Oct. 27, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Air Force (6-2) at Army (3-5)
Saturday, Nov. 1, 12 p.m. EST
Michie Stadium (40,000), West Point, NY
Radio
KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs
KCKK 1510 AM in Denver and Northern Colorado
Talent: Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Lee Douglas (anaylst); Jay Ritchie (pre- and post-game)
Television
ESPN U
Talent: Dave Armstrong (play-by-play); Larry Coker (color)
Air Force travels to West Point to take on Army
Air Force travels to West Point, N.Y., to take on Army on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 12 p.m. eastern at Michie Stadium. The Army game closes out a string of three road games in four weeks for the Falcons. Air Force opened the string with back-to-back victories at San Diego State and UNLV before a 23-10 victory at home vs. New Mexico last week.
Air Force and Army meet for the 43rd time overall. The Falcons lead the series, 28-13-1. Air Force is 17-3 at home, 10-9 at Army and 1-1-1 in neutral site games. The Falcons hold a 25-11 record vs. Army in Commander-in-Chief's Trophy games dating back to 1972. Air Force is 16-2 at home and 9-9 at Army.
Air Force beat Army, 30-10, last season at USAFA. The Falcons defeated Army, 43-7, the last time the two played in Michie Stadium. Army's last win in the series came in 2005 at USAFA, 27-24, and snapped an eight-game Air Force winning streak. The victory was also the first for Army in Falcon Stadium since 1977. Air Force has won 17 of the last 19 games in the series. The teams first played to a 13-13 tie in Yankee Stadium in New York in 1959.
Air Force defeated UNLV, 29-28, 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. 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.
Air Force improved to 2-0 this season and 7-1 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.
The series
Air Force and Army meet for the 43rd time overall. The Falcons lead the series, 28-13-1. Air Force is 17-3 at home, 10-9 at Army and 1-1-1 in neutral site games. The Falcons hold a 25-11 record vs. Army in Commander-in-Chief's Trophy games dating back to 1972. Air Force is 16-2 at home and 9-9 at Army.
Air Force beat Army, 30-10, last season at USAFA. The Falcons defeated Army, 43-7, the last time the two played in Michie Stadium. Army's last win in the series came in 2005 at USAFA, 27-24, and snapped an eight-game Air Force winning streak. The victory was also the first for Army in Falcon Stadium since 1977. Air Force has won 17 of the last 19 games in the series. The teams first played to a 13-13 tie in Yankee Stadium in New York in 1959.
Year by Year
1959 - Tied 13-13*
1963 - Army 14-10**
1965 - AFA 14-3**
1967 - Army 10-7 (H)
1969 - AFA 13-6 (A)
1971 - AFA 20-7 (H)
1972 - Army 17-14 (A)
1973 - AFA 43-10 (H)
1974 - Army 17-16 (A)
1975 - AFA 33-3 (H)
1976 - Army 24-7 (A)
1977 - Army 31-6 (H)
1978 - Army 28-14 (A)
1979 - AFA 28-7 (H)
1980 - Army 47-24 (A)
1981 - AFA 7-3 (H)
1982 - AFA 27-9 (A)
1983 - AFA 41-20 (H)
1984 - Army 24-12 (A)
1985 - AFA 45-7 (H)
1986 - Army 21-11 (A)
1987 - AFA 27-10 (H)
1988 - Army 28-15 (A)
1989 - AFA 29-3 (H)
1990 - AFA 15-3 (A)
1991 - AFA 25-0 (H)
1992 - AFA 7-3 (A)
1993 - AFA 25-6 (H)
1994 - AFA 10-6 (A)
1995 - AFA 38-20 (H)
1996 - Army 23-7 (A)
1997 - AFA 24-0 (H)
1998 - AFA 35-7 (A)
1999 - AFA 28-0 (H)
2000 - AFA 41-27 (A)
2001 - AFA 34-24 (H)
2002 - AFA 49-30 (A)
2003 - AFA 31-3 (H)
2004 - AFA 31-22 (A)
2005 - Army 27-24 (H)
2006 - AFA 43-7 (A)
2007 - AFA 30-10 (H)
* - New York, NY
** - Chicago, IL
Site () is for AFA
Last year
AP Article - Chad Hall ran for a school-record 275 yards and a touchdown, leading Air Force over Army 30-10 on Nov. 3.
