Air Force Travels to MWC Foe UNLV
11/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 11, 2002
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THE RECORDS: Air Force is 7-3 overall and 3-2 in the Mountain West Conference. UNLV is 4-6 overall and 2-3 in the MWC.
TELEVISION: ESPN Regional. Gary Bender (play-by-play), JC Pearson (color) and Beth Mowens (sidelines) will call the action. The game will air locally on KXRM Fox 21 which is channel 3 on Adelphia cable.
RADIO: Locally on KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs and AM 950 The Fan in Denver. Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Irv Brown (color) and Ben Martin (color) call the action. They are joined by KVOR's Jay Ritchie for the pre- and post-game shows.
LAST WEEK: Air Force defeated Army, 49-30, in West Point, N.Y., to win its sixth consecutive Commander-in-Chief's Trophy title. Utah defeated UNLV, 28-17, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
STREAKS: Air Force has a one-game winning streak overall. The Falcons have a two-game Mountain West Conference losing streak. UNLV has a one-game losing streak overall and in the MWC.
NEXT WEEK: Air Force closes the regular season at home against San Diego State on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 1 p.m. UNLV is idle. The Rebels close the regular season the following week at Colorado State on Saturday, Nov. 30.
THE SERIES: Air Force leads the series, 4-3, overall and has a 4-2 lead in conference games. The Falcons are 2-1 at home and 2-2 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Rebels have won the last two meetings.
THE LAST MEETING: UNLV defeated Air Force, 34-10, last season (Nov. 17) in Falcon Stadium.
THE COACHES: Air Force is coached by Fisher DeBerry (Wofford, 1960), who is in his 19th season. He has a 148-81-1 career record at the Academy. UNLV is coached by John Robinson (Oregon, 1958), who is in his fourth season. He has led the Rebels to a 19-26 record. Robinson has a 123-51-4 career record in 16 seasons.
MORE ON THE AIR FORCE / UNLV SERIES: Air Force and UNLV meet for the eighth time overall and seventh time as conference foes. Air Force holds a 4-3 overall lead and has a 4-2 mark in conference games. Air Force is 2-1 at home and 2-2 on the road. UNLV won the last game in Las Vegas, 34-13. The Rebels won last year's game, 34-10, in Falcon Stadium.
LAST YEAR VS. UNLV: UNLV defeated Air Force, 34-10, in Falcon Stadium. The Falcons seemed to be rolling along. Keith Boyea scored on a seven-yard run to give Air Force a 7-0 first quarter lead. Brooks Walters added a 32-yard field goal early in the second quarter to make it 10-0. It was all UNLV from that point. Jason Thomas scored on a two-yard run to put the Rebels on the board. Joe Haro added a one-yard run to give UNLV a 13-10 halftime lead. The Rebels capitalized on Air Force turnovers in the second half. Kevin Thomas returned an interception 57 yards and less than one minute later Scott Parkhurst returned a fumble 21 yards to give the Rebels a 27-10 lead late in the third quarter. Haro added his second TD run of the game (eight yards) early in the fourth to make up the final margin. UNLV had 353 total yards on just 61 plays. Air Force had 336 yards on 90 plays and held the ball for 36:57. Boyea led the Falcons with 73 yards rushing. He also hit 11 of 22 passes for 66 yards, but was intercepted three times. Thomas led UNLV with 77 yards rushing and 138 yards passing, hitting seven of 19 attempts. Haro added 70 yards rushing. Adam Seward led the Rebel defense with 14 total tackles, including three for a loss. The Air Force defense was led by Andy Rule, who had eight tackles. Larry Duncan chipped in with eight tackles and recorded his third interception of the season.
