Jefferson did the rest, completing a deep out, throwing for a pass interference flag in the end zone, and then sneaking the ball twice, the second time for the tying touchdown. From there, Air Force kicker Parker Herrington did the rest, knocking through the extra point to leave the raucous home crowd in shock.</p>

<p>Air Force heads to South Bend next weekend where its option attack should scare the bejesus out of Notre Dame fans everywhere.</p>