Hall broke his own single-game record of 256 yards, set against Colorado State on Oct. 13.
Oh, and for good measure he also added two other school records to his resume.
He passed Cormac Carney for the career all-purpose yards record and Ernie Jennings for the single-game all-purpose yards mark. Hall finished with 333 all-purpose yards to lead Air Force to its first win over Army at home since 2003.
Shaun Carney also did his part to ensure Air Force its first winning record since 2003.
The dual-threat quarterback threw for 105 yards and a touchdown and added 53 yards rushing and another score on the ground.
The Falcons scored the game's first touchdown when Carney connected with wide receiver Spencer Armstrong on a 48-yard pass at the beginning of the second quarter.
Despite the yards, Hall didn't score until his 58-yard run in the third quarter set up a 1-yard touchdown run that gave the Falcons a two-possession lead.
Army only managed 181 yards of total offense, including just 17 yards rushing.
The Black Knights' touchdown came after linebacker Frank Scappaticci intercepted Carney at the Air Force 24 and returned it to the 3. Carson Williams found tight end Ernie Bernal in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown pass three plays later to tie it.
Falcon kicker Ryan Harrison was perfect on all three extra-point and three field goal attempts. Harrison hit from 35, 40 and 56 yards. The 56-yarder was his third field goal of 50-plus yards on the season.
The last time at Army
Air Force defeated Army, 43-7, in a nationally televised game on ESPN2's Friday Night Football to snap a three-game service academy losing streak and four-game non-conference game losing skid.
Senior Adam Zanotti turned the game around on Army's first drive. Following a three-and-out and punt by Air Force on it's first drive, Army moved the ball to the Air Force one when Zanotti picked up a fumble from quarterback Carson Williams and return it 98 yards for a touchdown. Army never recovered, as Air Force scored 36 points in the second quarter to take a commanding 43-0 halftime lead. Chad Hall opened the offensive scoring with a 19-yard run to give Air Force a 14-0 lead. Ryan Williams scored from one-yard out to make it 21-0. Freshman defensive back Chris Thomas added a safety when he tackled Army kickoff returner Damion Hunter in the end zone to make it 23-0. Quarterback Shaun Carney scored on a six-yard run and Beau Suder added a fumble recovery in the end zone when Jacobe Kendrick dropped the ball inside the five. The Falcons ended the half with Carney hitting Spencer Armstrong on a 36-yard touchdown pass to make it 43-0. All five of the offensive touchdowns came following Army turnovers including two fumbles and three interceptions. FAL John Rabold picked up two of the interceptions, the first two of his career, while Garrett Rybak added the other. Army added a late touchdown pass from David Pevoto to Corey Anderson with 1:39 left to make up the final margin.
Army ties
In addition to being in their second year as head coaches, Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun and Army head coach Stan Brock also have several other things in common. Both are Oregon natives and played their collegiate football in Colorado. Calhoun is a Roseburg, Ore., native and played his football as a quarterback at the Academy, while Brock is a Portland, Ore., native and played his college ball as an offensive lineman at Colorado. In addition, both coaches have ties to the NFL. Calhoun coached with the Denver Broncos (2003-05) and was the Houston Texans offensive coordinator (2006). Brock played 13 seasons in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers.
Air Force deep snapper Scott Howley is a native of Marlton, N.J. Howley attended St. Joseph's Prep School where he lettered three years in football.
Air Force vs. other service academies
Air Force is 53-29-1 all-time against Army and Navy. The Falcons are 31-9 at home, 17-16 on the road and 5-4-1 in nuetral site games. The Falcons are 28-13-1 vs. Army. Air Force is 17-3 at home, 10-9 at Army and 1-1-1 in neutral site games. Air Force 25-16 all-time vs. Navy.
