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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colgate's foray into the world of FBS football got off to a flying start here Saturday.

The Raiders scored early, but then not often enough, and dropped a 38-13 decision to Air Force of the Mountain West Conference before 32,095 in the season opener for both teams.

"Our kids really tried to execute to the fullest what we wanted to do, and that was shorten the game, control the line of scrimmage and control the ball – particularly on offense," Colgate head coach Dick Biddle said. "That would limit the amount of time they had on offense because our defense could struggle a little bit with what they do.

"I was very pleased with the way our offense controlled the ball in the first quarter and in the first half. We kept the ball away from them and we limited scoring opportunities."

The Raiders maintained possession for 9:59 of the opening period and couldn't have asked for a better beginning.

Colgate marched 86 yards in 13 plays on its very first drive, with Gavin McCarney lofting a pass to Kevin O'Connell for a 15-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead late in the quarter.

"Gavin got a little pressure so he just dumped it to me," O'Connell said. "I turned and C.J. (Stempeck) gave me a block downfield and basically I walked into the end zone from there."

O'Connell's TD was his fourth career, and the junior tight end finished Saturday with five catches for 60 yards.

Falcons Catch Fire
The Raiders held that seven-point margin into the second period before the host Falcons began turning the tables.

Facing 3-and-8 at their own 25, Air Force converted the first down and proceeded to march the remaining 45 yards in just five plays to make it 7-7 with 11:37 left before half.

Air Force gains became larger and larger as the half progressed with the Falcons starting to surge through the Colgate defense. The Falcons took a 14-7 lead with 4:47 left before halftime on a 12-play, 84-yard drive that ended with Broam Hart's second TD run.

The Falcons made it 21-7 less than three minutes later, Jon Lee doing the honors with a 9-yard run. Air Force went into halftime up 21-7.

At times Saturday, Colgate fans might have thought they were watching a blue-and-silver clad version of their own offensive playbook.

"We probably throw the ball a little bit more and they feature more running backs," Biddle said. "We're more of a one-running back type team, but their quarterbacks run just like ours does."

Colgate's second-half opening drive was just as sharp as the one to begin the game, only this time the Raiders were stuffed at the Air Force 9-yard line and came up empty.

"We didn't want to kick a field goal; we needed touchdowns to win the game," Biddle said. "On the fourth-down play, they did a little stunt and we didn't pick it up. They got penetration and were able to make the play."

Six Straight Scores
The Falcons proceeded to drive 89 yards for a touchdown, kick a 52-yard field goal and then drive 88 yards for their fifth and final TD – all on the ground while piling up 409 rushing yards. That number topped the 315 Albany compiled last season against Colgate, as well as Furman's 377 in 2010 and Villanova's 386 to end the 2008 season among more recent statistical outcomes versus the Raiders.

Air Force finished with 481 yards of total offense to Colgate's 300. The Raiders were able to control the ball for nearly 33 minutes to 27 for the Falcons, but couldn't slow down the hosts in the second and third quarters when they scored on six consecutive possessions.

"We started off well and I liked the way we were coming off the ball and really giving it to them," 'Gate junior linebacker Kris Kent said. "There was just a turning point where they started becoming more physical than us.

"And that's the bottom line. When a team's going to be more physical, they are going to be able to run the ball. That's something we need to fix for next week."

Sophomore John Wilkins made his first start at tailback for the Raiders and gained 90 yards on 23 tries. He scored his first career touchdown with a 1-yard plunge in the final minute.

"It was a great experience; a blessing playing in front of that crowd," said Wilkins, who played in last season's final nine games as a special teams member. "The score didn't show how hard we played, but we can definitely capitalize with some adjustments and move on and have a great season."

McCarney finished with modest numbers after a sizzling start. He was 5-of-5 passing on that opening drive en route to a 14-of-27 afternoon, finishing with 143 yards through the air and 35 on the ground via 10 attempts.

"We can take a lot out of that first drive when we executed very well," the senior QB said. "We just put ourselves in bad situations on third down. Third-and-long was our m/o today, so if we clean up things like that we can take a lot out of this game.

"As Coach (Dan) Hunt said, that last drive shows the character of this team. We didn't give up at the end. Obviously, the first and last drives were good for us. We just need to execute like that for an entire game."

Big Sack for Steffen
Senior Dan Cason caught six passes for 60 yards and O'Connell added his five for 60 to lead the receivers.

Defensively, Colgate's top tackler was Kent with 10 and Jake Kern and Vinny Russo with eight apiece. Starting defensive tackle Victor Steffen posted the game's only sack for a loss of 18 yards.

Air Force was led by a pair of 100-yard rushers in Lee and Hart. Lee carried 11 times for 130 yards and Hart 18 for 101. Both scored a pair of touchdowns. Anthon Lacoste added 77 yards and Devin Rushing another 43 along with the Falcons' fifth TD.

"The whole team is coming together after this loss," junior guard Brendan Walsh said. "We all hate losing, it doesn't matter who it is. We're all competitors and we're going to come back and be ready for Albany."

Colgate plays its home opener next Saturday in a 6 p.m. kickoff against the Great Danes (0-1). Time Warner Cable Sports is televising live from Andy Kerr Stadium, and online viewers can watch it via the Patriot League Network.

Sitting on 199: Saturday's game was the 199th of head coach Dick Biddle's tenure on the Colgate sideline. The Raiders head coach now has 133 wins and 66 losses for a .668 winning percentage. Biddle is the winningest coach in Colgate and Patriot League history.

Restricted Airspace: Saturday at Falcon Stadium marked the absence of one of college football's best traditions: the Air Force pregame flyover. Federal budget cuts have temporarily erased the longtime staple of Falcons home games, but there were a series of parachute drops including one right onto the 47-yard line. Not a bad substitute.

Captains: Colgate's opening game captains were McCarney and Wendell Lewis … Falcon Stadium sits 6,621 feet above sea level … Temperature at kickoff was 82 degrees but climbed to 88 by the start of the second half under sunny skies … There were no turnovers in the game and Colgate was whistled just three times for 15 penalty yards.