Nov. 17, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Air Force (8-3, 5-2) at #15/17 TCU (9-2, 6-1)
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2:30 p.m. Central
Amon G. Carter Stadium (44,358), Fort Worth, TX
Radio
KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs; KCKK 1510 AM in Denver and Northern Colorado
Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 122
Talent - Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Lee Douglas (anaylst); Jay Ritchie (pre- and post-game)
Television
VERSUS
Channel 603 on DirecTV, 151 on DISH and 56 on Comcast
Talent - Joe Beninati (play-by-play); Glen Parker (analyst); Tim Neverett (sidelines)
Air Force travels to #15/17 TCU for regular season finale
Air Force (8-3, 5-2 MWC) travles to Fort Worth, TX, to take on No. 15/17 TCU this Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2:30 p.m. central at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The game will be televised nationally by VERSUS.
Air Force and TCU meet for the eighth time overall and fifth time as conference foes. The Horned Frogs have a 4-2-1 record in the series, including a 3-1 mark in conference games. Air Force snapped a four-game TCU winning streak in the series with last year's 20-17 overtime win at the Academy.
When Air Force and TCU play this week two of the nation's best units will go head-to-head. The Falcons lead the conference and rank fourth nationally in rushing offense with a 279.7 per-game average. TCU counters with the nation's top-ranked defense, allowing just 220 total yards per contest. In addition, TCU is the nation's No. 1 rushing defense, allowing opponents only 39.5 yards per game. The Horned Frogs have only allowed two teams to rush for 100 or more yards this season, Wyoming (113) and UNLV (108).
Air Force is 5-0 this season away from Falcon Stadium. The Falcons could become just the second undefeated team away from home in school history with a win this week. The 1958 team posted the school's only undefeated road team with a 6-0-1 away record and 6-0-2 record including neutral site games.
TCU is the third ranked team that Air Force has faced this season. The Falcons lost to 20th-ranked Utah, 30-23, and No. 16/14 BYU, 38-24, earlier this season. The Falcons are 14-62-4 (.188) all-time vs. ranked teams. Air Force's last victory over a ranked team came in 2002 at No. 23 California, 23-21. This is the second consecutive week that Air Force is facing a ranked team, as the team faced No. 16/14 BYU at home last week. This week marks the first time since 1973 that Air Force has played ranked teams in back-to-back weeks. That year, Air Force played No. 7 Penn State in Falcon Stadium, then traveled to No. 17 Colorado. The Falcons lost both games.
The series
Air Force and TCU meet for the eighth time overall and fifth time as conference foes. The Horned Frogs have a 4-2-1 record in the series, including a 3-1 mark in conference games. Air Force snapped a four-game TCU winning streak in the series with last year's 20-17 overtime win at the Academy.
TCU defeated Air Force, 38-14, the last time the two play in Fort Worth in former Falcon head coach Fisher DeBerry's last game. The teams first played each other in the 1959 Cotton Bowl which ended in a 0-0 tie.
Year by Year
1959 - Tied 0-0 (Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX)
1987 - AFA 21-10 (H)
1989 - TCU 27-9 (A)
1998 - TCU 35-34 (A)
2005 - TCU 48-10 (H)
2006 - TCU 38-14 (A)
2007 - AFA 20-17 (H)
( ) Site is for AFA
Last year
AP Article - Ryan Harrison's 33-yard field goal on second down gave Air Force a 20-17 overtime victory over TCU on Thursday night, Sept 13.
The Falcons, who overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit, were swarmed on the field by thousands of cadets who hadn't had this much to celebrate in a long time.
Harrison's winner followed a miss by TCU kicker Chris Manfredini, whose 36-yard attempt hit the left upright on the first possession of overtime.
The Falcons had tied it on Jim Ollis' 71-yard TD run on an option pitch from Shaun Carney with 5:55 left.
The Frogs were well within Manfredini's range with the wind at his back going toward the south end zone in the final minute of regulation when they went for the touchdown instead on first-and-10 from the 22 only to see cornerback Carson Bird snare Andy Dalton's underthrown pass to Jimmy Young in the end zone.
Twice in the third quarter, the Horned Frogs were turned away near the goal line, on a blocked field goal and an interception.
Finally, Dalton hit Walter Bryant in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard score one play after the Frogs got a first down by the nose of the football, to make it 17-3 with 13:10 left.
But Carney responded by hitting Travis Dekker for 50 yards, setting up a 9-yard touchdown strike to Keith Madsen that pulled the Falcons within a touchdown with 8 minutes remaining.
The Falcons gave up great field position to TCU when Horned Frogs up-man Derek Moore recovered the onside kick, but Air Force forced a three-and-out and took over at its 20.