Career statistics vs. Army
Rushing
Name G Att-Yds-TDs
Shea Smith 1 1-4-0
Todd Newell 1 1-5-0
Passing
None
Receiving
Name G #-Yds-TD
Spencer Armstrong 2 3-92-2
Travis Dekker 1 1-13-0
Ty Paffett 1 1-6-0
Tackles
Name G UT-AT-Total
Chris Thomas 2 7-5-12
Aaron Kirchoff 2 4-1-5
Ryan Kemp 2 2-4-6
Jake Paulson 2 1-1-2
Hunter Altman 2 2-3-5
Ben Garland 1 4-3-7
Rick Ricketts 1 0-3-3
Andre Morris, Jr. 1 0-2-2
Kevin Rivers 1 1-0-1
Jared Marvin 1 1-0-1
Will Keuchler 1 0-1-1
Reggie Rembert 1 0-1-1
Patrick Hennessey 1 0-1-1
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 47-26-0 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 vs. non-conference foes
Air Force is 5-3 against non-conference foes under head coach Troy Calhoun. The Falcons are 3-1 at home, 1-1 on the road and 1-1 in neutral site games. The Falcons are 2-1 this season, winning vs. Southern Utah and losing vs. Navy at home and beating Houson in a neutral site game.
The Falcons are 9-10 against non-conference opponents dating back to 2004. After losing four in a row to non-conference opponents in 2005-06, Air Force has posted a 6-4 mark over the last 10 games.
Year Date Opponent Score
2004 Sept. 4 California L 14-56
Sept. 11 E. Washington W 42-20
Sept. 30 Navy L 21-24
Nov. 6 at Army W 31-22
2005 Sept. 3 Washington (N) W 20-17
Oct. 8 at Navy L 24-27
Nov. 5 Army L 24-27
2006 Sept. 9 at Tennessee L 30-31
Oct. 7 Navy L 17-24
Nov. 3 at Army W 43-7
Nov. 10 Notre Dame L 17-39
2007 Sept. 1 South Carolina St. W 34-3
Sept. 29 at Navy L 20-31
Nov. 3 Army W 30-10
Nov. 10 at Notre Dame W 41-24
Dec. 31 California (N) L 36-42
2008 Aug. 30 Southern Utah W 41-7
Sept. 13 Houston (N) W 31-28
Oct. 4 Navy L 27-33
Air Force, Army close in rushing, total defense
Air Force and Army are each among the national leaders in rushing offense. The Falcons rank fourth nationally with a 291.0 per-game average. Army is eighth in the nation with an average of 246.75 yards per game.
The two rank close in total defense as well. Army ranks 27th nationally with a 304.00 per-game average. The Falcons are close behind with an average of 304.50 yards allowed per game.
Air Force in November
Air Force was 3-0 last season in November which is the best record since 2002 when the Falcons were 2-1. The three wins are the most since 2000 when Air Force was 3-0 in November. The three wins are more than the previous two years combined when Air Force wnet 1-1 in 2005 and 1-3 in 2006. Air Force was 1-0 last season in conference games in November, defeating San Diego State at home.
Air Force is 88-84-3 all-time in the November. The team is 44-33-1 at home, 43-49-2 on the road and 1-2 in nuetral site games. Air Force is 25-24 in November conference games, including a 12-8 mark at home and 13-16 road record.
MWC among the best in non-conference games
The Mountain West Conference is 23-11 in non-conference games in 2008, including a 17-10 mark against non-conference FBS opponents. The 23 non-conference wins are one shy of the record of 24 set in both 2003 and 2007. Air Force has helped the league with a 2-1 non-conference mark this season with wins over Southern Utah and Houston and a loss to Navy. The conference's .630 winning percentage is the fifth-best nationally.
Air Force 4-0 away from home this season
Air Force defeated UNLV, 29-28, 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. 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.
