Oct. 20, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Air Force (5-2, 3-1) vs. New Mexico (4-4, 2-2)
Thursday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m. Mountain
Falcon Stadium (46,692), USAF Academy, CO
Radio
KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs
KLZ 560 AM in Denver and Northern Colorado
Talent - Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Lee Douglas (anaylst); Jay Ritchie (pre- and post-game)
Television
CBS College Sports (CBS C) - Channel 613 on DirecTV, 152 on DISH and 170 on Comcast)
Talent - Tom Hart (play-by-play); Trev Alberts (color)
Air Force hosts New Mexico in Thursday night showdown
Air Force (5-2, 3-1 MWC) hosts New Mexico (4-4, 2-2 MWC) on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. mountain in Falcon Stadium. The game will be televised nationally by CBS College Sports Network (CBS C). The game will be presented in high definition by the Mountain West Conference.
Air Force and New Mexico are meeting for the 26th time overall and 20th time as conference foes. The Falcons lead the overall series 15-10 and have an 11-8 edge in conference meetings. Air Force is 8-3 at home and 7-7 at New Mexico. This week's game marks the second straight Thursday night game in the series. New Mexico defeated Air Force, 34-31, last year in Albuquerque.
Air Force is 2-9 all-time in Thursday night games, including a 1-1 mark last season. The Falcons defeated TCU, 20-17, and lost at New Mexico, 34-31. The TCU victory snapped a seven-game losing streak in Thursday night games.
Air Force improved to 1-0 this season and 6-1 under head coach Troy Calhoun in games during the second half of the season (last six games). Prior to Calhoun's arrival in 2007, the Falcons were 12-24 over the last six games of the season since 2001. The Falcons went 5-1 last season which is the best mark since the 1998 team was 6-0.
Calhoun to help fight MD
Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun will participate in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) fight against Muscular Dystrophy. Calhoun will join several coaches across the country by wearing an arm band with the Coach to Cure MD insignia.
Game promotion
The New Mexico game is Community Night. All the upper level seats in Falcon Stadium are only $5.
The series
Air Force and New Mexico meet for the 26th time overall and 20th time as conference foes.
The Falcons lead the overall series 15-10 and have an 11-8 edge in conference meetings. Air Force is 8-3 at home and 7-7 at New Mexico.
New Mexico snapped a three-game Air Force winning streak with last year's 34-31 win in a Thursday night game in Albuquerque. The Falcons have won three straight at home vs. New Mexico, including a 24-7 victory in 2006 in the last game played at Falcon Stadium between the two. New Mexico's last win at the Academy came in 2000, 29-23. The teams first played Nov. 23, 1957, in Colorado Springs. Air Force won the game, 31-0.
Year by Year
1957 - AFA 31-0 (H)
1958 - AFA 45-7 (A)
1959 - UNM 28-27 (H)
1961 - UNM 21-6 (A)
1963 - AFA 30-8 (A)
1973 - AFA 10-6 (H)
1981 - UNM 27-10 (A)
1982 - UNM 49-37 (H)
1984 - AFA 23-9 (A)
1985 - AFA 49-12 (A)
1987 - AFA 73-23 (A)
1988 - AFA 63-14 (H)
1991 - UNM 34-32 (A)
1992 - AFA 33-32 (H)
1995 - AFA 27-24 (A)
1998 - AFA 56-14 (H)
1999 - UNM 33-28 (A)
2000 - UNM 29-23 (H)
2001 - UNM 52-33 (A)
2002 - AFA 38-31 (H) OT
2003 - UNM 24-12 (A)
2004 - AFA 28-23 (H)
2005 - AFA 42-24 (A)
2006 - AFA 24-7 (H)
2007 - UNM 34-31 (A)
Site () is for AFA
Last year
AP Article - Tailback Rodney Ferguson ran for 146 yards and John Sullivan kicked four field goals, leading New Mexico to a 34-31 victory over Air Force.
The Lobos snapped a three-game losing streak to Air Force, capitalizing on five lost fumbles by the Falcons, all inside their own 30 - including three in the fourth quarter.
Ferguson showed his durability with 41 carries and Sullivan set a school record by hitting his 18th straight field goal, a 36-yarder that put New Mexico ahead 34-31 with 10:10 remaining.
The Falcons got a big break when Sullivan finally missed, sailing wide right on a 32-yard try with 2:18 remaining. But Air Force's Mark Root fumbled and Herbert Felder recovered for the Lobos, who ran out the clock.
New Mexico's defense held Air Force's Chad Hall to 97 yards rushing on 21 carries.
Hall, who came in as the only player in the nation to lead his team in rushing and receiving, added six catches for 66 yards receiving and added 84 yards on four kick returns, two days after missing practice because of illness.
He wasn't slowed by the illness, zigzagging 26 yards on his first carry and scoring on runs of 1 and 18 yards in the first half. But the Lobos kept Hall in check, considering he'd logged 592 yards rushing in the previous three games.
Sullivan, meanwhile, connected from 43, 20, 32 and 36 yards to break the school mark of 16 field goals in a row by Vladimir Borombozin from 2000-01.
Sullivan's 32-yard field goal tied it at 31 early in the fourth quarter, and his 36-yarder on New Mexico's next series completed the scoring.
That possession started after Air Force quarterback Shaun Carney fumbled and Wesley Beck recovered for the Lobos at the Falcons 28. New Mexico scored 14 points off three Air Force fumbles.
Ferguson scored on a 3-yard plunge on fourth-and-1, put New Mexico ahead 28-24 in the third. It was set up when Air Force's Garrett Rybak had a New Mexico punt bounce off his leg and Ian Clark recovered for the Lobos.
The Falcons answered with a 65-yard drive, capped by an 8-yard TD run by Jim Ollis to give Air Force a 31-28 lead late in the third.
Ferguson also had a 1-yard TD that put the Lobos up 7-0.
The last time at Air Force
Air Force's offense had received most of the credit in the early part of the season, but the defense took its turn in the spotlight against the Lobos. The defense shined throughout the day leading the Falcons to a 24-7 win in Falcon Stadium on Sept. 30, 2006.
The defense set up Air Force's first score when Julian Madrid forced a fumble on the game's second play that his teammates recovered on the New Mexico 15. Shaun Carney scored on a three-yard run three plays later to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. Chad Hall added a 38-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead. New Mexico got on the board with a Chris Nelson to Rodney Ferguson 58-yard scoring toss to cut the lead to 14-7 at halftime. The second half belonged to Air Force. Zach Sasser kicked a 48-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to make it 17-7, then forced a muffed kickoff return by New Mexico that was recovered by Air Force. Ryan Williams turned it into a 24-7 lead with a two-yard run just 54 seconds later. The defense did the rest to secure the win for Air Force.