On fourth-and-one from the Falcons 29, Carney pitched to Ollis, who scampered 71 yards for the tying touchdown with 5:55 left.
TCU capitalized on a blocked punt and an interception to take a 10-3 halftime lead. Stephen Hodges sliced through the Falcons' widespread punt formation to block Harrison's first punt, and Andy Burrell recovered at the Air Force 27. But the Frogs managed to move just five yards and had to settle for Manfredini's 39-yard field goal.
Manfredini's 20-yarder in the third quarter was blocked by Chris Thomas, the 100th blocked kick by Air Force since 1990.
After Steven Coleman's interception at midfield, TCU again had trouble moving the ball. The Frogs committed three penalties and a fumble but still managed to drive downfield for the touchdown on Dalton's 5-yard fade pass to Ervin Dickerson just before he tumbled out of bounds.
After Harrison was wide right on a 50-yard field goal try that was plenty long enough, the Horned Frogs drove to the Falcons 22 before Garrett Rybak forced and recovered a fumble by Christian at the end of an 11-yard scamper.
Harrison then nailed a career-long 57-yarder with 1:31 left before halftime, which was nothing like the thrilling 33-yarder he would hit in overtime.
The last time at TCU
Jeff Ballard completed all 12 of his passes and ran for a touchdown in the first quarter and the Horned Frogs dominated throughout for a 38-14 win over Air Force.
Air Force had 128 total yards, 220 below their season average.
The Falcons didn't score until Hunter Altman returned a blocked punt 15 yards for a touchdown with 12:28 left.
Ballard was 20-of-25 for 220 yards and a touchdown while playing only three quarters.
Aaron Brown ran 11 times for 49 yards and caught six passes for 72 yards.
TCU scored on all four of its first-half possessions to build a 24-0 lead, and was at the Air Force 1 to start the second half when Lonta Hobbs fumbled trying to score. Chris Thomas reached from behind to poke the ball loose, then reached into a pile to recover the fumble.
The Horned Frogs still scored two plays later, when Torrey Stewart returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown. The Falcons fumbled on a double reverse on their next drive, setting up Brown's 1-yard TD run that made it 38-0.
Air Force had turnovers on its first three drives after halftime, a fumble at the TCU 29 in the third quarter ending the Falcons' deepest penetration.
On the game's opening drive, Ballard completed seven passes for 58 yards before Hobbs scored on a 12-yard run, going virtually untouched into the end zone on a run up the middle.
Ballard hit five more passes on the next drive, ending that with a 1-yard keeper that made it 14-0 after the first quarter.
Quentily Harmon made an acrobatic play to put TCU up 21-0, when he caught a pass and was knocked off his feet. He came down on a bent leg at the 3, but his knee never touched the ground and wound up in a scrum of players, pushing forward into the end zone to cap a 19-play, 97-yard drive.
Career statistics vs. TCU
Rushing
Name G Att-Yds-TDs
Savier Stephens 1 8-26-0
Shea Smith 1 2-(-4)-0
Receiving
Name G #-Yds-TD
Travis Dekker 1 4-83-0
Keith Madsen 1 1-9-1
Spencer Armstrong 1 1-15-0
Tackles
Name G UT-AT-Total
Aaron Kirchoff 2 7-13-20
Hunter Altman 2 5-8-13
Jake Paulson 2 2-4-6
Ryan Kemp 2 3-4-7
Chris Thomas 2 3-7-10
Ben Garland 1 1-0-1
Kevin Rivers 1 1-0-1
Jared Marvin 1 0-3-3
Ben Garland 1 0-1-1
Air Force/Texas ties
More Air Force players call Texas home than any other state. The Falcons roster has 23 players from the Lone Star state. In addition, two coaches are from the state. Co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Blane Morgan is from Dallas, while running backs coach Jemal Singleton is from San Antonio. Head coach Troy Calhoun also has ties to Texas as the offensive coordinator for the NFL's Houston Texans in 2006.
Two of the nation's best clash this week
When Air Force and TCU play this week two of the nation's best units will go head-to-head. The Falcons lead the conference and rank fourth nationally in rushing offense with a 279.7 per-game average. TCU counters with the nation's top-ranked defense, allowing just 220 total yards per contest. In addition, TCU is the nation's No. 1 rushing defense, allowing opponents only 39.5 yards per game. The Horned Frogs have only allowed two teams to rush for 100 or more yards this season, Wyoming (113) and UNLV (108).
