Oct. 26, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Air Force (4-4, 3-2) at Colorado State (3-5, 0-4)
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2 p.m. Mtn
Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium (34,400), Fort Collins, CO
TELEVISION
The Mountain West Sports Network (The Mtn)
James Bates (play-by-play), Todd Christensen (analyst), Roger Bailey (sidelines)
RADIO
KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs
KCKK 1510 AM in Denver and Northern Colorado
Goairforcefalcons.com
Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Lee Douglas (analyst), Jay Ricci/Bob Ihle (pre- and post-game)
THE BREAKDOWN
Record: Air Force (4-4, 3-2 MWC), Colorado State (3-5, 0-4 MWC)
Streaks: Air Force (L 1), Colorado State (L 5)
Next week: Air Force (vs. Army), Colorado State (at UNLV)
Last week: Air Force (L 16-23 in OT at Utah), Colorado State (L 28-42 vs. San Diego State)
Website: Air Force (goairforcefalcons.com), Colorado State (csurams.com)
THE COACHES
- Air Force: Troy Calhoun (Air Force, 1989) has a 21-13 record in his third season at Air Force. Calhoun is 14-7 vs. the Mountain West, 12-4 at home, 8-7 in road games, 1-2 in neutral site games, 7-6 in non-conference games and 2-0 vs. Colorado State.
- Colorado State: Steve Fairchild (Colorado State, 1981) is in his second season at Colorado State. Fairchild has led his alma mater to a 10-11 overall record.
- Air Force is completing back-to-back road games, as the Falcons played at Utah last week.
- Air Force is 14-7 in conference games since 2007, including a 6-4 mark in conference road games.
- Air Force leads the Colorado State series, 27-19-1 all-time, including an 11-8 mark in Fort Collins. Air Force has won three straight and four of the last five vs. Colorado State. The teams have split the last two meetings in Fort Collins. Air Force won 45-21 in 2007 while Colorado State won 41-23 in 2005. The Rams have won four of the last five meetings overall in Fort Collins.
- Air Force and Colorado State each lost last week. The Falcons were beaten, 23-16, by Utah in Salt Lake City. San Diego State defeated Colorado State, 42-28, in Fort Collins.
THIS IS AIR FORCE FOOTBALL
- Air Force has an all-time record of 324-273-13 in its 54th season of varsity football. The Falcons are 175-113-3 at home and 149-160-10 on the road and in neutral site games. AFA has played in 19 bowl games and has an 8-10-1 all-time record.
- This season marks the third under head coach Troy Calhoun, who is a 1989 graduate of the Air Force Academy. He is the sixth head coach in school history and first graduate to hold the position.
- Air Force is playing in its 30th year in a conference. This season marks the school's 11th year in the Mountain West Conference. Prior to 1999, Air Force was a member of the Western Athletic Conference from 1980-98. The school was an independent prior to 1980.
- Air Force is 40-39 as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The team is 24-16 at home and 16-23 on the road. The Falcons are 70-58 overall since joining the MWC in 1999, including marks of 40-24 at home, 26-30 on the road, 4-4 in neutral site games and 2-2 in bowls.
ESPN College GameDay coming to the Academy for Army game
ESPN College GameDay will broadcast live from 8-10 a.m. Mtn. at the Air Force Academy for the Army game on Saturday, Nov. 7. The popular crew of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Desmond Howard will be making their third appearance at the Academy. The crew was here in 2001 (Army) and 2002 (Notre Dame). The appearance begins a special week of programming in conjunction with Veterans Day. The show will be on the Academy terrazzo and is open to the general public. Check www.goairforcefalcons.com for more details the week of the event.
THE SERIES
Air Force and Colorado State meet for the 48th time overall and 30th time as conference foes. The Falcons hold a 27-19-1 overall lead and have a 16-13 mark in conference games. The Falcons are 16-11-1 at home and 11-8 at Colorado State. The teams first played in 1957 in Colorado Springs. Colorado State won the game, 20-7.