THE LAST TIME AT UNLV: UNLV proved to the rest of the conference, or at least to Air Force, it was the most improved team in the league in 2000. The Rebels handed Air Force its first loss of the season, 34-13, in Las Vegas. Quarterback Jason Thomas led the attack with 57 yards rushing and a TD. He also hit 16 of 22 passes for 259 yards and a score. Fullback Steven Costa led the Rebels with 78 yards rushing while Jeremi Rudolph chipped in with 70 yards and two TDs. Nate Turner caught nine passes for 102 yards and Troy Mason had four for 122 yards. Air Force was led by Mike Thiessen, who rushed for 94 yards and hit nine of 20 passes for 133 yards and a TD. After taking a 13-12 halftime lead, the Falcons were shutout in the second half. UNLV used TD runs by Thomas and Rudolph to take a 26-13 lead with 4:45 remaining in the third. In the fourth quarter, AFA put together its best drive of the half only to have it end when a Thiessen pass bounced out of Qualario Brown's hands and was intercepted deep in UNLV territory. UNLV capped the scoring when Thomas hit Bobby Nero with an 18-yarder. UNLV out-gained Air Force 483 to 352, including a 224-219 rushing advantage.The Rebels also had the time of possession advantage, 31:47 to 28:13.
UNLV CONNECTION: Anthony Park is the only Falcon from the state of Nevada. The junior wide receiver is a 2000 graduate of Las Vegas High School where he lettered four years in track and two in football. He was an honorable mention All-American in football in LVHS.
STATISTICAL COMPARISONS: Air Force and UNLV are two of the top three rushing offenses in the Mountain West Conference. Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 299.5 per-game average while the Rebels are third in the conference at 188.0. Air Force is the most oportunistic team in the conference, leading the league in turnover margin at +10. UNLV ranks sixth in turnover margin with a -6. The Rebels rank third in the conference in total offense with a 387.0 average. The Falcons are second in the league in total defense with a 346.1 norm. Third down conversions could be a big factor. Air Force leads the league in conversions with a 47.9 mark. The Rebels lead the league in third down conversion defense with a 35.8 mark. Finally, AFA leads the league in time of possession (32:12) while UNLV is seventh (28:14)
AIR FORCE LAST WEEK: Air Force got back to its winning ways by defeating Army, 49-30, in West Point to secure its sixth consecutive Commander-in-Chief's Trophy title and snap a three-game losing streak. The Falcons were solid on offense, scoring on nine of 10 possessions before taking a knee on its final drive of the game. Air Force rolled up 531 total yards, including 380 rushing. The team was balanced with for players rushing for 66 yards of more. Anthony Butler led the team with a season-high 84 yards on seven carries. Chance Harridge added 76 yards, Darnell Stephens 75 and Leotis Palmer 66. Palmer and Butler added touchdown runs. Palmer put the Falcons on the board first with a 43-yard TD pass to Joe Schieffer to give AFA a 7-0 lead. Following an Army touchdown and an AFA safety, Palmer struck with a 27-yard scoring run to mark the second time this season he's rushed and passed for a TD in a game. Every time Army scored, the Falcons answered and controlled the game throughout. Kicker Joey Ashcroft had a career game, tying a school record with four field goals. Adam Strecker also had a career day with three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown. The defense was also balanced. Anthony Schlegel led the way with eight tackles, while Joel Buelow and Ryan Carter each added six. Carter also had a sack and Buelow a tackle for loss. The defense held Army to just 330 total yards.
AIR FORCE POST-GAME NOTES: Air Force won its 16th Commander-in-Chief's Trophy ... The title is the 14th in the Fisher DeBerry era ... AFA won its 12th consecutive CIC game dating back to 1996 ... Air Force improves to 43-19 all-time in CIC games ... Fisher DeBerry improved to 32-6 all-time in CIC games ... The AFA senior class improved to 8-0 in service academy games and became the fourth class in AFA history never to fall to Army or Navy ... The 49 points are the most ever for Air Force vs. Army ... HB Leotis Palmer moved into 21st on the AFA career rushing list ... Darnell Stephens (75 yards) and Anthony Butler (84 yards) each recorded season highs in rushing ... Chance Harridge recorded his third-career 100-yard passing game.
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S TROPHY: Air Force won its 16 Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, which is the No. 1 goal of the Air Force football program, with a 49-30 win over Army in West Point. The Falcons beat Navy, 48-7, earlier this season. This season marks the 32nd year of Commander-in-Chief's Trophy competition between Air Force, Army and Navy. Air Force has dominated the competition with its 16 titles. Army has won it six times and Navy five. Air Force has a 43-19-0 all-time CIC record and has won 12 consecutive games in the series. This year's senior class at Air Force is 8-0 in CIC games and is fourth class overall and third consecutive (1992, 2000, 2001, 2002) in school history never to fall to Army or Navy. Fisher DeBerry has led the Falcons to 14 of the 16 titles and has a 32-6 CIC record. The Falcons have been in possession of the Trophy for all but one year (Army, 1996) since 1989.