Last week
Air Force survived a shaky start to defeat New Mexico, 23-10, in a Thursday night game in Falcon Stadium. The Falcons turned the ball over three times in the first quarter (two fumbles and an interception) and New Mexico converted the first two into 10 points to take a 10-0 first quarter lead. Rodney Ferguson scored on a two-yard run and James Aho kicked a 45-yard field goal to make up the Lobos' scoring. New Mexico appeared to be headed in for another score on the third turnover before a fumble that fress safety Aaron Kirchoff returned 96 yards for a touchdown.
The touchdown cut the lead to 10-7 on the final play of the first quarter and changed the momentum of the game for good. The Falcons added another 16 unanswered points to secure the win. Ryan Harrison added a field goal late in the second quarter to tie the game at 10 at halftime.
Air Force tight end and Albuquerque, N.M., native Travis Dekker hauled in a one-yard touchdown pass from Tim Jefferson to give the Falcons the lead for good, 17-10, with 12:20 to play in the third quarter. Harrison added field goals from 43 and 32 yards in the fourth quarter to make up the final margin, the last coming with 2:30 remaining.
Air Force had 228 yards of total offense, including 227 rushing. The Falcons were led by Asher Clark, who rushed for 86 yards on 23 carries. Jefferson added 64 yards on 22 carries while Todd Newell chipped in with 65 yards on 17 carries. The Air Force defense was led by Chris Thomas, who had 10 tackles. Kirchoff added four tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
New Mexico finished with 303 total yards, but gained just 154 yards after a 149-yard first-quarter effort. Ferguson led the Lobos with 107 yards rushing on 19 carries. Brad Gruner hit eight of 11 passes for 83 yards. The Lobos defense was led by Clint McPeek, who had a game-high 15 tackles.
Last game's notes
Team Notes
- Air Force improved to 16-10 overall vs. New Mexico, including a 12-8 mark in conference games. Air Force improved to 9-3 all-time at home vs. the Lobos and has now won four straight in Falcon Stadium in the series dating back to 2000.
- Air Force improved to 4-9 all-time in Thursday night games and has won three of the last four since 2006.
- Air Force improved to 3-1 overall and 3-0 in conference games this season in the month of October. The Falcons improved to 6-2 overall and 6-1 in conference games under head coach Troy Calhoun.
- Air Force improved to 8-2 all-time in Falcon Stadium under head coach Troy Calhoun. The Falcons are 2-2 this season and finished 6-0 at home in 2007. The win over New Mexico snapped a two-game losing streak at home.
- Air Force turned the ball over three times (two fumbles and an interception) in the first quarter. New Mexico scored 10 points off the turnovers which nearly matches what the Falcons had allowed this season. Prior to the UNM game, the Falcons had allowed just 13 points off nine turnovers this season.
- The Air Force defense forced four turnovers in the game (three fumbles, one interception) to mark the seventh time in eight games that the team has forced multiple turnovers. Air Force has forced 20 turnovers this season (14 fumbles, six interceptions). The four turnovers vs. New Mexico are the second most in a game this season (5 vs. Wyoming).
Individual Notes
- Senior FS Aaron Kirchoff returned a fumble 96 yards for his first-career touchdown. The 96-yard return is the second longest in school history and longest since Adam Zanotti set the school record with a 98 yard return vs. Army in 2006. The fumble recovery is his second this season and fifth of his career which makes him the active career leader at Air Force. The fumble was forced by senior ILB Brandon Reeves, which is the first forced fumble of his career.
- Senior PK Ryan Harrison matched his career-high with three field goals which is the seventh time in his career he's hit three in a game. Harrison improved to 16 of 18 (.880) this season. He has hit 26 of his last 28 field goals dating back to last season. Harrison has hit 35 of 45 attempts in his career and his 77.8 career percentage ranks third in school history.
- Junior ILB Clay Bryant forced the first fumble of his career and sophomore OLB Will Keuchler made his first-career fumble recovery on the opening kickoff of the second half. The turnover led to a touchdown and Air Force's first lead of the game, 17-10.