Air Force has won three straight and four of the last five games in the series, including last year's 38-17 win in Falcon Stadium.
Year by Year
1957 - CSU 20-7 (H)
1958 - AFA 36-6 (H)
1960 - AFA 32-8 (H)
1961 - AFA 14-9 (H)
1962 - AFA 34-0 (H)
1963 - AFA 69-0 (H)
1964 - AFA 14-6 (H)
1966 - CSU 41-21 (H)
1967 - Tied 17-17 (H)
1968 - AFA 31-0 (A)
1969 - AFA 28-7 (H)
1970 - AFA 37-22 (H)
1971 - AFA 17-13 (A)
1972 - AFA 53-13 (A)
1975 - CSU 47-10 (A)
1976 - CSU 27-3 (H)
1978 - CSU 31-13 (H)
1979 - CSU 20-6 (A)
1980 - CSU 21-9 (A)
1981 - AFA 28-14 (H)
1982 - CSU 21-11 (H)
1983 - AFA 34-13 (A)
1984 - AFA 52-10 (H)
1985 - AFA 35-19 (A)
1986 - AFA 24-7 (H)
1987 - AFA 27-19 (A)
1988 - AFA 29-23 (A)
1989 - AFA 46-21 (A)
1990 - CSU 35-33 (H)
1991 - AFA 31-26 (A)
1992 - CSU 32-28 (H)
1993 - CSU 8-5 (A)
1994 - CSU 34-24 (H)
1995 - CSU 27-20 (H)
1996 - CSU 42-41 (H)
1997 - AFA 24-0 (A)
1998 - AFA 30-27 (H)
1999 - CSU 41-21 (A)
2000 - AFA 44-40 (H)
2001 - CSU 28-21 (A)
2002 - CSU 31-12 (H)
2003 - CSU 30-20 (A)
2004 - AFA 47-17 (H)
2005 - CSU 41-23 (A)
2006 - AFA 24-21 (H)
2007 - AFA 45-21 (A)
2008 - AFA 38-17 (H)
Site ( ) is for AFA
RAM-FALCON TROPHY
Air Force and Colorado State compete for the Ram-Falcon Trophy each year. This season marks the 30th year of the competition for the trophy. Air Force has won the tropy 16 times, while Colorado State has won it 13 times. The trophy's origin is traced back to Shelly Godkin, a former ROTC commander at Colorado State. He watched the teams play in 1978 and sought to translate his impressions into a trophy symbolic of an annual game. The first Ram-Falcon Trophy battle was in 1980.
CAREER STATISTICS VS. COLORADO STATE
Rushing (Att-Yds-TDs): Asher Clark (1g, 16-136-2), Jared Tew (1g, 10-50-0), Tim Jefferson (6-25-0), Savier Stephens (2g, 3-7-0).
Passing (C-A-Int-Yds-TD): Tim Jefferson (1g, 6-8-0-171-2).
Receiving (#-Yds-TD): Kyle Halderman (1g, 2-99-1), Kevin Fogler (1g, 1-9-0), Josh Cousins (1g, 1-6-0).
Tackles (UT-AT-TOT): Chris Thomas (3g, 12-14-26), Reggie Rembert (2g, 7-6-13), Rick Ricketts (2g, 2-1-3), Andre Morris, Jr. (2g, 1-1-2), Ben Garland (2g, 2-4-6), Ken Lamendola (2g, 5-6-11), Patrick Hennessey (1g, 1-0-1), Justin Moore (1g, 3-5-8), Anthony Wright (1g, 3-0-3), Luke Hyder (1g, 2-0-2), Phil Ofili (1g, 2-0-2).