The Falcons had 281 yards of total offense, including 262 rushing. Williams led the way with a game-high 94 yards. Hall chipped in with 55 yards and Carney added 36. Carney also hit three of five passes for 19 yards. The defense held New Mexico to 273 total yards, including just 41 yards rushing on 31 carries. Ferguson, the league's No. 2 rusher entering the game, was held to just 36 yards on 12 carries. Nelson hit 16 of 30 passes for 232 yards for the Lobos while Travis Brown caught seven passes for 89 yards. Drew Fowler led Air Force with 10 total tackles, while Garrett Rybak added eight. Madrid chipped in with eight tackles, two quarterback sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. Bobby Giannini added seven tackles.
New Mexico ties
Senior TE Travis Dekker is a native of Albuquerque, N.M. Dekker is a graduate of La Cueva High School where he lettered three years in football and two years in tack. He was a first-team all-state selection in football and was the state's student-athlete of the year. In addition to being the football team captain, he was an academic all-state selection.
Career statistics vs. New Mexico
Rushing
Name G Att-Yds-TDs
Ty Paffett 1 2-20-1
Todd Newell 1 2-11-0
Savier Stephens 1 1-6-0
Passing
None
Receiving G #-Yds-TD
Travis Dekker 2 2-26-0
Tackles
Name G UT-AT-Total
Ryan Kemp 2 6-7-13
Jared Marvin 2 1-9-10
Chris Thomas 2 4-5-9
Aaron Kirchoff 2 3-1-4
Hunter Altman 2 4-4-8
Reggie Rembert 1 6-2-8
Patrick Hennessey 1 1-1-2
Ben Garland 1 0-1-1
Thursday night games
This week marks the second straight season that Air Force and New Mexico have played on Thursday night. Air Force is 2-9 all-time in Thursday night games, including a 1-1 mark last season. The Falcons defeated TCU, 20-17, and lost at New Mexico, 34-31. The TCU victory snapped a seven-game losing streak in Thursday night games.
Air Force Thursday night games
Year Opponent Result
2007 at New Mexico L 31-34
TCU W 20-17 OT
2005 at Colorado State L 23-41
at Utah L 35-38
2004 Navy L 21-24
2003 at Colorado State L 20-30
2002 Colorado State L 12-31
2001 Colorado State L 21-28
1999 at Colorado State L 21-41
1998 Colorado State W 30-27
1996 at San Diego State L 23-28
Last week
Air Force senior kicker Ryan Harrison kicked a 19-yard field goal with 2:36 remaining to propel Air Force past UNLV, 29-28, at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas in a Mountain West Conference Saturday night game.
Harrison's heroics were set up by a 17-play, 91-yard drive that took 7:03 of the clock and was engineered by freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson, who hit three-of-three passes for 31 yards and rushed four times for 11 yards on the drive.
Air Force opened the scoring with a Todd Newell 52-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The Falcons extended the lead to 14-0 with a Jefferson 28-yard touchdown strike to Josh Cousins early in the second quarter.
UNLV answered with a C.J. Cox five-yard run to cut the lead to 14-7. Harrison kicked the first of his career-high-tying three field goals to make it 17-7, but UNLV scored on an Omar Clayton to Phillip Payne 28-yard touchdown with just 14 seconds left in the half to make it 17-14 at halftime.
Harrison added another field goal to extend the lead to 20-14 midway through the third quarter. UNLV countered with a Clayton to Casey Flair nine-yard touchdown pass to take its first lead of the game, 21-20. The Rebels extended the lead to 28-20 with a Frank Summers 45-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter. Air Force answered on its next drive when Jefferson hit Kyle Halderman with a 44-yard touchdown pass with 13:47 remaining. Following a UNLV punt to put the Falcons on their own eight yard line, the Falcons mounted the game-winning drive.
Jefferson finished the game with a career-best 99 yards rushing and hit six of seven passes for a career-best 162 yards and the first two touchdown passes of his career. Newell added a career-best 134 yards rushing and Asher Clark chipped in with 65 yards on 20 carries. Air Force rolled up 508 total yards, including 346 rushing.
UNLV finished with 404 total yards, including 251 passing. The Rebels were led by Clayton, who hit 19 of 30 passes for 251 yards and two scores. Summers finished with 69 yards rushing while Cox added 60.
Last game's notes
Team Notes
- Air Force's defense forced a punt on UNLV's opening drive of the game and have now allowed just one score (FG vs. Navy) on the opening drive of the game this season. The defense has forced five punts and a turnover on downs in the other six games. The Falcons forced a missed 43-yard field goal on UNLV's opening drive of the second half and have now allowed just two scores (TDs vs. Utah and Navy) this season on the opponent's opening drive of the second half. The team has forced three punts and a fumble in the other games.
- Air Force improved to 2-0 this season and 11-1 under head coach Troy Calhoun with a 100-yard rusher. Senior FB Todd Newell did the honors vs. UNLV with a career-high 134 yards.
- Air Force improved to 1-0 this season and 6-1 over the last two years in the second half of the schedule (last six games). Prior to last season, when Air Force was 5-1, the team was a combined 12-24 over the last six years and didn't have a winning record any season.
- Air Force improved to 10-4 overall and 10-3 in conference games vs. UNLV. The Falcons have won six of the last seven vs. UNLV and improved to 5-3 in Las Vegas vs. the Rebels. Head Coach Troy Calhoun improved to 2-0 vs. UNLV.
- Air Force improved to 2-1 this season and 5-2 under head coach Troy Calhoun in the month of October. The Falcons are 5-1 in conference games in October under Calhoun. Prior to his arrival at the Academy, the Falcons had not enjoyed a winning record in October since 1998.
- Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun improved to 14-6 overall and 9-3 in conference games during his career. Calhoun's .750 winning percentage in conference games is the fourth-best ever among MWC coaches. His 9-3 start matches Fisher DeBerry (1984-85) as the best start ever in conference play by an Air Force head coach.
- Air Force is now 2-0 since losing to Navy this season. This season the Falcons opened 3-0 before losing back-to-back games with the second coming to Navy. A year ago, Air Force was in the same position following five games and won six of the last seven to finish 9-3 in the regular season (9-4 overall).
- Air Force improved to 2-0 this season in away night games and is 3-1 under Troy Calhoun in away games under the lights.
- Air Force is the first school to play back-to-back conference games on the west coast in Mountain West Conference history, having played at San Diego State the week prior. The Falcons posted a 2-0 record in the games. San Diego State has played back-to-back conference road games in the mountain area, but went 0-2 at TCU and New Mexico in 2006 and 1-1 at Colorado State (W) and Utah in 1999. Colorado State played back-to-back non-conference road games on the west coast in 2002, going 1-1 at Nevada (W) and Fresno State (L).