Air Force 5-0 away from home this season
Air Force is 5-0 this season away from Falcon Stadium. The Falcons have defeated Wyoming, San Diego State, UNLV and Army on the road and Houston in a neutral site game. The Falcons could become just the second undefeated team away from home in school history with a win this week. The 1958 team posted the school's only undefeated road team with a 6-0-1 away record and 6-0-2 record including neutral site games. A closer look at the best road teams in school history follows:
Year Away Away/Neutral
2008 4-0 5-0
1958 6-0-1 6-0-2
1985 5-1 6-1
1994 5-1 5-1
1984 4-1 5-1
1998 4-1 6-1
1997 4-1 4-2
2002 4-1 4-2
2000 3-1 4-1
Air Force vs. ranked teams
TCU, ranked #15 in the A.P. poll and #17 in the USA Today poll, is the third ranked team that Air Force has faced this season. The Falcons lost to 20th-ranked Utah, 30-23, and No. 16/14 BYU, 38-24, earlier this season.
The Falcons are 14-62-4 (.188) all-time vs. ranked teams. Air Force's last victory over a ranked team came in 2002 at No. 23 California, 23-21.
The last time Air Force beat a top 20 team in the A.P. ranking and went to a bowl game in the same year was 1970 when the Falcons defeated sixth-ranked Stanford, 31-14, at home and played in the Sugar Bowl.
This is the second consecutive week that Air Force is facing a ranked team, as the team faced No. 16/14 BYU at home last week. This week marks the first time since 1973 that Air Force has played ranked teams in back-to-back weeks. That year, Air Force played No. 7 Penn State in Falcon Stadium, then traveled to No. 17 Colorado. The Falcons lost both games.
This season marks the first time since 2002 that Air Force has played three or more ranked teams. The Falcons played four ranked teams in 2002, defeating No. 23 California (23-21), losing to No. 7 Notre Dame (21-14), No. 24 Colorado State (31-12) and No. 19 Virginia Tech (20-13) in the San Francisco Bowl.
Last week
BYU exploded with a 21-point third quarter to defeat Air Force, 38-24, in Falcon Stadium. The victory improved the 14th-ranked Cougars to 10-1 on the year.
Fui Vakapuna opened the scoring for BYU with an 11-yard run in the first quarter. Mitch Payne added a 46-yard field goal to give the Cougars a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. Asher Clark got the Falcons on the board with a six-yard run to cut the lead to 10-7. Todd Newell gave Air Force its only lead with a one-yard run to make it 14-10 at halftime.
The Cougars second-half explosion opened with the first of two Harvey Unga touchdown runs. The second came following a fumble on a kickoff return and gave BYU a 24-14 lead. Austin Collie hauled in a six-yard pass from Max Hall to make it 31-14. Ryan Harrison kicked a 34-yard field goal to cut the lead to 31-17 late in the third. Fullback Jared Tew added a 19-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter to make it 31-24 with 7:37 left. The Cougars answered with another Hall to Collie touchdown, this one from 45 yards to make up the final margin.
BYU finished with 480 total yards. Hall hit 28 of 37 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns. Unga led the rushing attack with 88 yards on 19 carries. Dennis Pitta added nine catches for 113 yards while Collie finished with seven for 130.
Air Force was led by Newell, who rushed for 116 yards on 21 carries. Jefferson added 75 on 12 carries and hit 12 of 20 passes for 98 yards. The Falcons finished with 421 total yards, including 323 rushing.
Last game's notes
Team Notes
- Air Force's consecutive quarter scoring streak was snapped at 18, as the Falcons were held scoreless in the first quarter. The streak dates back to the second quarter of the San Diego State game on Oct. 11. Air Force's scoreless first quarter is just its third this season (Wyoming, Utah).
- Air Force's 17-point deficit in the third quarter is the largest the team has faced this season. The previous was 13 vs. Navy.
- BYU's 21 points in the third quarter are the most allowed by Air Force in a quarter this season. The previous high was 14 points by three different teams.
- Air Force forced two turnovers (one interception, one fumble) to mark the 10th time in 11 games this season the team has forced two or more turnovers in a game.
Individual Notes
- Senior FB Todd Newell rushed for 116 yards, which is the second 100-plus yard effort of his career. Newell rushed for a career-high 134 yards at UNLV earlier this season. Newell scored on a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give Air Force a 14-10 lead.
- Sophomore ILB Ken Lamendola recorded his first-career quarterback sack on BYU's opening drive, forcing a punt.
- Junior SS Chris Thomas recorded his fourth quarterback sack of the season which is second on the team and tops among the secondary. He also posted a career-high 17 tackles, surpassing his previous career-best of 14 vs. BYU in 2007. Thomas also recorded his team-leading third fumble recovery this season.