COLORADO STATE TIES
Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun was the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texas under head coach Gary Kubiak in 2006. Kubiak's son's, Clint, a safety and Klay, a quarterback, both play for Colorado State. Calhoun and Kubiak were also coaching mates with the Denver Broncos under head coach Mike Shanahan. Calhoun and Colorado State head coach Steve Fairchild have similar backgrounds. Both are coaching at their alma maters, Calhoun is a 1989 Air Force graduate, Fairchild a 1981 Colorado State graduate, and both previously coached at the school as an assistant. Calhoun coached at Air Force from 1989-90 and 1993-94 while Fairchild coached at Colorado State from 1993-2000. Finally, both coached in the NFL prior to returning to their respective schools. Calhoun coached with the Denver Broncos from 2003-05 and with Houston in 2006. Fairchild coached with Buffalo (2001-02, 2006-07) and St. Louis (2003-05).
LAST YEAR
Freshman tailback Asher Clark rushed for a career-high 136 yards and fellow rookie Tim Jefferson hit six of eight passes for a career-best 171 yards passing to lead Air Force past Colorado State, 38-17.
Gartrell Johnson scored on a one-yard run on Colorado State's opening drive to give the Rams a 7-0 lead. The Falcons answered on their next drive with a Kyle Lumpkin four-yard run to tie the game at 7-7 midway through the first quarter. Clark then scored the first of his two touchdowns with a 41-yard run to give Air Force a 14-7 lead. Dion Morton tied it at 14 for Colorado State on a four-yard touchdown catch from Billy Farris early in the second quarter. The Falcons answered on their next drive with a 74-yard touchdown pass from Jefferson to Kyle Halderman to take the lead for good, 21-14. Jason Smith hit a 23-yard field goal to cut the lead to 21-17 at halftime.
The second half was all-Air Force. Clark scored his second touchdown on a career-long 45-yard run to make it 28-17 early in the third quarter. Travis Dekker hauled in a four-yard touchdown pass from Jefferson to extend the lead to 35-17 with 7:17 left in the third quarter. Ryan Harrison added a field goal early in the fourth quarter to make up the final margin. The Falcons held the ball for the final 9:21 of the game and took a knee inside the five yard line to end the game.
Air Force finished the game with 455 total yards, including 284 rushing. Todd Newell rushed for 60 yards on 13 carries and Jared Tew added 50 on 10 carries. Halderman was the leading receiver with two catches for 99 yards. Ken Lamendola, Reggie Rembert and Chris Thomas each had 10 tackles to lead the defense. Rembert also had an interception and recorded 100 yards on kickoff and punt returns combined.
PLAYING BEST WHEN IT MATTERS MOST
Air Force is 10-4 under head coach Troy Calhoun in games during the second half of the season (last six games). Air Force was 5-1 in 2007 which is the best mark since the 1998 team was 6-0. The Falcons were 4-2 last year. Prior to Calhoun's arrival in 2007, the Falcons were 12-24 over the last six games of the season since 2001.
TURNING AROUND A TREND
Air Force is 6-3 in conference games in the month of October over the last three seasons, including a 1-2 mark this season. The losses have come at the hands of ranked teams (No. 10/9 TCU, No. 19/20 Utah). Air Force was 3-1 in 2007 and 2-0 last season. Prior to 2007, the Falcons were 8-14 in conference games in October since 1999. The team had not won more than one conference game in October since 1998.
LAST WEEK
Utah defeated Air Force, 23-16, in overtime in Salt Lake City to improve to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. The Utes were led by Eddie Wide, who rushed for a pair of touchdowns and had 121 yards rushing on 17 carries. Wide opened the scoring with a 44-yard run on a fumble recovery, then scored the game-winning in overtime on a one-yard dive.
Air Force took a 10-6 halftime lead behind a one-yard touchdown run from Jared Tew and the first of three Erik Soderberg field goals. The Utes took the lead, 13-10, on a 90-yard scoring strike from Terrance Cain to David Reed. The Utes added a field goal to make it 16-10, before Soderberg added his other two field goals, the second matching his career-long of 48 yards to tie it with 6:29 remaining in the game.
