2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Bowl Game.
Amon G. Carter Stadium
Air Force Falcons California Golden Bears (9–3) (6–6) 36 42 Head coach:  Troy Calhoun Head coach:  Jeff Tedford 1 2 3 4 Total Air Force 14 7 6 9 36 California 0 14 14 14 42
Date	December 31, 2007
Season	2007
Stadium	Amon G. Carter Stadium
Location	Fort Worth, Texas
MVP	QB Kevin Riley, California
Favorite	California by 4[1]
Referee	Marc Curles
Attendance	40,905[2]
Payout	US$750,000 per team[3]
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Dan Fouts, Tim Brant
Armed Forces Bowl  < 2006  2008 >

The 2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl was a college football bowl game that was played on December 31, 2007, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. The Armed Forces Bowl is part of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season and one of 32 games in the 2007-2008 bowl season and matched the California Golden Bears and the Air Force Falcons.

The Golden Bears were a pre-season favorite to contend for the Pac-10 Conference, and possibly even for the BCS National Championship Game, but the team struggled to a 6-6 season. On the other hand, the Falcons earned their first bowl bid since 2001 with a 9-3 mark, tied for second in the Mountain West Conference.

[edit] Game

The Bears came out for the game without last names on the backs of their uniforms, a change from their look throughout the season. In addition, three of their players, star kick returner Desean Jackson, wide receiver Robert Jordan, and free safety Thomas DeCoud were suspended for the first quarter of the game for violating team rules.

The Bears struggled early against the Falcons, who ran up 21 unanswered points under the leadership of quarterback Shaun Carney. The Bears had trouble in the early going of the game adjusting to the Falcons triple option offense and unpredictable line formations. Nate Longshore started and played cleanly in the first quarter, but was hampered by the absence of DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan. Longshore completed 5 of 8 passes for 36 yards in the first quarter. As Cal coach Jeff Tedford had planned, backup quarterback Kevin Riley took over for Longshore in the second quarter. Riley completed two touchdown passes to DeSean Jackson and Lavelle Hawkins to make it 21-14 Falcons at the half.

Carney was injured in the third quarter on a running play and did not return. He finished with one touchdown pass and 108 yards rushing. Backup Shea Smith, who had not played all year, replaced Carney. The Falcons were limited to a pair of field goals, while Robert Jordan caught a pass for a touchdown and Justin Forsett ran in for one. He rushed for another in the fourth quarter, as did Riley. Air Force was limited to field goals until they capitalized on a botched kickoff return to score a touchdown with just over two minutes left, but failed to recover an onside kick. Alongside Carney, Falcons running back Jim Ollis also eclipsed the 100 yard rushing mark with 101, while Forsett had 140. Riley completed 269 passing yards and was the game MVP, leaving some to believe that there will be controversy over who will be the starting quarterback next year at Cal. Cal ended the 2007 season with its first win in four games, while handing Air Force their first loss in four games.

[edit] Sources and more information

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

• Riley an armed force for Bears off the bench Down 21, Cal rallies for victory
• Tedford primed for QB debate
• Cal receivers return to duty, help Bears rally past Air Force
• Game Box Score
• Pictures of the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl

[edit] References

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