- Sophomore returner Reggie Rembert recorded a 26-yard punt return which led to Air Force's second quarter touchdown to cut the lead to 10-7. The BYU game is the third straight that a Rembert return has set up a key touchdown for Air Force. He returned a punt 35 yards to set up Air Force's go-ahead touchdown at Army. He returned an interception 17 yards to set up a game-clinching score vs. Colorado State in the third quarter to make it 35-17.
- Senior FS Aaron Kirchoff recorded the first interception of his career, which came in the end zone off a deflected pass from senior DE Ryan Kemp.
- Freshman QB Tim Jefferson is now 5-1 as a starter. The 5-1 start is the best at Air Force since Chance Harridge opened 6-0 in 2002. Jefferson finished the game with 75 rushing yards and had a career-long 45-yard run. His previous long was 31 yards vs. UNLV.
- Freshman WR-Z Jaquon Robinson made the first catch of his career, a seven-yard catch in the third quarter.
- Sophomore FB Jared Tew recorded his career-long run of 19 yards which went for his first-career touchdown. The touchdown cut the BYU lead to 31-24 in the fourth quarter.
- Senior PK Ryan Harrison added to his single-season field goal record with his 21st of the season, a 34-yard kick in the third quarter. Harrison has hit 21 of 24 field goals this season.
Air Force in November
Air Force is 2-1 this season and 5-1 under head coach Troy Calhoun in the month of November. The Falcons were 3-0 last season in November. The three wins are the most since 2000 when Air Force was 3-0 in November. Air Force is 2-1 in conference games in November under Calhoun. AFA is 1-1 this season, defeating Colorado State and losing to BYU. The team was 1-0 last season, defeating San Diego State.
Air Force is 90-84-3 all-time in the November. The team is 45-33-1 at home, 44-49-2 on the road and 1-2 in nuetral site games. Air Force is 26-24 in November conference games, including a 13-8 mark at home and 13-16 road record.
Playing best when it matters most
Air Force is 4-1 this season and 9-2 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 4-1
2007 5-1
Total 9-2
2006 1-5
2005 2-4
2004 3-3
2003 2-4
2002 2-4
2001 2-4
Total 12-24 (Entering 2007)
Did you know.....
- Air Force's 17 wins (with at least one game remaining this season) since 2007 are the best in back-to-back season since 1998-99 when it combined for 18 (12-1 in 1998, 6-5 in 1999).
- Air Force has posted 11 MWC wins in back-to-back seasons which is a school record. The previous mark was eight in 2000 (5-2) and 2001 (3-4). Air Force is 5-2 this season after finishing 6-2 last year, marking the first time in school history the team has won four or more MWC games in back-to-back seasons.
- Head coach Troy Calhoun has led Air Force to 17 wins in his one-plus seasons at Air Force. The 17 wins (with at least one game remaining) is the second-best of any service academy head coach in his first two years. Fisher DeBerry, who took over Air Force in 1984, has the best mark with 20 wins. Air Force was 12-1 in 1985 and 8-4 in 1984. The Falcons were a combined 18-7 in 1982-83 prior to his taking over.
Most wins at a service academy in first two years
Name, School Years Wins
Fisher DeBerry, AF 1984-85 20
Troy Calhoun, AF 2007-08 17
Ralph Sasse, Army 1930-31 17
Charles Daly, Army 1913-14 17
Paul Dashiell, Navy 1904-05 17
Tom Cahill, Army 1966-67 16
Biff Jones, Army 1926-27 16
- Air Force's five-game winning streak was snapped by No. 16/14 BYU last week. The five-game streak is the longest since the 2003 when the team opened 5-0. The five-game streak is the best in the second half of the season since 1998 when the team won nine straight.
- Air Force had won four straight MWC games which is a school record before the BYU loss.
- Air Force is 9-3 in Falcon Stadium under head coach Troy Calhoun.
One of America's top coaches
Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun is quickly becoming one of America's top coaches. He is 17-7 overall and 11-4 in conference play in his second year at the helm at the Academy. Calhoun is fourth in Mountain West Conference history in career winning percentage in conference games with a .733 mark (11-4).
Calhoun's 17 wins in one-plus season is the second-most ever for a service academy head coach in his first two seasons. He has led the Falcons to a tie for third place in the MWC this season after being picked sixth in the preseason polls. The three place improvement is the best in the conference and marks the second straight season Calhoun has led Air Force to the highest improvement from the presason poll. Air Force finished second after being picked seventh last season.
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.
Winningest MWC Coaches
# Name, School Tenure Record Pct.
1. Urban Meyer, Utah 2003-05 13-1 .929
2. Bronco Mendenhall, BYU 2005- 26-4 .867
3. Gary Patterson, TCU 2005- 24-7 .774
4. Troy Calhoun, Air Force 2007- 11-4 .733
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
- Five of Air Force top six rushers this season are freshmen or sophomores.
