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Logan • Going into Saturday night's battle with Air Force, Utah State had won 11 straight Mountain West Conference games at Maverik Stadium.

The streak is over.

Air Forced parlayed a critical fumble by quarterback Kent Myers into the clinching touchdown with 5:05 remaining and the Falcons handed the Aggies a 27-20 loss in the league opener for both teams.

Air Force improved to 3-0 on the season. Utah State slipped to 2-2

The key sequence of the game started with 7:41 remaining. Air Force owned a 17-13 lead, but Utah State owned the ball at its own 23.

Penalties, however, doomed the Aggies.

An illegal receiver downfield call negated a 13-yard gain on first down. An illegal formation penalty two plays letter wiped out a 25-yard run by Myers.

On third-and-12 from the 21, Myers was sacked and fumbled. Air Force recovered and the call held up after a review, giving the Falcons the ball at the Utah State 13.

Air Force quickly converted the turnover into Jacobi Owens' one-yard touchdown, making it an impossible two-score game for the Aggies — even before a Falcon field goal with 2:59 remaining and a Utah State touchdown with 32 seconds left.

After a back-and-forth first half, Air Force owned a 17-10 lead.

The Falcons took a 3-0 lead before Utah State struck swiftly. A 42-yard pass from Myers to Ron'Quavion Tarver moved the ball to the Air Force 43. On first down, Myers hit freshman Rayshad Lewis, who was wide open down the middle, for a touchdown.

Utah State nearly extended its lead on the next possession. But Myers' 34-yard pass to Tarver in the end zone was ruled out of bounds. The call held up after a review.

The Aggies used a 23-yard field goal by Brock Warren to made it 10-3 early in the second quarter, but Air Force quickly tied the game.

Tim McVeigh's 59-yard kickoff return gave the Falcons possession at the Utah State 36 and, five plays later, Tyler Williams tied the game with a four-yard touchdown run.

With 2:03 left in the half, the Aggies had a first down on the Air Force 44-yard line. They were positioned to burn most of the remaining clock and, perhaps, re-take the lead.

It didn't happen.

Myers' first-down pass was intercepted by the Falcons' Brodie Hicks at the 12. Air Force, without any remaining time-out, was still able to drive 88 yards for the go-ahead score. It came on Nate Romine's 12-yard pass to Ryan Reffitt with only 13 seconds remaining.

Later, Utah State had first-and-goal at the 10 and first-and-goal at the eight. The Aggies managed only three points from those opportunities, however, and their inability to make a big play ended up being a huge factor in the outcome.

Twitter: @sluhm —

Storylines

• Air Force turns a late Utah State fumble into the clinching touchdown in a 27-20 win over the Aggies.

• Utah State had won 11 straight Mountain West Conference games at Maverik Stadium.

• The Aggies return to league play next Saturday night in Boise against the unbeaten Broncos.