LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- Backup quarterback Mike Thiessen ran for 108 yards and a touchdown Saturday as Air Force overcame an awful first half to beat Navy 19-14.

Down 7-0 at halftime, Air Force (4-1) reeled off 19 straight points and held on to defeat Navy for the fifth time in six tries. Thiessen, making his first career start, put the Falcons ahead to stay with a 53-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Navy (2-4) closed to 19-14 with 11:16 left, but John Vereen dropped a sure touchdown pass for the Midshipmen a minute later and a subsequent field goal try hit the right goalpost.

In the closing minutes, Navy moved from its own 36 to the Air Force 7 before Brian Broadwater's pass glanced off the hands of wide receiver Travis Williams in the back of the end zone on the final play of the game.

The victory gives Air Force a leg up in the battle for the Commander-In-Chief's trophy, awarded to the team with the best record in games between the three major service academies.

Thiessen lost six yards in seven carries in the first half as Air Force managed only 67 yards in offense. But the junior ran for 109 yards in the third quarter alone, including the touchdown run up the middle that put the Falcons up 12-7.

Thiessen, who replaced senior Cale Bonds (sprained ankle) in the first quarter last week against San Diego State, became the first Air Force quarterback to have two straight 100-yard games on the ground since Beau Morgan in 1996.

Air Force opened the third quarter with a 15-play, 74-yard drive that produced a 23-yard field goal by Jackson Whiting. The Falcons quickly forced a punt and picked up a first down before Whiting kicked a career-best 49-yard field goal.

After Thiessen scored, Air Force recovered a fumble at the Navy 29 and went up 19-7 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jeremy Laster. The Midshipmen countered with a 54-yard scoring pass from Broadwater to Brandon Rampani.

Navy's first drive stalled at the Air Force 31, but the Midshipmen went 74 yards in their second possession to take a 7-0 lead. Broadwater completed a 33-yard pass and ran twice for 17 yards before Vereen scored on a 3-yard run.

Air Force had six yards in offense in the opening period and made only one first down in its first four possessions. The Falcons' only decent drive of the first half ended with a lost fumble at the Navy 19.