- Air Force's leading passer is freshman Tim Jefferson.
- Air Force's leading receiver is junior Josh Cousins, who entered the year with no career catches. The second-leading receiver is sophomore Kevin Fogler, who is in his first season of varsity action.
- The team's top three punt returners are sophomore Reggie Rembert and freshmen Anthony Wright and Jonathan Warzeka.
- 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 22nd nationally in scoring defense with a 19.2 average. The Falcons are second in the MWC and 28th nationally in passing defense with a 184.2 average. The team is third in the conference and 35th nationally in total defense with a 320.0 average.
Air Force has shut out five opponents in the second half this season and had a streak of three straight games with second-half shutouts before BYU scored a season-high 28 points in the second stanza.
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 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 has scored three defensive touchdowns this season. 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 ... Junior ILB Justin Moore returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown vs. San Diego State ... Senior Aaron Kirchoff returned a fumble 96 yards for a game-changing touchdown vs. New Mexico. The 96-yard return is the second-longest in AFA history.
- 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 five opponents (Southern Utah, 130; Wyoming, 216; Navy, 244; San Diego State, 165; Army 250) under 300 yards of total offense.
- Air Force held New Mexico to just 154 yards in the final three quarters of the game.
- The Falcons allowed just 165 total yards and just 2.5 yards per play vs. San Diego State. SDSU was held to just 13 yards on 28 plays in the second half.
- Air Force allowed just seven points at Army. After allowing a touchdown on the opening drive, Army was held scoreless the remaining 58:42 of the game and only allowed Army inside AF territory four times with the deepest penetration being the 36.
- Air Force shutout Colorado State in the second half and held the Rams to just 120 yards after halftime.
More on the defense
Air Force has allowed just six 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 open the second half. Army and Colorado State scored touchdowns on the opening drive of the game and BYU scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half.
The Air Force has had 15 turnovers this season and the defense has allowed just 30 points as a result. On the 13 drives (one turnover ended a game while one ended a half) combined, the defense has allowed just 158 yards on 47 plays which is an average of 3.1 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)
Utah Down (5-12-2:38) TD (8-69-3:53)
Navy FG (13-62-7:13) TD (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)
New Mexico Downs (9-71-3:57) Downs (12-62-5:13)
Army TD (3-60-1:18) Punt (12-37-5:45)
Colorado State TD (8-62-3:46) INT (9-61-3:58)
BYU Punt (5-31-3:12) TD (8-45-2:44)
Total 65 plays; 375 yds 82 plays; 393 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)
New Mexico Fumble AF 11 TD (4-11-1:28)
Interception AF 44 FG (7-16-2:51)
Fumble Opp 49 Fumble (3-20-1:07)
BYU Fumble AF20 TD (3-20-1:07)
Totals 47 plays; 158 yards
Air Force fourth nationally with 192-game scoring streak
- Air Force has scored in 192 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 fourth longest in the country.
# School Streak Last Shutout
1. Michigan 299 Oct. 20, 1984 at Iowa (0-26)
2. Florida 253 Oct. 29, 1988 vs. Auburn (0-16)
3. TCU (MWC) 201 Nov. 16, 1991 at Texas (0-32)
4. Air Force (MWC) 192 #--Dec. 31, 1992 vs. Mississippi (0-13), #--Liberty Bowl)
- Air Force's 192-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 299 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 253 11/05/1988 - present ..................
8. UCLA 245 10/02/1971 - 10/17/1992 Arizona State
9. Colorado 242 11/19/1988 - 10/25/2008 Missouri
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. TCU 201 11/23/1991 - present ..................
15. Virginia 195 9/15/1984 - 10/28/2000 Georgia Tech
16. Air Force 192 8/04/1993 - present .......................
Air Force conference/national rushing numbers
- Air Force leads the conference and ranks fourth nationally in rushing with a 279.7 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 279.7 1st 4th
Offensive quarter scoring streak snapped at 18
Air Force had scored in 18 straight quarters dating back to the third quarter at San Diego State five games ago until BYU shut the Falcons out in the first quarter. The Falcons scored in each of the remaining quarters and have now scored in 28 of the last 30 overall and 38 of 44 this season.
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 3-1 this season and 12-2 in games when they have a player rush for 100 or more yards. The team's only losses came in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl vs. California and vs. No. 16/14 BYU this season. 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
Colorado State Asher Clark 136 W 38-17
BYU Todd Newell 116 L 24-38
Quarterback sacks - AF among national leaders
Air Force is among the national leaders in quarterback sacks, both offensively and defensively. The Falcons have forced 29 quarterback sacks for 199 yards which is an average of 2.64 per game. Air Force ranks second in the in the conference and 20th nationally. Senior defensive end Jake Paulson has recorded 8.5 sacks and ranks second in the conference and 20th nationally with a .77 per-game average.
