Sports

Air Force beats Army 23-6; captures its 19th Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Army defensive back Chris Carnegie (14) breaks up a pass for Air Force wide receiver Jalen Robinette (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, in West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mike Groll) (The Associated Press)

Army quarterback Angel Santiago (3) eludes Air Force linebacker Jordan Pierce (51) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, in West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mike Groll) (The Associated Press)

Kale Pearson hit tight end Garrett Griffin for a 54-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to break open a tense game, Will Conant kicked three field goals, and Air Force beat Army 23-6 on Saturday to win the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for a record 19th time.

Air Force (6-2) has won five of six, including a triumph over Navy, which put the Falcons in position to capture the trophy on Saturday. The Falcons beat Navy 30-21 a month ago.

Army (2-6) hasn't captured the coveted hardware, emblematic of supremacy among the three service academies, since it won its sixth in 1996.

It was the 49th meeting between the service-academy rivals, who rely on the run game. The Falcons lead the series against Army 34-14-1 and have won 16 of the last 18 in the series. The Falcons are 31-12 in Commander-in-Chief's Trophy games against Army dating to the beginning of the round-robin competition in 1972 and have a series-best 56-30 overall record against Army and Navy.