Air Force out-gained Utah, collecting 318 total yards and 254 rushing. Connor Dietz led the way with career highs of 98 yards on 28 carries. He also hit seven of 10 passes for 64 yards. The Falcons controlled the time of possession, holding the ball for 38:57, and forced a pair of Utah turnovers.
LAST WEEK'S GAME NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force uses game captains. The captains for the Utah game were Brandon Geyer, Jared Tew, Myles Morales, Nick Charles and Rick Ricketts.
• Utah scored on its opening drive of the game which marks just the second time Air Force has allowed a score on the opponent's opening drive of the game. A touchdown by Navy is the only other score the team has allowed on the opening drive of the game.
• Air Force forced two turnovers (2 fumbles) in the game and now has 23 takeaways (10 interceptions, 13 fumbles) on the year. The Falcons are a +19 in turnover margin this season.
• Utah's touchdown on its opening drive of the second half marks the first time this season Air Force has allowed a score on the opponent's opening drive of the second half. Air Force forced five punts and two turnovers in the previous seven games.
• Air Force played the ninth overtime game in school history. The loss drops the Falcons to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in conference games. Air Force is 0-2 in overtime games this season.
Individual Notes
• Sophomore SPC Erik Soderberg kicked three field goals and has 17 this season which ties as the fifth most in a single-season in school history. Soderberg ties Joe Wood, who kicked 17 in 1991. Soderberg has kicked at least one field goal in every game this season. His 48-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 16-16 matched a career long.
• Sophomore QB Connor Dietz recorded career highs in carries (28) and rushing yards (98). His previous high came earlier this season with 15 carries vs. TCU and 83 yards vs. Nicholls State. Dietz also recorded career highs with seven pass completions and 64 yards passing. His previous marks were six completions vs. TCU and 51 yards vs. San Diego State earlier this season.
• Senior LB Justin Moore forced fumble and John Falgout made the recovery. The forced fumble is the first of the season for Moore and third of his career while the recovery marks the first of Falgout's career.
• Sophomore DB Jon Davis recorded the first fumble recovery of his career, which led to a touchdown and a 10-6 Air Force lead. Davis later added the first quarterback sack of his career. Davis also returned the first punt of his career, good for 35 yards which is the longest by a Falcon this season.
• Junior WR Kyle Halderman recorded his first catches of the season. Halderman missed the first six games of the season due to injury. Halderman matched his career high with three catches, good for 54 yards.
• Senior DL Ben Garland recorded multiple tackles for loss mark the seventh time in eight games he's had at least one tackle for loss this season.
• Senior LB John Falgout led the team with 11 tackles, marking the third time in four starts this season he's had double figures in tackles.
• Junior LB Andre Morris, Jr. matched his career high with nine tackles. He also had a sack and a forced fumble.
AIR FORCE FOURTH NATIONALLY WITH 202-GAME SCORING STREAK
- Air Force has scored in 202 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.
- Air Force's 202-game scoring streak is the 15th longest in Division I-A college history.
- Of the top 15 all-time, nine were started in the 1980s while the other five began in the 1970s.
AIR FORCE FEATURES YOUNG TEAM IN 2009
Air Force is a young team. The Falcons have just 15 seniors on its 95-man roster. The team has 57 freshmen and sophomores which make up 60 percent of the roster. There are 42 sophomores and 15 freshmen on the roster. Air Force's two-deep depth chart features four freshmen and 19 sophomores.
Air Force has had 15 freshmen play this season which is the third most in the nation. Only Tulane (17) and Texas A&M (16) have played more rookies. The Falcons are one of just 35 schools in the nation to have two or more freshmen (Means, Lawal) start a game.
100 YARD RUSHERS UNDER CALHOUN
- Air Force is 13-3 in games when they have a player rush for 100 or more yards since 2007.
