Air Force defensive back Jon Davis breaks up a pass intended for Georgia Tech receiver Embry Peeples during the Independence Bowl. (AP, Charles Smith)
SHREVEPORT, LA. — It was appropriate to say that the Air Force Falcons didn't win in pretty fashion Monday night in the Independence Bowl.
But they were pretty enough in the fourth quarter to beat Georgia Tech 14-7 for their second postseason victory in as many years.
Jon Davis' interception at the 4-yard line with :14 seconds remaining sealed the victory for Air Force.
The Falcons returned to their traditional bread and butter running game to take charge in the fourth quarter. Air Force took the lead early in the fourth after Jared Tew ran up the middle for a 3-yard touchdown. Jonathan Warzeka's run converted a two-point attempt
The late surge and two field goals by senior kicker Zack Bell, his first field goals of his career, turned back the Yellow Jackets.
But Bell missed a 37-yard field-goal attempt late in the game. Then Georgia Tech drove to the Air Force 21-yard line in an attempt to tie the game. But safety Jon Davis intercepted Tevis Washington's pass at the 4-yard line to seal the game.
Air Force called on old standby fullback Jared Tew for its first touchdown. Tew blasted ahead for three yards with 13:24 left in the game and Jefferson's pass to Jonathan Warzeka for two points put the Falcons ahead 14-7.
The lead brought Air Force's defense to life, forcing punter Scott Blair to punt the ball away for the fifth time early in the fourth quarter.
The second half began as if the Yellow Jackets were going to hammer out another long scoring drive. However, quarterback Tevin Washington fumbled at the five-yard line and linebacker Patrick Hennessey recovered for the Falcons.
Air Force got another break a short time later when the Yellow Jackets didn't make a fair catch on a punt and Josh Hall recovered for the Falcons. Again, the Falcons fizzled.
Georgia Tech's defense protected the one-point lead, but two fumbled punt returns kept the Falcons in business.
They began the
Georgia Tech's Anthony Allen dives past Air Force defensive lineman Rick Ricketts for a late first quarter touchdown in the Independence Bowl. (AP | Rogelio V. Solis)
fourth quarter with the ball at the Tech 14-yard line after Mikel Hunter recovered an errant punt return.
Georgia Tech's touted running game was the only dominant factor in the first half.
Air Force failed to get a first down in the third quarter.
With halfback Anthony Allen doing most of the work, the Yellow Jackets banged out a 12-play, 69-yard drive late in the first quarter to take a 7-3 lead. Allen smashed at the middle for the final five yards and the score over took an opening 42-yard field by Zack Bell that had Air Force ahead 3-0 with 6:32 to go in the opening period.
The Falcons couldn't sustain a possession although they mustered an eight-play, 55-yard march in the closing second of the half for a

41-yard field goal by Bell that cut the lead to one point.
By halftime, Jefferson had thrown 17 passes, but completed only eight for 87 yards.
While trying to get momentum, Air Force attempted four fourth down gambles. Only one worked, a nifty fake punt that Mikel Hunter ran for a first down at the Georgia Tech 26-yard line, but the effort was wasted when Johathan Warzeka slipped and fell on another fourth-down gamble at the 20-yared line.