- Senior TE Travis Dekker caught his first touchdown pass of the season, a one-yard reception in the third quarter. The touchdown is the fourth of Dekker's career.
- Senior FS Luke Yeager recorded the first interception of his career.
- Freshman TB Asher Clark carried the ball a career-high 23 times, gaining 86 yards to lead the Falcons in rushing for the second time this season. His 86 rushing yards are the second-most of his career.
Air Force turns around recent October trend
Air Force is 6-2 in the month of October over the last two seasons, including a 6-1 mark in conference games. AFA went 3-1 this season overall and 3-0 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.
Playing best when it matters most
Air Force improved to 2-0 this season and 7-1 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 2-0
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)
One of America's top coaches
Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun is quickly becoming one of America's top coaches. He is 15-6 overall and 10-3 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 .769 mark (10-3).
Winningest MWC Coaches
# Name, School Tenure Record Pct.
1. Urban Meyer, Utah 2003-05 13-1 .929
2. Bronco Mendenhall, BYU 2005- 23-4 .852
3. Gary Patterson, TCU 2005- 23-6 .793
4. Troy Calhoun, Air Force 2007- 10-3 .769
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 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 three punt returners are sophomore Reggie Rembert and freshmen Anthony Wright and Jonathan Warzeka.
- Air Force's leading tackler is sophomore Ken Lamendola.
- Sophomore CB Reggie Rembert is second on the team in tackles for loss.
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 41st nationally in scoring defense with an 18.6 average. The Falcons lead the MWC and rank 10th nationally in passing defense with a 164.2 average. The team is third in the conference and 29th nationally in total defense with a 304.5 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 three weeks, Air Force has allowed just 237.3 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.
- Air Force held New Mexico to just 154 yards in the final three quarters of the game.
- 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.
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 12 turnovers this season and the defense has allowed just 23 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. New Mexico scored 10 points, taking over at the Air Force 11 for the touchdown and the 44 for the field goal. The Lobos had a third drive the resulted in a fumble that was returned 96 yards for an Air Force touchdown on the other turnover. The other score came against Wyoming. The defense forced a three-and-out, but Wyoming hit a 47-yard field goal. On the 11 drives (one turnover vs. Utah ended the game) combined, the defense has allowed just 118 yards on 41 plays which is an average of 2.9 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)
New Mexico Downs (9-71-3:57) Downs (12-62-5:13)
Total 49 plays; 222 yds 53 plays; 250 yds
Average 6.1 pl, 27.8 yds 6.6 pl, 31.3 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 (3-47-1:09)
Totals 41 plays; 118 yards
Air Force moves up to fourth nationally
- Air Force has scored in 189 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 296 Oct. 20, 1984 at Iowa (0-26)
2. Florida 250 Oct. 29, 1988 vs. Auburn (0-16)
3. TCU (MWC) 199 Nov. 16, 1991 at Texas (0-32)
4. Air Force (MWC) 189 #--Dec. 31, 1992 vs. Mississippi (0-13), #--Liberty Bowl)
- Air Force's 189-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 296 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 250 11/05/1988 - present ..................
8. UCLA 245 10/02/1971 - 10/17/1992 Arizona State
9. Colorado 242 11/19/1988 - present 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. Virginia 195 9/15/1984 - 10/28/2000 Georgia Tech
15. TCU 199 11/23/1991 - present ..................
16. Air Force 189 8/04/1993 - present .......................
Air Force conference/national rushing numbers
- Air Force leads the conference and ranks fourth nationally in rushing with a 291.0 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 291.0 1st 4th
Quarterback sacks - AF among national leaders
Air Force is among the national leaders in quarterback sacks, both offensively and defensively. The Falcons have forced 23 quarterback sacks for 149 yards which is an average of 2.86 per game. Air Force ranks second in the in the conference and 16th nationally. Senior defensive end Jake Paulson has recorded 8.5 sacks and ranks seventh in the nation with a 1.06 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.
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 three straight wins and to improve to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference. Air Force's offense has improved as well. The Falcons have averaged 403 yards of total offense, including 324.7 yards rushing. Those averages are up from the first five games when the team averaged 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 two in the last three games.