Individual Notes
- Sophomore CB Reggie Rembert recorded his second quarterback sack of the season. The sack is the fifth this season by a member of the secondary.
- Senior FB Todd Newell recorded a career-best 134 yards on 22 carries. He is the second Falcon this season with a 100-yard game (Asher Clark 109 last week vs. San Diego State) and his 134 yards are the most by a Falcon this season. He is the first fullback with a 100-yard game since Jacobe Kendrick had 128 on 26 carries vs. San Diego State in 2005. This game marks the third straight games he's had a career best in rushing yardage. His previous career rushing best came at San Diego State with 77 yards. In the game prior to that, he rushed for a then-career-best 50 yards vs. Navy. Newell also recorded a career-long 52-yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter to open the Air Force scoring. Newell's previous long run was 11 yards vs. Navy earlier this season.
- Freshman QB Tim Jefferson recorded the first two touchdown passes of his career. Jefferson also completed a career-long 59-yard pass to tight end Travis Dekker. In addition, Jefferson also recorded career highs in rushing and passing yards with 99 rushing and 162 passing. His previous rushing high was 55 yards at San Diego State while his previous pass high was 56 yards vs. Navy. He also recorded a career-long 27-yard run. His previous long was 16 yards vs. Navy earlier this season. Jefferson's 162 yards passing are the most by a Falcon this season.
- Senior TE Travis Dekker recorded a career-long 59-yard reception to set up a field goal. The 59-yard reception is the longest by a Falcon this season. His previous career long catch of 50 yards came vs. TCU last season and the previous long catch by a Falcon this season was 53 yards by Kevin Fogler vs. Navy.
- Junior WR-X Josh Cousins recorded his second straight game with a touchdown reception, the first two scoring catches of his career. Cousins hauled in a 32-yard touchdown pass at San Diego State in Air Force's last game.
- Senior PK Ryan Harrison matched his career high with three fields, marking the fifth time he's done it in his career. Harrison has done it three times this season, including the Southern Utah and Wyoming games.
Playing best when it matters most
Air Force improved to 1-0 this season and 6-1 under head coach Troy Calhoun in games during the second half of the season (last six games). Prior to Calhoun's arrival in 2007, the Falcons were 12-24 over the last six games of the season since 2001. The Falcons went 5-1 last season which is the best mark since the 1998 team was 6-0.
Final 6 Regular Season Games
Year Mark
2008 1-0
2007 5-1
Total 6-1
2006 1-5
2005 2-4
2004 3-3
2003 2-4
2002 2-4
2001 2-4
Total 12-24 (Entering 2007)
Air Force turns around recent October trend
Air Force is 5-2 in the month of October over the last two seasons, including a 5-1 mark in conference games. AFA is 2-1 this season overall and 2-0 in league play.
The Falcons finished 3-1 in the month of October last season. Prior to last season's mark, Air Force had not posted a winning record in the month of October since going 4-0 in 1998. In fact, the Falcons had not won more than two games in the month since then. Air Force's three wins in 2007 matched the total from the previous three years combined. Air Force was undefeated at home last season (2-0), defeating UNLV, 31-14, and Wyoming, 20-12.
Air Force is 114-99-4 all-time in the month of October. The Falcons are 68-49-3 at home and 46-49-1 on the road. The team is 0-1 in neutral site games. Air Force is 42-26 in conference games in October, including a 25-13 mark at home and a 17-13 road record.
Recent October records
Year Overall Conference
2008 2-1 2-0
2007 3-1 3-1
2006 1-3 1-2
2005 1-3 1-2
2004 1-2 1-2
2003 1-2 1-1
2002 2-3 1-2
2001 2-2 1-2
2000 2-2 1-1
1999 2-2 1-2
One of America's top coaches
Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun is quickly becoming one of America's top coaches. He is 14-6 overall and 9-3 in conference play in his second year at the helm at the Academy.
In his first year at Air Force, the 1989 Academy graduate led the Falcons to the most wins ever by a first-year head coach, along with the nine wins by Ben Martin in 1958. Calhoun led the team to six conference wins which is the most ever by a first-year head coach, breaking the mark of four set by Fisher DeBerry in 1984.
Calhoun began his coaching career at the Academy, then after serving his military committment, was an assistant at Ohio University, later becoming the offensive coordinator. He was the offensive coordinator at Wake Forest before joining the National Football League with the Denver Broncos from 2003-05. He was the offensive coorinator for the Houston Texans in 2006 before returning to his alma mater last season as the sixth head coach in school history.
Calhoun was named the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year for 2007. Calhoun, who was also named the Mountain West Conference coach of the year, joined five other coaches to win the honor.
Calhoun is fourth in Mountain West Conference history in career winning percentage in conference games with a .750 mark (9-3).
Winningest MWC Coaches
# Name, School Tenure Record Pct.
1. Urban Meyer, Utah 2003-05 13-1 .929
2. Bronco Mendenhall, BYU 2005- 22-4 .846
3. Gary Patterson, TCU 2005- 22-6 .786
4. Troy Calhoun, Air Force 2007- 9-3 .750
Young team in 2008
Air Force features one of its youngest teams in history in 2008. The Falcons lost 15 starters from the 2007 squad that finished 9-4 overall and placed second in the Mountain West Conference with a 6-2 mark. The team lost eight starters on offense, including four-year starting quarterback Shaun Carney and all-purpose back Chad Hall, the conference offensive player of the year. Defensively, the Falcons lost six starters, including first-team all-conference linebackers John Rabold (2007) and Drew Fowler (2006) as well as first-team all-MWC cornerback Carson Bird, the conference's leader in interceptions last year. The Falcons also lost deep snapper Tony Norman.
In terms of games played and started, the Falcons lost 14 players with 30 career games played, plus four more with 25 career games played. In addition, Air Force only has 17 seniors on its roster this season which ranks as the 19th fewest in the nation.
Percentage of offense / defense lost to graduation
Category Lost Pct Lost Notes
Passing yards 1,491 95.7 Top passer lost
Rushing yards 3,482 89.4 Top six rushers lost
Receiving 952 61.1 Top two receivers lost
Punt returns 176 100.0 Top punt returner lost
Scoring 210 54.0 Three of top four scoreres lost
All-purpose yards 5,254 79.8 Top four lost
Total offense 4,974 91.2 Top six lost
Interceptions 14 ints 93.3 Top three and seven of top eight lost
Tackles 534 53.2 Team leader, four of top five lost
2008 Notes
- Air Force's top two rushers this season are sophomores -- Kyle Lumpkin and Kyle Halderman.
- Air Force's leading passer is senior Shea Smith, who is in his first season of significant action. Freshman Tim Jefferson moved into the starting lineup vs. SDSU.
- Air Force's leading receiver is junior Josh Cousins, who entered the year with no career catches.