- The team's only losses came in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl vs. California, vs. No. 16/14 BYU and vs. Houston in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl.
2007
South Carolina State, W 34-3 (Kip McCarthy, 129); Utah, W 20-12 (Shaun Carney, 113); TCU, W 20-17 OT (Jim Ollis, 138); UNLV, W 31-14 (Chad Hall, 169); Colorado State, W 45-21 (Chad Hall, 256); Wyoming, W 20-12 (Chad Hall, 167); Army, W 30-10 (Chad Hall, 275); Notre Dame, W 41-24 (Chad Hall, 142); San Diego State, W 55-23 (Jim Ollis, 163; Chad Hall, 151; Ty Paffett, 105); California, L 36-42 (Shaun Carney, 108; Jim Ollis, 101).
2008
San Diego State, W 35-10 (Asher Clark, 109); UNLV, W 29-28 (Todd Newell, 134); Colorado State, W 38-17 (Asher Clark, 136); BYU, L 24-38 (Todd Newell, 116); Houston, L 28-34 (Jared Tew, 149).
2009
Wyoming, W 10-0 (Jared Tew, 105)
AIR FORCE SCORING DEFENSE
- Air Force is second in the MWC and eighth nationally in scoring defense with a 13.2 average.
- AF has allowed 42 points in the fourth quarter, but 12 came from San Diego State in the final 3:26. New Mexico scored seven in the final 3:00 while Minnesota scored seven on a defensive touchdown.
- Air Force has allowed more than 20 points just once this season, at No. 19 Utah in a 23-16 loss in overtime.
- Air Force's 13.2 points per game allowed ranks as the sixth best in school history and is the best since the 1997 team allowed 12.4 per game.
- Air Force has had five shutouts since the inception of the MWC in 1999, which ranks third in conference history.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
- The Falcons rank second in the conference and ninth nationally in total defense, allowing just 266.8 yards per game.
- Air Force is first in the conference and fourth nationally in passing defense with a 142.6 average.
- The unit has also allowed just 32-114 (28.1) third down conversions, including just 12 in the second half this season. Four of the 12 came vs. No. 10/9 TCU. Air Force ranks second in the MWC and fifth nationally in third-down defense.
- Air Force posted its first shutout over a MWC team with a 10-0 win over Wyoming. The shutout is the first vs. a conference opponent since winning at Colorado State, 24-0, in 1997. The shutout is the second for Air Force this season, as the team also shutout Nicholls State, 72-0, in the season opener. This season marks the first time since 1997 that Air Force has posted two shutouts in a season.
- Air Force has posted two first-half shutouts this season (Nicholls State, Wyoming). In addition, the defense has held two others opponents without touchdowns in the first half (Minnesota, San Diego State).
DEFENSE HAS SCORED FIVE TIMES
Air Force's defense has scored five touchdowns this season. The five touchdowns is the most in a single season in Air Force history. Wale Lawal scored on a 10-yard fumble return vs. Nicholls State while Jon Davis took an interception back 38 yards at New Mexico. Reggie Rembert and Anthony Wright each scored vs. San Diego State. Rembert scored on a 47-yard fumble return while Wright took an interception back 47 yards for a score. Wright added a 67-yard interception return for a score at Navy.
ADDITIONAL DEFENSIVE NOTES
• The unit recorded a shutout in the season opener vs. Nicholls State which is the first for Air Force since beating Wofford, 49-0, in 2003.
• Air Force held Nicholls State to just seven first downs which is the seventh fewest in school history and fewest since holding Southern Methodist to six in 1971.
• Air Force held Nicholls State to just 151 total yards which is the eighth fewest in school history and fewest since holding Army to 100 in 1999.
• Air Force held San Diego State's offense scoreless and to just 187 total yards until the Aztecs scored twice in the final minutes, including a score on the game's final play, against reserves.
• Air Force has not allowed a point on the opponent's opening drive of the second half this season.