Offensively, the Falcons have allowed just two quarterback sacks, one vs. UNLV and one vs. New Mexico. The Falcons lead the conference and nation in fewest sacks allowed.
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.
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 to win five of six games to improve to 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the conference. Air Force's 11-game overall and seven-game conference record is the same as in 2007.
The Falcons have averaged 365.9 yards of total offense, including 279.7 yards rushing. The team has also had some outstanding individual efforts. Freshman Asher Clark rushed for a then-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 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. Clark and Jefferson both had career days vs. Colorado State. Clark rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns while Jefferson hit six of eight passes for 171 yards and two scores. After not having a 100-yard rushing in the first five games, the team has had four in the last six games, as Newell added a 116-yard effort vs. BYU.
Air Force takes it away
Air Force has picked up where it left off last season, collecting a +12 turnover margin this season. The Falcons have had multiple takeaways in every game this season, except at UNLV. The team's 1.09 per-game turnover margin average is second in the conference and 14th nationally. Air Force has forced 27 turnovers this season, including 16 fumbles and 11 interceptions. The Falcons have recovered 16 of the opponent's 21 fumbles this season and rank second in the nation in fumble recoveries.
2008 Turnovers: (Southern Utah, 2; Wyoming, 5; Houston, 2; Utah, 3; Navy, 2; San Diego State, 2; UNLV, 0; New Mexico, 4; Army, 3; Colorado State, 2; BYU, 2).
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 +22 mark under head coach Troy Calhoun.
Air Force takeaways and +/- in last 10 years
Year Takeaways(Int./Fum.) +/- W/L
2008 16 (5/11) +12 8-3
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. Air Force defeated Arny, 16-7, in West Point, N.Y., to finish 1-1. Air Force has a 48-26-0 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 48-26-0 .649
Navy 36-36-1 .500
Army 25-48-1 .345
Air Force outright CIC title years:
`82, `83, `85, `87, `89, `90, `91, `92, `94, `95, `97, `98, `99, `00, `01, `02
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. He added his first touchdown of the season with a one-yard catch vs. New Mexico. Dekker added a four-yard TD catch vs. Colorado State.
Dekker finished third on the team last season with 25 catches for 382 yards. His 25 receptions were the most by a Falcon tight end since Trent Van Hulzen had 26 in 1989.
Dekker, who has been accepted into the Georgetown Medical School, has been a standout off the field as well. A quick hit of some of the awards he's won and been nominated for follow:
- One of 13 finalists for the 2008 Wuerffel Trophy, a national award that honors the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstand academic and athletic achievement
- 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 a 14.4 average and is 10th in kickoff returns with a 19.0 norm. Rembert has five carries for 30 yards on offense and is averaging 6.0 yards per carry.
Defensively, he is fourth on the team in total tackles with 53. Rembert ranks third on the team in tackles for loss with 6.5 for 23 yards. He also has two quarterback sacks for 14 yards and has forced one fumble and recovered another. Rembert leads the team with three interceptions.
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.
- Recorded season bests of four punt returns for 57 yards at Army ... had a 35-yard return that set up Air Force's go-ahead touchdown ... recorded two turnovers at Army with a fumble recovery and an interception.
- Career-best 10 total tackles vs. Colorado State ... had a half tackle for loss and an interception which he returned 17 yards to set up a score ... had 117 all-purpose yards ... two punt returns for 40 yards and two kickoff returns for 60 yards.
Paulson on Hendricks midseason watch list
Air Force senior defensive end Jake Paulson was one of 33 players named to the Hendricks Award Mid-Season Watch List. The Hendricks Award goes to the top defensive lineman in the country.
Paulson is having an outstanding season. Paulson has 8.5 quarterback sacks and ranks second in the conference and 20th nationally with a .77 per-game average. Paulson ranks third in the conference and 31st nationally in tackles for loss with 14.0 for 67 yards which is a 1.27 per-game average.
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'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
Army 4-3-7, 2.5 tackles for loss, pass breakup that led to an interception
Harrison sets school record for field goals
Senior do-everything kicker/punter Ryan Harrison leads the conference and is fourth nationally in field goals, averaging 1.91 per game. Harrison has set a new single season school record with 21 field goals, breaking the record of 19 he tied last season, matching David Adams (2000) and Dave Lawson (1974).
Harrison has hit 21 of 24 field goals this season and his .875 percentage is the third best in school history. Harrison is perfect in 33 extra point attempts to tie for the national lead. He is averaging 8.7 points per game which ranks second in the conference and 21st in the nation.
