Far West Roundup : Air Force Beats UTEP to Remain Undefeated

Quarterback Dee Dowis rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as Air Force raced to a 26-point lead and coasted to a 43-26 Western Athletic Conference victory over Texas El Paso Saturday at the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Air Force, 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference, proved vulnerable to the pass in the second half. UTEP’s Howard Gasser threw for three scores, but he also was sacked nine times.

The Miners, dropping to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the WAC, went almost exclusively to the air during the second half, running the ball only three times in a desperation bid that fell short.

Gasser’s 47-yard heave to Ricki Lopez drew the Miners within 36-26 with 4:55 left, but Dowis then directed a time-consuming drive that culminated in Greg Johnson’s six-yard score with 27 seconds remaining.

Dowis, who went into the game as the nation’s second-leading rusher with a per-game average of 163 yards, finished with 92 yards in 13 carries.

Colorado State 35, Eastern Michigan 35--Hector Murillo scored on a one-yard run and Tim Henneghan’s conversion kick was good as the Hurons fought back for a tie at Fort Collins, Colo.

The Hurons thought they won the game on a touchback after a fumbled interception in the end zone in the last three seconds, but referees ruled that the Rams did not attempt to advance the ball and the touchback was denied.

The Rams went ahead in the fourth quarter on a touchdown by Tony Alford, 35-28, but Murillo’s run tied it.

A 41-yard field goal attempt by the Rams’ Mike Brown failed. The Hurons took possession, and a pass by the Hurons was intercepted in the end zone by Kevin Nettles, who dropped the ball.

Colorado State is 1-2-1; Eastern Michigan is 3-0-1.

Tulsa 35, New Mexico 33--Fullback Brett Adams rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Golden Hurricane to victory at Tulsa.

The Lobos had a chance to win the game with five seconds left, but David Margolis’ 44-yard field goal attempt with a 20-m.p.h. wind behind him hit the left upright and bounced away.

Tulsa is 3-1. New Mexico is 1-3.