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Air Force turns to converted fullback Hodges after injury to QB Szarka

By November 15, 2025 | updated 4 weeks ago

Air Force Kemper Hodges (4) scores a touchdown against Boise State University in the first half at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Co. on Saturday September 20, 2025. (Laura Domingue/Special to the Gazette)

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – Liam Szarka’s season ended just short of the goal line.

The sophomore quarterback’s final play came on a fourth and goal from nearly four yards out. He ran to his left where he was taken down by Malachi McLean at the 2-yard line with 5:00 on the clock in the second quarter. It appeared he might have rolled over the defender without touching the ground before going into the end zone, but he was ruled down.

Szarka exited the field without showing any obvious ailment. But Kemper Hodges ran out as quarterback for next series, and coach Troy Calhoun gave an update after the game.

“I think he’s likely out for the season,” Calhoun said. “We’ll see. Initial read on it was there was some kind of fracture in his arm.”

Szarka’s breakout season ends with 1,294 passing yards with nine touchdown passes and five interceptions. He ran for 922 yards and 13 touchdowns.

All of those figures were team highs for Air Force.

Hodges finished the game, running 10 times for 62 yards and completing 4 of 8 passes for 32 yards.

A year ago, Hodges was playing fullback for the Falcons. He was switched to quarterback, the position he played in high school, during spring practice and thus far this season had been used in wildcat situations, taking snaps in short-yardage situations. The 6-foot, 245-pound junior from Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., who earned the title of Big Bad Basic during basic training has two touchdowns this year in those spots.

“The last three weeks, Kemper has practiced really, really well,” Calhoun said. “He’s been physical. He has leadership aptitude, and he made some plays today, running and throwing. We’ll see what we do going forward here.”

Junior Josh Johnson, who started the first three games, could be an option moving forward.

Aside from a three-play drive over the final 28 seconds of the first half, Hodges directed possessions that went for 6, 11, 6 and 9 plays, averaged 39 yards, and led to a field goal and a touchdown.

“We were 100% confident in Kemper,” fullback Dylan Carson said. “We knew that he could operate, do what he needed to do. He was the right person to put in. I thought he executed very well and we knew we’d be just fine with him in there.”

Added Owen Allen, who ran for 122 rushing yards on Saturday, “I can’t say enough good things about Kemper as a leader and as a player. You saw the guys were able to rally around him tonight. … That’s a guy that you want to win for and you want to play with in the backfield regardless of the situation.”

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Brent Briggeman

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