- The team's top two punt returners are sophomore Reggie Rembert and freshman Anthony Wright.
- Air Force's leading tackler is sophomore Ken Lamendola
Air Force 14th nationally in terms of freshmen playing
The Falcons are the youngest team in the Mountain West Conference and 14th youngest nationally in terms of freshmen playing. The freshmen that have played for Air Force this season follow: 5 - Anthony Wright (CB), 7 - Tim Jefferson (QB), 11 - Jaquon Robinson (WR), 15 - Jonathan Warzeka (WR), 16 - Jon Davis (SS), 17 - Asher Clark (TB/QB), 33 - P.J. Adeji-Paul (CB), 73 - A.J. Wallerstein (OT), 84 - Daniel Pickett (TE), 99 - Erik Soderberg (PK). Wright, Jefferson, Davis, Clark and Wallerstein appear in the Air Force two-deep chart weekly.
True Freshmen Who Have Played
Florida State 22
Miami (Fla.) 21
Arkansas 16
Alabama 15
SMU 15
Minnesota 14
Georgia 12
Tulane 12
UAB 11
Central Michigan 11
Rice 11
Iowa State 11
UCLA 11
Air Force 10
Arizona State 10
Florida 10
North Texas 10
San Jose State 10
Air Force defense solid
Air Force's defense has been solid this season. Air Force ranks fourth in the conference and 39th nationally in scoring defense with a 19.9 average. The Falcons are third in the MWC and 21st in the nation in pass defense, allowing just 174.7 yards per game. The team is third in the conference and 29th nationally in total defense with a 304.7 average.
Air Force had one of its best performances of the season at San Diego State. The Falcons allowed just 165 total yards and just 2.5 yards per play. SDSU was held to just 13 yards on 28 plays in the second half. Over the last two weeks, Air Force has allowed just 204.5 yards per game. Air Force's defense has had several bright spots this season, which follow below.
Defensive season highlights
- The Falcons allowed just 10 points in the first two games this season which is the best effort in back-to-back games since allowing 10 points at Army (W, 35-7) and at Wyoming (W, 10-3) in 1998. The 10 points allowed in the opening two games of a season is the second-best in school history and best since the 1963 team allowed just seven in a 10-7 win vs. Washington and a 69-0 victory vs. Colorado State.
- The Falcons have ranked as high as fifth nationally in total defense with an average of 173.0 yards allowed per game. The ranking came in week two.
- The Falcons held Southern Utah to just 130 total yards, including just seven yards on the ground. Southern Utah managed just eight first downs, was just 2-12 on third-down conversions and never reached the red zone. Southern Utah avoided the shutout late in the third-quarter with an 80-yard touchdown drive. Outside of that one drive, the Thunderbirds managed just 50 total yards and they never got deeper in Air Force territory than the 42 yard line.
- The 130-yard effort by the defense vs. Southern Utah is the fifth-best single-game effort in school history and best since holding Army to just 100 yards in 1999. The seven yards rushing is the 14th-best single-game effort in Air Force history. Air Force held Southern Utah to just 0.3 yards per rush which is the 10th-best single-game effort in school history.
- Air Force held Wyoming to 2-13 on third-down conversions and 22:46 time of possession.
- Air Force scored its first defensive touchdown of the season when senior DE Jake Paulson returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown vs. Utah. The score is the first by an Air Force defensive lineman since Bryce Fisher vs. Oregon in the 1997 Las Vegas Bowl.
- The Falcons added a second defensive score when junior ILB Justin Moore returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown vs. San Diego State.
- Air Force held Navy, who entered the game second nationally in rushing with a 335.0 per-game average, to a season low 206 yards.
- Air Force has held four opponents (Southern Utah, 130; Wyoming, 216; Navy, 244; San Diego State, 165) under 300 yards of total offense.
More on the defense
Air Force has allowed just three scores on the opeing drive of the first or second half this season. Utah scored the first to open the second half, scoring a touchdown. Navy added a field goal to open the game and a touchdown following an AF fumble on its own 10 to opened the second half.
The Air Force offense has had nine turnovers this season and the defense has allowed just 13 points as a result. Navy scored 10 points off turnovers, but took possession both times inside the Air Force 20. The Midshipmen scored a touchdown after getting the ball on the 10 and a field goal after getting it on the 18. The other score came against Wyoming. The defense forced a three-and-out, but Wyoming hit a 47-yard field goal. On the eight drives (one turnover vs. Utah ended the game) combined, the defense has allowed just 44 yards on 27 plays which is an average of 1.8 yards per play.
Opponent opening drives
Game 1st Half 2nd Half
Southern Utah Punt (3-6-1:15) Punt (3-9-:47)
Wyoming Punt (3-5-:59) Fumble (1-3-:07)
Houston Punt (4-26-2:40) Punt (9-38-3:02) -- two first downs
Utah Down (5-12-2:38) Touchdown (8-69-3:53)
Navy FG (13-62-7:13) Touchdown (3-10-1:14)
San Diego State Punt (4-(-3)-1:50) Punt (6-10-2:29)
UNLV Punt (8-43-3:55) MFG (11-49-4:00)
Total 40 plays; 151 yds 41 plays; 188 yds
Average 5.7 pl, 21.5 yds 5.7 pl, 26.8 yds
Air Force defense following a turnover
Opponent Turnover Spot Result
Southern Utah fumble AF 42 Punt (3-1-:57)
fumble Opp 20 Punt (7-21-3:52)
Wyoming Interception AF 31 FG (4-1-1:29)
Utah Interception AF 44 Fumble (3-1-:53)
Interception AF 39 End of game
Navy Fumble AF 10 TD (3-10-1:14)
Fumble AF 18 FG (4-3-1:56)
San Diego State Fumble AF 32 MFG (5-15-:11)
Fumble Opp 20 Punt (3-7-1:27)
Totals 27 plays; 44 yards
Air Force fifth nationally
- Air Force has scored in 188 consecutive games dating back to 1992.
- The Falcons were last shutout by Mississippi, 13-0, in the 1992 Liberty Bowl.
- Air Force's streak is the second-longest active streak of teams in the Mountain West Conference and the fifth longest in the country.
# School Streak Last Shutout
1. Michigan 295 Oct. 20, 1984 at Iowa (0-26)
2. Florida 249 Oct. 29, 1988 vs. Auburn (0-16)
3. Colorado 242 Nov. 12, 1988 at Nebraska (0-7)
4. TCU (MWC) 198 Nov. 16, 1991 at Texas (0-32)
5. Air Force (MWC) 188 #--Dec. 31, 1992 vs. Mississippi (0-13), #--Liberty Bowl)
- Air Force's 188-game scoring streak is the 16th longest in Division I-A college history
- of the top 16 all-time, nine were started in the 1980s while the other five began in the 1970s.
