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Air Force running back Jacobi Owens was trying to run the ball when it popped out of his hands — this is usually a bad thing. Instead, the fumble wound up being a very good thing!
The ball ricocheted off a helmet, was batted in the air and bounced its way down the field a whole nearly 30 yards. Owens’ teammate, Garrett Griffin, fortunately recovered it and the entire thing was a 34-yard gain.
Then, after that, it got even better. On that same drive, the Falcons scored a touchdown to take the lead over San Diego State, 17-10. Although, they weren’t able to hang on to it.
Air Force lost the Mountain West Championship Game to the Aztecs, 27-24. But that play will stand as something strange and uplifting in that positives can be found even in seemingly hopeless situations.