• Air Force held Wyoming to just 74 yards passing and recorded a season-high six sacks in the game.
BLOCKED KICKS
Air Force has blocked three kicks this season, two field goals and an extra point. Senior Ben Garland blocked a field goal vs. New Mexico while sophomore Zach Kauth blocked a field goal vs. Wyoming. Freshman Corbin Brown blocked an extra point vs. San Diego State. The three blocked kicks are its most since blocking seven in 2006. Air Force has blocked at least one kick every year since 1990.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Air Force has out-rushed all eight opponents this season.
• The offense has had just four turnovers in eight games.
• The Falcons have scored in 24 of 32 quarters this season and have twice scored 17 points in the first quarter (Nicholls State and New Mexico).
• Air Force tied a Mountain West Conference record with 72 points vs. Nicholls State. The 72 points are the third-most in school history. The 72-point victory margin is a school and Mountain West Conference record, breaking the mark of 64 set by New Mexico (72) vs. Texas State (8) in 2003.
• 17 different Falcons have carried the ball this season. The team has rushed the ball 506 times this season and all of them have come by players that return next season.
AIR FORCE TAKEAWAYS
- Air Force is a combined +42 in three seasons under head coach Troy Calhoun and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter.
- Air Force stands at +19 in turnover margin this season. The Falcons forced a season-high six turnovers vs. San Diego State and four vs. Nicholls State and New Mexico. The Falcons have forced two or more turnovers in six of eight games this season and 19 of the last 24 games overall.
- The team's +2.25 turnover margin average this season leads the nation.
- Air Force's 1.00 per-game turnover margin average last season ranked second in the conference and 11th nationally.
REMBERT RETURN GAME
Junior Reggie Rembert is Air Force's career leader in kickoff returns and KOR yardage with 64 for 1,373 yards. Rembert broke the records of All-American Ernie Jennings (1868-70), who had 43 returns for 1,037 yards. Rembert is the Mountain West Conference's active career leader. He ranks fifth in conference history overall in returns and third in return yards. Please see charts on page nine for complete list of leaders.
INDIVIDUAL QUICK HITS
QB Tim Jefferson - rushed for a career-best two TDs and threw for one vs. Nicholls State ... has a 125.90 passing efficiency mark this season and a 133.00 career mark ... did not play vs. San Diego State, TCU and Utah ... has an 8-5 career mark as a starter.
QB Connor Dietz - has played in seven games, starting three (SDSU, TCU, Utah) ... second on the team and eighth in MWC in rushing (52.7 ypg) ... led the team with career highs of 28 carries for 98 yards at Utah ... lead the team in rushing with 85 yards on seven carries vs. Nicholls State ... led the team with 71 yards on 15 carries vs. TCU and scored the first rushing touchdown of his career ... first-career touchdown pass at New Mexico ... first-career start vs. San Diego State, finishing with 64 yards on nine carries and hitting three of six passes for 51 yards.
RB Asher Clark - has led the team in rushing twice this season -- game-high 90 yards on 12 carries at Minnesota and 86 yards on 20 carries at New Mexico ... ranks ninth in the MWC in rushing with an average of 48.0 yards per game ... averages 4.6 yards per carry.
SPC Brandon Geyer - fifth in the MWC in punting with a 42.5 average ... averaged 45.6 yards on seven punts vs. San Diego State ... two 50-plus-yard punts vs. Navy, including a season-best of 56 yards ... averaged 41.7 yards per punt vs. Utah with three inside the 20.
SPC Erik Soderberg - leads the MWC in scoring with an 8.8 average ... leads the conference and is fourth nationally in field goals with 2.12 per-game ... third in the MWC in field goal percentage with a 77.3 mark and is tied for first in PATs at 1.000 (19-19) ... tied a school record with four field goals vs. San Diego State, including a career long from 48 yards ... hit three field goals at Utah and matched his career long with a 48-yard boot ... has hit 17 of 22 field goals this season, the fifth most made in school history ... also handles kickoff duties.