- Here's that list:
# School Streak Dates Ended By
1. Brigham Young 361 9/27/1975 - 11/15/2003 Utah
2. Michigan 295 10/27/1984 - present ..................
3. Texas 281 11/29/1980 - 10/02/2004 Oklahoma
4. Washington State 280 10/22/1984 - present USC
5. Washington 272 11/14/1981 - 10/16/2004 USC
6. Oregon 267 10/05/1985 - 11/15/2007 UCLA
7. Florida 249 11/05/1988 - present ..................
8. UCLA 245 10/02/1971 - 10/17/1992 Arizona State
9. Colorado 242 11/19/1988 - present ..................
10. Nebraska 233 1/01/1974 - 11/29/1991 Miami, Fla.
11. Florida State 232 9/10/1988 - 11/11/2006 Wake Forest
12. Hawaii 219 12/04/1976 - 11/04/1995 Colorado State
13. Arizona 214 9/09/1972 - 12/15/1990 Syracuse
14. Virginia 195 9/15/1984 - 10/28/2000 Georgia Tech
15. TCU 198 11/23/1991 - present ..................
16. Air Force 188 8/04/1993 - present .......................
Air Force conference/national rushing numbers
- Air Force leads the conference and ranks third nationally in rushing with a 300.1 average.
- Air Force has won 24 conference rushing titles since joining conference play in 1980.
- In 2002, the Falcons won the school's first national rushing title with a 307.8 per-game average.
- The Falcons won their 10th straight conference title in 2007 with a 299.5 average.
Year Stats Conf. National
1980 170.7 5th 79th
1981 185.1 4th 53rd
1982 301.7 1st 4th
1983 246.5 1st 2nd
1984 326.5 1st 2nd
1985 293.2 1st 6th
1986 232.6 1st 15th
1987 386.3 1st 2nd
1988 377.5 1st 2nd
1989 356.0 1st 3rd
1990 267.5 1st 7th
1991 338.1 1st 2nd
1992 242.4 2nd 7th
1993 284.9 1st 4th
1994 304.8 1st 2nd
1995 332.4 1st 2nd
1996 328.9 1st 2nd
1997 332.7 2nd 9th
1998 266.8 1st 3rd
1999 285.5 1st 2nd
2000 294.9 1st 2nd
2001 273.2 1st 3rd
2002 307.8 1st 1st
2003 280.6 1st 4th
2004 277.4 1st 4th
2005 246.5 1st 8th
2006 229.4 1st 3rd
2007 299.5 1st 2nd
2008 300.1 1st 3rd
Quarterback sacks
Air Force is among the national leaders in quarterback sacks, both offensively and defensively. The Falcons have forced 22 quarterback sacks for 144 yards which ranks second in the conference and eighth nationally. Senior defensive end Jake Paulson has recorded 8.5 sacks and ranks fifth in the nation with a 1.21 per-game average.
Offensively, the Falcons allowed their first sack of the season at UNLV which leads the conference and ranks first nationally.
2008 National Sack Leaders
# Team G Total Average
1. TCU 8 33.0 4.13
2. Oklahoma 7 26.0 3.71
3. San Jose State 7 25.0 3.57
4. Oregon 7 24.0 3.43
Texas 7 24.0 3.43
6. Boise State 6 20.0 3.33
7. Troy 6 19.0 3.17
8. Air Force 7 22.0 3.14
Air Force's 22 sacks this season are just six away from the single-season top 10 list in Air Force history. The Falcons are on pace for 40 sacks this season which would be fourth in school history. The Falcons set the school record with 47 sacks in 1994. AFA had 44 in 1986 and 42 in 1998.
Rushing for 100 is the key
Air Force is nearly unbeatable when it has had a 100-yard rusher under head coach Troy Calhoun. The Falcons are 2-0 this season and 11-1 in games when they have a player rush for 100 or more yards. The team's only loss came in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl vs. California. Air Force has had multiple players rush for 100 yards or more twice during the last two years. The list of 100-yard rushers for each game follows below:
Year Game Player Yards Result
2007 South Carolina St. Kip McCarthy 129 W 34-3
Utah Shaun Carney 113 W 20-12
TCU Jim Ollis 138 W 20-17 OT
UNLV Chad Hall 169 W 31-14
Colorado State Chad Hall 256 W 45-21
Wyoming Chad Hall 167 W 20-12
Army Chad Hall 275 W 30-10
Notre Dame Chad Hall 142 W 41-24
San Diego State Jim Ollis 163 W 55-23
Chad Hall 151
Ty Paffett 105
California Shaun Carney 108 L 36-42
Jim Ollis 101
2008 San Diego State Asher Clark 109 W 35-10
UNLV Todd Newell 134 W 29-28
Following the same script as 2007
Air Force finds itself in a similar position this season as in 2007. Air Force opened up 3-0 in 2007 before dropping back-to-back games, the second coming to Navy. The Falcons bounced back to win six of the next seven games to close the regular season with a 9-3 overall mark and a 6-2 MWC record to finish second. Air Force averaged just 20.0 points and 377.8 total yards per game, including 225.8 rushing during the first five gams. The Falcons averaged 36.1 points, 448.3 total yards and 350.4 rushing yards per game over the last seven games. WR-Z Chad Hall also exploded, averaging 179.6 yards rushing per game during the span.
Air Force opened 3-0 this season before back-to-back losses, the second coming to Navy, left the team with an identical 3-2 record. Air Force has bounced back with back-to-back conference road wins to improve to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference. Air Force has found itself offensively the last two weeks, averaging 490.5 yards of total offense, including 373.5 yards rushing. The Falcons have also averaged 32.0 points per game. Those averages are up from the first five games when the team averaged 29.0 points per game, 353.2 total yards and 270.8 rushing yards.
The team has also had some outstanding individual efforts. Freshman Asher Clark rushed for a career-best 109 yards and a touchdown in his first-career start at San Diego State. Fellow freshman Tim Jefferson, making just his second-career start, rushed for a career-high 99 yards and hit six of seven passes for a career-best 162 yards and the first two TD passes of his career at UNLV. Senior fullback Todd Newell chipped in with a career-best 134 yards rushing vs. the Rebels. After not having a 100-yard rushing in the first five games, the team has had one in each of the last two weeks.
2007 2008
Category First 5 / Last 7 First 5 / Since
Scoring 20.0 / 36.1 29.0 / 32.0
Total Offense 377.8 / 448.3 353.2 / 490.5
Rushing 225.8 / 350.4 270.8 / 373.5
Air Force takes it away
Air Force has picked up where it left off last season, collecting a +7 turnover margin this season. The Falcons have had multiple takeaways in every game this season, except last week's game at UNLV. The team's 1.00 per-game turnover margin average ranks second in the MWC and 12th nationally. Air Force has forced 16 turnovers this season, including 11 fumbles and five interceptions. The Falcons have recovered 11 of the opponent's 13 fumbles this season and rank second in the conference and third nationally in fumble recoveries .