2007 2008
Category First 5 / Last 7 First 5 / Since
Scoring 20.0 / 36.1 29.0 / 29.0
Total Offense 377.8 / 448.3 353.2 / 403.0
Rushing 225.8 / 350.4 270.8 / 324.7
Air Force takes it away - leads the nation in fumble recoveries
Air Force has picked up where it left off last season, collecting a +8 turnover margin this season. The Falcons have had multiple takeaways in every game this season, except at UNLV. The team's 1.00 per-game turnover margin average ranks second in the MWC and 14th nationally. Air Force has forced 20 turnovers this season, including 14 fumbles and six interceptions. The Falcons have recovered 14 of the opponent's 18 fumbles this season. Air Force is tied with Akron for the national lead in fumble recoveries with 14.
2008 Turnovers: (Southern Utah, 2; Wyoming, 5; Houston, 2; Utah, 3; Navy, 2; San Diego State, 2; UNLV, 0; New Mexico, 4).
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) +8 6-2
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
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 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 an 18.8 norm. Rembert has five carries for 30 yards on offense and is averaging 6.0 yards per carry. Defensively, he is fifth on the team in total tackles with 36. Rembert ranks second on the team in tackles for loss with six for 22 yards. He also has two quarterback sacks for 14 yards and has forced one fumble.
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.
Paulson among the national leaders
Senior defensive end Jake Paulson is having an outstanding season. Paulson has 8.5 quarterback sacks and ranks second in the conference and seventh nationally with a 1.06 per-game average. Paulson ranks third in the conference and 23rd nationally in tackles for loss with 11.0 which is a 1.38 per-game average. Paulson is also among the conference and national leaders in fumble recoveries, ranking third in the conference and 35th in the nation with a .25 per-game average.
Paulson has been dominant in nearly every game, recording at least one sack in five of eight, despite missing part of the UNLV game and playing part-time vs. New Mexico due to injury. 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
Halderman hauls it
Sophomore Kyle Halderman is one of the big-play men for the Falcons. Halderman is third on the team in rushing with 307 yards. He 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 caught five passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Halderman is second on the team in all-purpose yards with 467 which is a 58.4 per-game average. He is averaging a team-best 12.3 yards every time he touches the ball.
Harrison second nationally in field goals
Senior do-everything kicker/punter Ryan Harrison rannks first in the conference and second nationally in field goals, averaging 2.00 per game. Harrison has hit 16 of 18 field goals. His 88.9 percentage is the second best in school history and best since Jackson Whiting set the school record of 1.000 (12-12) in 1999. Harrison is perfect in 24 extra point attempts to tie for the national lead. He is averaging 9.0 points per game which ranks second in the conference and 19th in the nation. He is also a weapon on kickoffs, collecting 20 touchbacks in 48 kickoffs.
Harrison has tied a career high with three field goals four times this season, including the last two games. He hit the game-winning field goal at UNLV 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 26 of his last 28 attempts (92.9 percent) dating back to the Wyoming game last season.
Harrison ranks fourth in Air Force history in career field goals with 35 which is the most since Joe Wood hit 39 from 1989-91. Harrison has hit 35 of 45 careeer attempts and his 77.8 percentage ranks third all-time at Air Force.
Harrison career numbers
Season FG Punting PATs Kickoffs
2008 16-18 (92.9) 21-38.4 24-24 (1.000) 48 total -20 TBs
2007 19-27 (70.4) 46-42.9 44-46 (.957) 77 total -32 TBs
Totals 35-45 (77.8) 67-41.5 68-70 (97.1) 125 total - 52 TBs (35.8 pct)
Career Field Goal Percentage
Name, Years Pct
1. Jackson Whiting, 1998-99 82.6 (19-23)
2. Joe Wood, 1989-91 79.6 (39-49)
3. Ryan Harrison, 2007-08 77.8 (35-45)
4. David Adams, 1998-00 76.4 (26-34)
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. Ryan Harrison, 2008 88.8 (16-18)
Joey Ashcroft, 2002 88.8 (16-18)
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.