DB Chris Thomas - missed the New Mexico game due to injury ... Air Force's active career leader in tackles with 264, tackles for loss with 18.5 and pass breakups with 18 ... preseason first-team all-conference selection ... involved in 14 career turnovers (4 INT, 3 FF, 7 FR) ... ranks third in MWC history in fumble recoveries with seven ... season-high eight tackles vs. TCU.
FB Jared Tew - ranks fifth in the conference in rushing with a 58.1 average ... career-best three rushing touchdowns vs. Nicholls State ... career-best three kickoff returns for a career-high 90 yards at Minnesota ... season-high 105 yards rushing and a touchdown vs. Wyoming ... matched his career high with 27 carries ... rushed for 43 yards and a TD at Utah, his second straight game with a rushing TD.
DB Anthony Wright, Jr. - sixth in the MWC in interceptions with a .38 average ... has three interceptions on the year and four in his career ... has returned two INTs for touchdowns, a 47-yard effort for his first-career score vs. SDSU and a 67-yard effort at Navy to mark his second straight game with a pick-six ... career-best seven tackles at Minnesota ... first interception of the season vs. New Mexico .... averaging 14.2 yards on six punt returns to lead the team.
DL Ben Garland - fifth in the MWC in sacks with a .56 average ... has had at least a half sack in seven of the last 10 games ... eighth in the MWC in tackles for loss with 1.06 ... at least one TFL in seven of eight games this season ... season-best eight tackles vs. TCU ... blocked the first kick of his career, a field goal vs. New Mexico.
WR Jonathan Warzeka - second on the team in receptions with 11 and is second in receiving yards with 139 ... recorded a career-long 44-yard reception vs. San Diego State ... rushed for 26 yards on five carries and scored his first rushing touchdown of the season at New Mexico ... career highs in rushing with 10 carries for 42 yards and receiving with three catches for 44 yards at Minnesota ... threw a touchdown pass (first of career) vs. TCU.
WR Kyle Halderman - missed the first six games of the season recovering from injury ... returned to the lineup vs. Wyoming ... matched his career high with three catches at Utah, good for 54 yards ... also had three carries for 14 yards.
WR Kevin Fogler - leads the team in receptions with 12 and receiving yards with 227 ... three straight games with a touchdown catch earlier this season ... has caught a touchdown pass in four of eight games this season.
LB Andre Morris, Jr - third on the team in tackles for loss with 5.0 ... named MWC player of the week vs. New Mexico with seven tackles and two sacks ... career-highs of nine total tackles and six solo tackles at Minnesota ... recorded his first interception of the season vs. TCU ... missed the Wyoming game due to injury ... matched his career high with nine tackles at Utah ... also had a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
Jon Davis, DB - tied for second on the team in interceptions with two ... recorded the first two interceptions of his career vs. New Mexico and returned one 38 yards for his first-career touchdown ... is the first Falcon since Carson Bird in 2007 with two interceptions in a game ... six tackles at Utah ... also recorded his first-career sack, first-career fumble recovery and first-career punt return, good for 35 yards which is the longest by a Falcon this season.
Reggie Rembert, DB - leads the team in KORs with a 25.8 average ... career highs with five returns for 120 yards vs. TCU ... two returns for 96 yards, including a career-best 60-yard effort, at New Mexico ... named MWC defensive player of the week vs. San Diego State with a team-best seven tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble ... returned the fumble recovery 47 yards for his first-career touchdown ... career-best 10 tackles, including eight unassisted, and his first sack of the season vs. Wyoming ... school's career leader and ranks fifth in KOR and third in KOR yards in MWC history with 64 returns for 1,373 yards.
Myles Morales, DL - second on the team in tackles for loss with 5.5 and sacks with 3.5 ... three straight games with at least one TFL, including 2.0 for 12 yards vs. New Mexico, earlier this season ... has had a sack in three of his last five games ... 19 total tackles this season.