2008 Turnovers: (Southern Utah, 2; Wyoming, 5; Houston, 2; Utah, 3; Navy, 2; San Diego State, 2; UNLV, 0).
The Air Force defense had 28 takeaways last season which ranked second in the Mountain West Conference behind only Utah (33). The Falcons scored 120 points off those turnovers. The team's +10 turnover margin ranked second in the MWC and 15th in the nation. The Falcons forced 15 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries. Over the last two seasons, Air Force has a combined +17 mark under head coach Troy Calhoun.
Air Force takeaways and +/- in last 10 years
Year Takeaways(Int./Fum.) +/- W/L
2008 16 (5/11) +7 5-2
2007 28 (15/13) +10 9-4
2006 22 (9/13) +8 4-8
2005 17 (9/8) -7 4-7
2004 17 (9/8) +1 5-7
2003 23 (13/10) +6 7-5
2002 26 (12/14) +9 8-5
2001 28 (14/14) +8 6-6
2000 19 (7/12) +7 9-3
1999 14 (8/6) -4 6-5
1998 30 (17/13) +17 12-1
Commander-in-Chief's Trophy
Air Force, Army and Navy compete each year for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, which is emblematic of service academy football supremacy. The trophy goes annually to the winning academy with the best record in round-robin competition. The President of the United States presents the trophy to the seniors from the winning team each year at a ceremony at the White House.
The 2008 season marks the 37th year of trophy competition. Navy defeated Air Force, 33-27, in Falcons Stadium in the opening game of this year's series. Despite the loss, Air Force has a 46-26-0 all-time CIC record and has won 16 trophy titles. Air Force's overall record and number of trophy titles are best among the three academies.
Team Record Pct.
Air Force 47-26-0 .644
Navy 36-36-1 .500
Army 25-46-1 .354
Air Force outright CIC title years:
`82, `83, `85, `87, `89, `90, `91, `92, `94, `95, `97, `98, `99, `00, `01, `02
Air Force 4-0 away from home this season
Air Force defeated UNLV, 29-28, last week in Las Vegas to improve to 4-0 this season away from Falcon Stadium. The Falcons have defeated Wyoming, San Diego State and UNLV on the road and Houston in a neutral site game this season. The four wins away from home are the most in Air Force history since the 1998 team won six times on the road or in neutral site games. In 1998, the Falcons won four away games and two neutral site games.
Dekker stands out on and off the field
Senior TE Travis Dekker returned to action vs. Navy after missing the first four games of the season with a broken ankle. Dekker's impact was felt immediately, as he tied for the team lead in receptions with three for 32 yards. His return also sparked a season high 184 yards passing for Air Force. Dekker added a career-long catch of 59 yards vs. UNLV and made a highlight film leap over a defender attempting to make the tackle.
Dekker has been a standout on and off the field as well. A quick hit of some of the awards he's won and been nominated for follow:
- One of 71 nominees for the 71st annual Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team. The Good Works Team recognizes this group of committed and hard-working players for their off-the-field achievements.
- One of 164 semifinalists for the 2008 Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, and the candidates for the 2008 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands, the award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.
- One of 30 Division I football players chosen as a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. This is the inaugural year that the award will be presented in football. The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages those leaders to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact on their circle of influence. This prestigious awards program was launched during the 2001-02 basketball season, added six additional sports in 2007, and has now expanded this year to include NCAA football.
Two-way Reggie
Sophomore Reggie Rembert is a busy man during games. Rembert is a starter at cornerback on the defense and is a backup at WR-Z on offense. In addition, Rembert is on the punt and kickoff return teams. He ranks third in the MWC in punt returns this season with an 11.6 average and is ninth in kickoff returns with a 19.1 norm.
Rembert is the first Falcon to play both offense and defense in a game at the Academy since Chris Evans, who played both tight end and defensive end due to injuries against Army in 2006. Evans did not have any statistics and played both only that week. LeRon Hudgins is the last player to play both ways significantly as a safety and running back in 1995. Hudgins was listed as a starter on defense and played most of the season as a backup halfback in the option offense.
In 1967, Carl Janssen was the first Falcon to start on both sides of the ball and on special teams. As the starting wide receiver and three-year player at that position, he led the team with 18 catches for 259 yards and a TD in 1967 and had one carry for two yards. He also started at defensive back. He was third on the team with two interceptions and also had a fumble recovery. Janssen led the team with 23 punt returns for 233 yards, a 10.1 average. He also returned one kickoff for 30 yards.
Rembert highlights
- Had 102 all-purpose yards for a 20.2 average per touch vs. Southern Utah ... also had three tackles.
- Rushed four times for nine yards at Wyoming while returning one punt four yards and one kickoff return 22 yards. He also had four solo tackles and, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
- Six solo tackles and the first two tackles for loss of his career vs. Houston ... also recorded his career-long punt return of 53 yards to set up an Air Force touchdown ... the return ranks as the 11th longest in school history and longest since Matt Farmer went 55 yards vs. New Mexico in 1998
- Seven tackles and the first quarterback sack and interterception of his career vs. Utah.
- Collected a career-best 103 return yards vs. Navy, 94 on five kickoff returns.
Opponent Plays (Def/Off/ST) Tackles Rushing Receiving Returns Totals Avg.
Southern Utah 53 (42/4/7) 3-0-3 1-21 0-0 4-81 5-102 20.2
Wyoming 67 (50/7/10) 4-0-4 4-9 0-0 2-26 6-35 5.8
Houston 92 (85/0/7) 6-0-6 0-0 0-0 4-97 4-97 24.3
Utah 93 (79/0/14) 6-1-7 0-0 0-0 3-41 3-41 13.7
Navy 74 (58/0/16) 1-0-1 0-0 0-0 7-103 7-103 14.7
San Diego State 69 (59/0/10) 1-0-1 0-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 0.0
UNLV 71 (64/0/7) 4-1-5 0-0 0-0 6-107 6-107 17.8
Totals 519 (437/11/71) 25-2-27 5-30 0-0 27-455 32-485 15.2
Paulson among the national leaders
Senior defensive end Jake Paulson is having an outstanding season. Paulson has 8.5 quarterback sacks and ranks fifth in the nation with a 1.21 per-game average. Paulson ranks third in the conference and 14th nationally in tackles for loss with 11.0 which is a 1.57 per-game average. Paulson is also among the conference and national leaders in fumble recoveries, ranking third in the conference and 21st in the nation with a .29 per-game average.