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 three games as the starter to solidify the position. Clark has averaged 86.7 yards rushing on 19.3 carries per game as a starter. He rushed for a 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 added 65 yards on 20 carries at UNLV, then a team-best 86 yards on a career-high 23 carries vs. New Mexico.
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
Totals 58 260 1
Averages 19.3 86.7
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 second on the team in rushing with 367 yards and touchdowns with three. Over the last four games, Newell has averaged 81.5 yards rushing per game which is tops in the team. He rushed for 65 yards on 17 carries in the win over New Mexico. Prior to the UNM game, Newell recorded 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.
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 establishing himself 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.
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. He was named MWC offensive player of the week for his efforts vs. the Rebels.
Jefferson shook off a shaky start vs. New Mexico, overcoming a fumble and interception on back-to-back drives to finished with 64 yards rushing and a one-yard TD throw to engineer his third straight win. He has rushed for 248 yards and a touchdown and is averaging 4.5 yards per carry this season. He has also hit 14 of 23 passes for 253 yards with three touchdowns and one pick. He has a 187.62 quarterback efficiency rating and joins his teammate Shea Smith as the first quarterbacks since Chance Harridge in 2002 to win his first three career starts.
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 8.5 per-game average. He has recorded 68 total stops, including 25 unassisted. 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's four games with double figures in tackles ranks tied for first in the conference.
Altman all right
Senior OLB Hunter Altman has been outstanding this season, particularly recently. Altman posted back-to-back games with career highs in tackles 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 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 with eight tackles, including seven unassisted. He added four tackles and a half quarterback sack vs. New Mexico.
Altman is second on the team in tackles this season with 56, including a team-best 37 unassisted. He has 4.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 quarterback sacks. Altman has 132 career tackles which is the second most among active players.
#34 is everywhere
Junior SS Chris Thomas is having an outstanding season. Thomas is third on the team in tackles with 50, including 30 unassisted. He also has 4.0 tackles for loss and is second on the team in sacks with 3.0. He is tied for the team lead in interceptions with one and has three pass breakups and two forced and recovered fumbles. Thomas is the active career leader in tackles with 185 and pass breakups with 15. He is also the only Falcon with multiple career picks with three. In addition, he has four career fumble recoveries and is one of three Falcons with a blocked kick.
Thomas led the Falcons with 10 tackles vs. New Mexico. He had a career-high 13 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and fumble recovery to lead AF over Wyoming. Thomas has led the team in tackles in a game twice this season.
Kirchoff, Harrison earn MWC honors
Air Force seniors Aaron Kirchoff (FS) and Ryan Harrison (PK) were honored this week as Mountain West Conference defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively.
Aaron Kirchoff registered four total tackles, including two solo stops, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for his first career touchdown in Air Force's 23-10 win over New Mexico. A senior free safety from Barrington, Ill., Kirchoff recorded the second-longest fumble recovery in Air Force history when he scooped up a Lobo fumble and ran it back 96 yards for the score. Kirchoff's recovery came with Air Force trailing 10-0 in the first quarter and New Mexico driving inside the Falcons' 10-yard line.
Ryan Harrison matched his career-high with three field goals in Air Force's win over New Mexico. The Keller, Texas, native's first field goal of 30 yards tied the game at 10-10 in the second quarter, while his second kick of 43 yards made it a two-possession game early in the fourth period. His third field goal came from 32 yards to give him a 16-of-18 completion rate on the season. Harrison also recorded four punts for an average of 41.5 yards and six kickoffs for an average of 63.5 yards in the contest. This is the second straight week Harrison has earned the honor this season and the third time of his career to be honored.
Falcon honors
Honors for Air Force players 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 ... MWC special teams player of the week vs. New Mexico.
- 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 ... National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter player of the week vs. UNLV.
- Aaron Kirchoff, FS - MWC defensive player of the week vs. New Mexico.
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