He hit his first field goal at Houston to extend his consecutive streak of field goals to 16 before missing from 41 yards. Harrison had another streak of 10 straight until a 54-yarder was blocked vs. BYU. He has hit 31 of his last 34 attempts (.912 percentage) dating back to the Wyoming game last season.
Harrison is third in Air Force history in career field goals with 40 which is the most since Sean Pavlich hit 42 from 1980-83. Harrison has hit 40 of 51 careeer attempts and his .784 percentage is third all-time at Air Force.
Harrison career numbers
Season FG Punting PATs Kickoffs
2008 21-24 (.875) 35-38.5 33-33 (1.000) 65 total -23 TBs
2007 19-27 (.704) 46-42.9 44-46 (.957) 77 total -32 TBs
Totals 40-51 (.784) 81-41.0 77-79 (.975) 142 total - 55 TBs
Career Field Goal Percentage
Name, Years Pct
1. Jackson Whiting, 1998-99 .826 (19-23)
2. Joe Wood, 1989-91 .796 (39-49)
3. Ryan Harrison, 2007-08 .784 (40-51)
4. David Adams, 1998-00 .764 (26-34)
5. Carlos Mateos, 1984 .750 (12-16)
6. Joe Ashcroft, 2001-03 .744 (29-39)
Single-Season Field Goal Percentage
# Name, Year Pct.
1. Jackson Whiting, 1999 1.000 (12-12)
2. Joey Ashcroft, 2002 .888 (16-18)
3. Ryan Harrison, 2008 .875 (21-24)
4. Joe Wood, 1990 .857 (12-14)
5. Sean Pavlich, 1982 .833 (15-18)
2008 NCAA field goal leaders
# Name, School Yr. Gm FG-A Pct. FG/Gm
1. Graham Gano, Florida State Sr. 8 18-20 .900 2.25
2. Conor Lee, Pittsburgh Sr. 9 18-20 .900 2.00
3. Jose Martinez, UTEP Sr. 10 20-24 .833 2.00
4. Ryan Harrison, Air Force Sr. 11 21-24 .875 1.91
5. Dustin Keys, Virginia Tech Sr. 10 19-23 .826 1.90
Harrison a semifinalist for Lou Groza Award
Air Force senior kicker Ryan Harrison has been named a semifinalist for the 2008 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award as announced by the Palm Beach County (Florida) Sports Commission. Harrison is one of 20 semifinalists for the 17th annual award.
Harrison is one of three MWC kickers named as semifinalist as Utah's Louie Sakoda and TCU's Ross Evans were also selected. Other semifinalists are Arkansas State's Josh Sarauco, Arizona's Jason Bondzio, Miami's Matt Bosher, Florida State's Graham Gano, Troy's Sam Glusman, Navy's Matt Harmon, Penn State's Kevin Kelly, Virginia Tech's Dustin Keys, UTEP's Jose Martinez, West Virginia's Pat McAfee, Florida's Jonathan Phillips, Cincinnati's Jake Rogers, Syracuse's Patrick Shadle, Mississippi's Joshua Shene, Alabama's Leigh Tiffin, Wisconsin's Phillip Welch and Missouri's Jeff Wolfert.
Semifinalists will be voted on by a panel consisting of all Division 1 coaches and SID's, along with national, regional and local football writers and others who will select the three finalists. These finalists will be invited to the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet December 7-9 in West Palm Beach, Fla. The winner will be announced live on the nationally-televised Home Deport ESPNU College Football Awards Program on the evening of December 11, 2008.
Halderman hauls it
Sophomore Kyle Halderman is one of the big-play men for the Falcons. Halderman is fifth on the team in rushing with 357 yards and is averaging 10.8 yards per carry. Halderman is second on the team in receiving with 11 catches for team highs of 256 yards and three touchdowns.
Halderman highlights
- Rushed for 87 yards on six carries in the season opening win over Southern Utah and scored on a 48-yard dash.
- 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.
- Recorded his first-career catch which was good for a 19-yard touchdown vs. Navy ... finished the day tied for the team lead in receptions with three for a team-best 62 yards and his first-career touchdown receiving.
- Rushed once for 14 yards at UNLV and haulded in a 44-yard touchdown pass.
- Two catches for a career-best 99 yards to lead Air Force vs. Colorado State ... hauled in a 74-yard touchdown pass which is the longest play for the Falcons this season.
- One carry for 46 yards to set up a touchdown vs. BYU ... led the team with three catches for 17 yards.
Clark taking over the load at tailback, has career day vs. Colorado State
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 six games as the starter to solidify the position.