Justin Moore, LB - second on the team in tackles with 51, including 25 unassisted ... had a then-career-high 11 tackles at Navy ... new career high of 12 tackles vs. TCU ... had sacks in each of the first two games of the season.
John Falgout, LB - played in eight games, starting the last four ... leads the team in tackles with 57, including 24 unassisted ... double figures in tackles in three of his four starts ... has averaged 10.8 tackles per game in the four starts ... had a career-best and team-high 13 tackles at Navy ... team-best 11 tackles vs. TCU, eight vs. Wyoming and a team-high 11 at Utah.
AIR FORCE INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Chris Thomas , Sr., DB - First-team preseason all-MWC.
Nick Charles, Sr., OL - First-team preseason all-MWC ... Outland Trophy Watch List ... Allstate/AFCA Coaches Association Good Works Team nominee ... 2009 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List.
Andre Morris, Jr., Jr., LB - Named Mountain West Conference defensive player of the week vs. New Mexico ... College Football Insider (CFI) honorable mention defensive player of the week vs. New Mexico.
Jon Davis, So., DB - Named honorable mention defensive back performer of the week by College Football Performance Awards vs. New Mexico.
Ben Garland, Sr., DL - Named first-team all-MWC midseason by Phil Steele's Magazine.
Anthony Wright, Jr. So., DB - Named first-team all-MWC midseason by Phil Steele's Magazine.
Reggie Rembert, Jr., - Named MWC defensive player of the week vs. San Diego State ... named national defensive player of the week and defensive back of the week by College Football Performance vs. San Diego State ... named National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter player of the week vs. San Diego State.
Erik Soderberg, So., SPC - Named honorable mention kicker of the week by College Football Performance Awards vs. San Diego State ... one of three Lou Groza National Placekicker "Stars of the Week" vs. San Diego State ... Named first-team all-MWC midseason by Phil Steele's Magazine ... named honorable mention place kicker of the week vs. Utah by College Football Performance Awards.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
10 - Air Force improved to 10-1 all-time in Mountain West Conference openers dating back to 1999. Air Force is 4-1 at home and 6-0 on the road.
24 - Falcon Stadium was ranked 24th by The Sporting News in a poll this summer on college football most unique stadiums. The poll measured everything from pregame tailgate parties to the roar of the crowd. Air Force was the only school from the Mountain West Conference in the top 25.
27 - Air Force is one of just 27 schools that didn't have a coaching staff change in 2009. Every position coach and coordinator returned from the 2008 season.
72 - Air Force's 72 points vs. Nicholls State is the third most in school history and most since scoring 73 vs. New Mexico in 1987. The 72 points tie a Mountain West Conference record with New Mexico, who scored 72 points vs. Texas State in Aug. 30, 2003. The victory margin of 72 points (72-0) is a school record, breaking the previous mark of 69 (69-0) vs. Northern Colorado in 1984. The 72-point victory margin is also a Mountain West Conference record, breaking the mark of 64 set by New Mexico (72) vs. Texas State (8) in 2003.
45 - Air Force scored 45 points in the first half vs. Nicholls State which is a school record and is the third most in MWC history (40 by New Mexico vs. SDSU in 2008 and BYU vs. Tulane in 2001).
293 - Air Force has gone 293 straight games without a kickoff return for a touchdown, dating back to the Utah game on Oct. 26, 1985.
THIS AND THAT
- Freshman LB Wale Lawal made the most of his first-ever college football play. Lawal entered the Nicholls State game in the fourth quarter and his first play resulted in tackle for loss for 10 yards, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a 10-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown.
- LB Alex Means - became the first Air Force freshman defensive player to start opening day since A.J. Scott vs. BYU in 1981.
- Air Force is 5-4 overall and 4-2 in conference overtime games.