Paulson has been dominant in nearly every game, recording at least one sack in five of seven. Paulson had four tackles, two sacks, a tackle for loss and a safety in the opening game against Southern Utah. He added 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble at Wyoming. Paulson had a career-best seven tackles against Houston, including 2.5 sacks for 19 yards and a pass deflection. He added three tackles and a sack vs. Utah and scored the first touchdown of his career on a 25-yard fumble recovery. The TD is the first defensive score this season and first touchdown by a defensive lineman since Bryce Fisher vs. Oregon in the 1997 Las Vegas Bowl. Paulson matched his career-best with seven tackles against Navy and had one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery for 10 yards.
Paulson's top games
Opponent Statistics
Southern Utah 4-0-4, 2.0 sacks, 1 TFL, safety
Wyoming 2-1-3, 1.5 sacks, forced fumble
Houston 6-1-7, 2.5 sacks, pass deflection
Utah 2-1-3, 1.0 sack, 25-yard fumble return for a TD
Navy 3-4-7, 1.0 TFL, fumble recovery for 10 yards
San Diego State 2-3-5, 1.5 sacks, .5 TFL, pass deflection
Individual National Sack Leaders
# Name, Team G Total Avg
1. Phillip Hunt, Houston 7 10.0 1.43
2. Jerry Hughes, TCU 8 11.0 1.38
3. Alex Carrington, Ark. State 7 9.5 1.36
4. Aaron Maybin, Penn State 8 10.0 1.25
5. Jake Paulson, Air Force 7 8.5 1.21
Halderman hauls it
Sophomore Kyle Halderman is one of the big-play men for the Falcons. Halderman is second on the team in rushing with a 43.9 per-game average. Halderman rushed for 87 yards on six carries in the season opening win over Southern Utah and scored on a 48-yard dash. Halderman led the Falcons with 85 yards on three carries at Wyoming and broke open the game in the third quarter with a 74-yard run to set up a touchdown to give Air Force a 13-3 lead. The 74-yard run is the longest by a Falcon since Blane Morgan went 80 yards vs. New Mexico in 1998. Halderman rushed for 66 yards on 11 carries against Houston.
He showed he's a big-play receiver as well vs. Navy, recording his first-career catch which was good for a 19-yard touchdown. Halderman finished the day tied for the team lead in receptions with three for a team-best 62 yards and his first-career touchdown receiving. He also added 32 yards rushing on four carries vs. the Midshipmen. Halderman rushed once for 14 yards at UNLV and haulded in a 44-yard touchdown pass.
He has rushed for 307 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries this season and caught five passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Halderman is second on the team in all-purpose yards with 467 which is a 66.7 per-game average. He is averaging a team-best 9.9 yards per carry and is averaging 12.2 yards every time he touches the ball.
Harrison among the best
Senior do-everything kicker/punter Ryan Harrison is second in the conference and sixth nationally in field goals, averaging 1.86 per game. Harrison has hit 13 of 15 field goals. His 86.7 percentage is the third best in school history and best since Joey Ashcroft hit 88.8 in 2002. Harrison is perfect in 22 extra point attempts to tie for the national lead. He is averaging 8.7 points per game which ranks second in the conference and 24th in the nation. He is also a weapon on kickoffs, collecting 20 touchbacks in 42 kickoffs.
Harrison has tied a career high with three field goals three times this season, including at UNLV where he hit the game-winner from 19 yards in the final minutes. He also hit three vs. Southern Utah and Wyoming. He had had three consecutive games with three field goals dating back to last year's finale vs. California in the bowl game. He hit his first attempt at Houston to extend his consecutive streak of field goals to 16 before missing from 41 yards. Harrison has hit 23 of his last 25 attempts (92.0 percent) dating back to the Wyoming game last season.
Harrison is tied for fifth in Air Force history in career field goals with 32 which is the most since Joe Wood hit 39 from 1989-91. Harrison has hit 32 of 42 careeer attempts and his 76.2 percentage ranks fourth all-time at Air Force.
Harrison career numbers
Season FG Punting PATs Kickoffs
2008 13-15 (86.7) 17-37.7 22-22 (1.000) 42 total -20 TBs
2007 19-27 (70.4) 46-42.9 44-46 (.957) 77 total -32 TBs
Totals 32-42 (76.2) 63-41.5 66-68 (97.1) 119 total - 52 TBs (41.5 pct)
Career Field Goals Career Field Goal Percentage
# Name, Years FGs # Name, Years Pct
1. Dave Lawson, 1972-75 51 1. Jackson Whiting, 1998-99 82.6 (19-23)
2. Sean Pavlich, 1980-83 42 2. Joe Wood, 1989-91 79.6 (39-49)
3. Joe Wood, 1989-91 39 3. David Adams, 1998-00 76.4 (26-34)
4. Ryan Harrison, 2007-08 32 4. Ryan Harrison, 2007-08 76.2 (32-42)
5. Carlos Mateos, 1984 75.0 (12-16)
6. Joe Ashcroft, 2001-03 74.4 (29-39)
Single-Season Field Goal Percentage
# Name, Year Pct.
1. Jackson Whiting, 1999 1.000 (12-12)
2. Joey Ashcroft, 2002 88.8 (16-18)
3. Ryan Harrison, 2008 86.7 (13-15)
4. Joe Wood, 1990 85.7 (12-14)
5. Sean Pavlich, 1982 83.3 (15-18)
Together again
The Air Force trio of juniors Chris Thomas (safety) and Justin Moore (ILB) and sophomore Will Keuchler (OLB) have reunited at the Academy. The trio of classmates was first together in Westerville, Ohio, at St. Francis DeSales High School where they helped the football team to a state championship game appearance. They are together again this season. Keuchler, who attended the Academy's Prep School, is a back at outside linebacker, while Thomas enters his second season as a starter at safety. Moore is listed as a backup inside linebacker. They were coached by Bob Jacoby in high school.
Newell running wild
Senior fullback Todd Newell is taking full advantage of his opportunity to be a starter for the first time in his career. Newell is third on the team in rushing this season with 302 yards and is second in rushing touchdowns with three. Newell has really taken off as of late, recording career highs in rushing attempts and yards in three straight games. The streak started with a 50-yard effort on 15 carries vs. Navy. He added 77 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries at San Diego State. Newell went wild at UNLV, rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. His touchdown came on a career-long 52-yard run. His 134 yards rushing are the most by a Falcon this season and he became the first fullback to top the 100-yard mark since Jacobe Kendrick in 2005. The 134 yards are the most by a fullback since Nate Beard had 149 vs. Colorado State in 2000. Over the last three games Newell has led the team with an average of 87 yards per game.
Clark taking over the load at tailback
The tailback position is the youngest on the team. A freshman and two sophomores make up the depth chart. Sophomores Kyle Lumpkin and Savier Stephens opened the season as a one-two punch before rookie Asher Clark stepped in the last two games to solidify the position.