Clark has rushed for 468 yards on 102 carries and scored four touchdowns in his six starts. He is averaging 74.2 yards per game and has led the team in rushing in three of the six games. Overall, Clark is second on the team and eighth in the conference in rushing.
He rushed for a then-career-best 109 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries at San Diego State in his first-career start. His 100-yard effort was the first by a Falcon this season and most by an Air Force freshman since Qualario Brown had 158 vs. San Jose State in 1997. Clark had the best game of his career vs. Colorado State with a career-best 136 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. He scored on runs of 41 and 45 yards to become the first Falcon with two 40-plus TD runs in a game since Dee Dowis vs. San Diego State in 1989. Clark is the first freshman in Air Force history with two 100-yard rushing games in a season.
Clark as a starter
Game # Yds TDs Notes
San Diego State 15 109 1 Most yards by an AF freshman since 1997
UNLV 20 65 0 A then-career-high 20 carries
New Mexico 23 86 0 Team-high 86 yards on career-best 23 carries
Army 12 21 0
Colorado State 16 136 2 First player with two 40-plus TD runs since 1989
BYU 10 28 1 Second straight game with a rushing touchdown
Totals 96 445 4
Averages 16 74.2
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 leads the team and is seventh in the conference in rushing with 585 yards and four touchdowns. Over the last seven games, Newell has averaged 77.7 yards rushing per game which is tops on the team. He is tied for the team lead with two 100-yard rushing efforts. Newell rushed for 116 yards on 21 carries and scored a touchdown last week vs. BYU.
Newell recorded career highs in rushing attempts and yards in three straight games earlier this season. 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.
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.
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 a starter at inside linebacker. They were coached by Bob Jacoby in high school.
Jefferson establishing himself at QB, 5-1 as starter
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.
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 then-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. He was named MWC offensive player of the week for his efforts vs. the Rebels.
Jefferson had his career-best day passing vs. Colorado State with 171 yards and two touchdowns on six of eight passing. Jefferson hit Kyle Halderman for a 74-yard scoring strike which is the longest play for Air Force this season. He also threw a four-yarder to Travis Dekker. Jefferson had career highs in attempts and competions vs. BYU, hitting 12 of 20 passes for 98 yards. He also rushed for 75 yards on 12 carries and had a career-long run of 45 yards.
Jefferson has rushed for 370 yards and two touchdowns and is averaging 4.4 yards per carry this season. He has also hit 35 of 59 passes for 554 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. He has a 155.99 quarterback efficiency rating which would rank second in the conference, but he lacks enough passing attempts to qualify. The rating is the fourth best in school history. Jefferson is 5-1 as a starter and is the first Air Force quarterback to win his first five starts since Chance Harridge won his first six in 2002.
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 third in the conference in tackles with a 9.2 per-game average.
Lamendola has recorded 101 total tackles and is the first sophomore with 100-plus tackles since All-American Anthony Schlegel had 118 in 2002. Lamendola is just the fifth sophomore ever at the Academy with 100 or more tackles in a season.
Top sophomore tackle totals in AF history
# Name, Year Tackles
1. Tom Foertsch, 1976 163
2. Brian Hill, 1988 146
3. Terry Maki, 1984 137
4. Antony Schlegel, 2002 118
5. Ken Lamendola, 2008 101
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. Lamendola added his fifth game with 10 or more with a team-high 13 at Army. He added a team-best 10 tackles vs. Colorado State to give him his sixth which is tied for first in the conference.
Altman all right
Senior OLB Hunter Altman has been outstanding this season. He ranks third on the team in tackles with 76, including 48 unassisted. He is second on the team in tackles for loss with 7.0 and has three quarterback sacks.
Altman posted back-to-back games with career highs in tackles earlier this season with 12, including two tackles for loss, vs. Utah and 13 vs. Navy. Altman had eight solo stops vs. Navy which is also a career best. Altman led the team at UNLV with eight tackles, including seven unassisted. He added four tackles and a half quarterback sack vs. New Mexico and added eight tackles, including two tackles for loss for seven yards at Army. Altman had five tackles and a sack vs. Colorado State.
Thomas among the best
Junior safety Chris Thomas is having a great all-around season. Thomas is second on the team in tackles with 82, including a team-best 49 unassisted. He played one of the best games of his career against BYU, collecting a career-high 17 tackles which is the most by a Falcon this season. Thomas also had a sack, a tackle for loss and his third fumble recovery of the year which leads the conference and ranks 18th nationally. He also ranks eighth in the conference in forced fumbles with .18 per game. Thomas has four games with double figures in tackles, including two straight. He has led the team in tackles six times this season. He was named MWC defensive player of the week vs. Wyoming earlier this season with 13 total tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a forced and recovered fumble.
