Two Minute Bowl Summary: The Armed Forces Bowl

By Spencer Hall

There's a ton of bowl games, and you can't watch them all if you have a real job. Fortunately, we don't, so take advantage and use the Two Minute Bowl Review to stay current and sound like you know what you're talking about.

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Competitive? Intensely so. Air Force's triple-option bamboozled Cal for the first quarter as the Falcons put the Bears in a 21-0 flat spin. Cal QB Nate Longshore exited in the second quarter for Kevin Riley (16-for-19, 269 yards and 2 TDs), and then it was a tennis match the rest of the way. The teams traded scores until Cal broke serve in the third quarter to take the lead for good.

Relevant stat to quote like you actually watched the whole game if you didn't: 25 and 26, or the number of first downs accumulated by Cal and Air Force, respectively. There were a few big plays--especially for Cal--but the chain gang got a good workout thanks to the extremely patient Air Force option and the methodical Cal attack.

Sentence that makes it sound like you watched the whole game: "I really, really hope Shawn Carney's knee doesn't ever bend like that again." The Falcons QB suffered a gruesome knee injury in the third quarter that had Dan Fouts urging you, the viewer, NOT to watch what was playing on the screen. He was right. Despite Carney's departure, Air Force kept it close and made Cal pound out the win on the ground with Justin Forsett (23 carries, 140 yards, 2 TDs).

Is this game anything? Meaning, does it have meaning for next year, college football and the world beyond? Possibly. Kevin Riley showed more flash than any Cal QB since Aaron Rodgers, meaning the three years of indecision at the position could be over. For Air Force, it's yet another sign that Navy isn't the only service academy capable of playing with the monsters of Division I. Even in defeat, they looked most impressive.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.