Lumpkin, who was on the junior varsity team in 2007, and Stephens combined for over 100 yards in three of the first five games with a high mark of 139 coming vs. Southern Utah. Clark made his first-career start at San Diego State and exploded for 109 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries to become the first Falcon this season with a 100-yard effort. Clark added 65 yards on a career-high 20 carries at UNLV and handled all but three of the team's carries at the position.
A closer look at the position by game follows:
Game Lumpkin Stephens Clark Total
Southern Utah 19-77-0 16-62-0 5-21-0 40-161-0
Wyoming 16-71-0 13-37-0 DNP 29-108-0
Houston 20-74-0 14-60-1 DNP 34-134-1
Utah 12-36-0 13-33-1 0-0-0 25-69-1
Navy 10-42-0 7-24-0 1-2-1 18-68-1
San Diego State 14-71-0 3-19-0 15-109-1 32-199-1
UNLV 3-5-0 DNP 20-65-0 23-70-0
Totals 94-376-0 66-235-2 41-197-2 201-808-4
Average 28.7-115.4
Smith solid in any role
Senior quarterback Shea Smith has been solid this season. Smith started the first five games of the season before giving way to freshman Tim Jefferson. Smith has rushed for 229 yards and leads the team with six rushing touchdowns. He has hit 28 of 50 passes for 394 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. He has a 136.59 quarterback efficiency rating. Smith rushed for a career-high 93 yards and a career-best three touchdowns vs. Houston. He threw for a career-best 138 yards and a touchdown on seven of 13 passing vs. Utah. Smith threw for 128 yards and a score on eight of 12 passes vs. Navy before leaving the game due to illness. Smith rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown vs. Southern Utah in his first-career start. He is the first Falcon quarterback to win his first three career starts since Chance Harridge in 2002. Smith has been comfortable in the backup role as well. He stepped in and helped Air Force at San Diego State, throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter in relief of an injured Jefferson.
Jefferson just the fourth freshman to start at QB
Freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson became just the fourth freshman starting quarterback in school history when he moved into the starting lineup at San Diego State. Jefferson joined Dave Ziebart (1976), Dee Dowis (1986) and Shaun Carney (2004) as rookie starters.
Jefferson was solid in his first start, rushing for a then-career-best 55 yards and his first-career touchdown on 12 carries. He also hit three of five passes for 34 yards. Jefferson was solid in his first extended time in the Navy game, rushing for 35 yards on six carries and hittting four of nine passes for 56 yards.
The Atlanta, Ga., product exploded in his second-career start at UNLV, rushing for a career-best 99 yards on 13 carries and hitting six of seven passes for a career-high 162 yards. Jefferson also threw the first two touchdown passes of his career. He engineered the game-winning drive which led to a 19-yard field goal to win it for Air Force. Jefferson hit three-of-three passes for 31 yards and rushed four times for 11 yards on the 17-play, 91-yard drive. He also picked up two first downs, one by rushing and one on an 18-yard pass play.
Jefferson has rushed for 184 yards and a touchdown and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He has also hit 13 of 21 passes for 252 yards and two scores and has a 194.13 pass efficiency rating. He is averaging 77 yards rushing and 98 yards passing as a starter. Jefferson has hit nine of 12 passes with a touchdown and no interceptions in the two games he's started.
Lamendola rolling
Sophomore inside linebacker Ken Lamendola is having a solid season in his first year as a starter. Lamendola leads the Falcons and is tied for fourth in the conference in tackles with an 8.6 per-game average. After recording just one tackle in his first-career start in the Southern Utah game, Lamendola chipped in with four straight games of 10 or more tackles. Lamendola had 11 tackles at Wyoming, then added 12 tackles vs. Houston and Utah and a career-best 14 vs. Navy. His four-game streak of double figure tackle games is the best since All-American Chris Gizzi set the school record with 12 in 1997.
Altman all right
Senior OLB Hunter Altman has been outstanding this season, particularly the last four games. Altman posted back-to-back games with career highs in tackles with 12, including two tackles for loss, vs. Utah and 13 vs. Navy and added his first-career fumble recovery. Altman had eight solo stops vs. Navy which is also a career best. Altman didn't set a career high in tackles vs. San Diego State, but he led the team with seven total tackles and combined with Jake Paulson for a quarterback sack. Altman led the team at UNLV last week with eight tackles, including seven unassisted.
Altman is second on the team in tackles this season with 52, including a team-best 35 unassisted. He has 2.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. Altman has 128 career tackles which is the second most among active players, trailing only Chris Thomas (175).
Harrison/Jefferson earn player of the week honors
Senior kicker Ryan Harrison and freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson each earned Mountain West Conference player of the week honors for their efforts in last week's 29-28 win at UNLV. Harrison earned the special team honor while Jefferson earned the offensive award.
Harrison matched his career-high with three field goals, including a 19-yard game-winning kick with 2:36 left to play. His other field goals came from 26 and 23 yards to give him a 13-of-15 completion rate on the season. Harrison, a native of Keller, Texas, also punted once in the game, hitting a 40-yard punt that was downed inside the 20 yard line, and kicked off seven times, pinning UNLV inside its own 20 twice. This is the second honor of Harrison's career.
Jefferson completed 6-of-7 passes for a career-high 162 yards and two touchdowns. The true freshman quarterback also rushed for a career-best 99 yards on a career-high 13 carries to finish with 261 yards total offense. Jefferson, a native of Atlanta, Ga., picked up first downs on eight of his carries, including once on a fourth-and-two and six times on third down. With Air Force trailing 28-26 midway through the fourth quarter, Jefferson engineered a 17-play, 91-yard drive that took 7:03 off the clock and led to the game-winning field goal with 2:36 left to play.
Falcon honors
Honors for Air Force football players so far in 2008
- Ryan Harrison, PK,P - 11th best kicker in the nation by Phill Steele's
Magazine ... second-team preseason all-MWC as kicker and punter by Phil Steele's Magazine ... Lou Groza National Place Kicker Award star of the week vs. Wyoming ... MWC special teams player of the week vs. UNLV.
- Nick Charles, OL - First-team all-MWC preseason ... second-team preseason all-MWC by Phil Steele's Magazine.
- Keith Williams, OL - second-team preseason all-MWC by Phil Steele's Magazine.
- Chris Thomas, DB - second-team preseason all-MWC by Phil Steele's Magazine.
- Ryan Kemp, DE - First-team all-MWC preseason.
- Travis Dekker, TE - Nominated for the AFCA Good Works Team ... Inaugural class of 30 for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for classroom, character, community and compeition.
- Chris Thomas, SS - MWC defensive player of the week vs. Wyoming.
- Tim Jefferson, QB - MWC offensive player of the week vs. UNLV.