AIR FORCE TRAVEL NOTES: Air Force will depart Colorado Springs via charter on Friday, Nov. 15. The team will headquarter at the Embassy Suites Las Vegas (702) 795-2800. Air Force media relations contacts Troy Garnhart and Dave Toller may be reached at the hotel or by cell phone beginning Friday. The numbers follow: Garnhart (719-440-6134), Toller (719-440-6101). Air Force players and coaches are not available for interviews on Friday. If Air Force holds a walkthrough on Friday, it will be closed.
THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME OF YEAR: Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry always says you want to play your best football in November. The tradition of Air Force football under DeBerry certainly has supported the statement recently. Air Force is 35-24 all-time under DeBerry in November, but has won 14 of the last 19. The team has been particularly tough at home. DeBerry is 17-6 at home in November.
CARDIAC CADETS: Falcon fans had to endure some close calls this season. A closer look follows: l AFA won in overtime at home vs. New Mexico, 38-31. After Steve Massie scored his first career TD to give AFA the lead, defensive back Joel Buelow knocked away New Mexico's final pass in the end zone to secure the win. l AFA's Jeff Overstreet knocked away Cal's two-point conversion attempt to tie the game in a 23-21 win over the 23rd-ranked Bears. Tom Heier then recovered an onside kick to seal the win. l AFA overcame a 20 point halftime deficit and scored the winning touchdown with 17 seconds left when Chance Harridge hit Don Clark from 20 yards to win 30-26 at Utah. The three close wins were decided by a combined 13 points, a 4.3 average margin per game.
BACK ON TRACK: Air Force got back on track, snapping a three-game losing streak last week with a 49-30 win at Army. The Falcons exploded for 531 total yards while holding the Black Knights to just 330. AFA rushed for 380 yards and passed for 151. The team held an 11:32 advantage in time of possesssion and averaged 7.1 yards per play. During the three-game losing streak, AFA scored only 17.3 points per game and allowed 28.7. The team averaged just 193.3 yards rushing and 278.3 yards of total offense. The Falcons also trailed in time of possession by a 5:05 average during the three-game skid.
FALCONS IN NON-CONFERENCE GAMES: Air Force is 23-5 in its last 28 non-conference games dating back to 1997. Three of the losses have come at the hands of nationally-ranked teams. Air Force fell to eighth-ranked Notre Dame, 34-31, in overtime in 2000 and last season to third-ranked Oklahoma, 44-3, in Falcon Stadium. This season, the team fell at home, 21-14, to seventh-ranked Notre Dame. AFA head coach Fisher DeBerry is 60-27 during his career in non-conference games.
ROAD WARRIORS: Air Force has been tough on the road recently. Including this season's 3-1 road mark, the Falcons are 33-19 in the last 52 road games, including bowls, since 1994. AFA has won 21 of the last 33 games on the road dating back to 1997.
AIR FORCE 14TH NATIONALLY SINCE 1997: Air Force ranks second in the Mountain West Conference and 14th nationally since 1997 in total wins. The Falcons have a 50-21 record (.704). During the last six years, Air Force has posted seasons with nine (2000), 10 (1997) and 12 (1998) wins. Air Force posted the first back-to-back 10-win seasons in program history in 1997-98 with 10 and 12 wins, respectively.
REBOUNDING: Air Force has never had back-to-back non-winning seasons in the Fisher DeBerry era (1984-present). In fact, the Falcons have rebounded strongly following down seasons under DeBerry. The Falcons have averaged eight wins a year following a down year. The Falcons followed up a 5-7 year in 1988 with an 8-4-1 mark in 1989. The team then followed a 4-8 mark in 1993 with an 8-4 record in 1994. Last year, the Falcons finished the season 6-6 which is just the third non-winning season under DeBerry.
SCORING BIG: Air Force's offense has been high-powered the last three years since Chuck Petersen took over as offensive coordinator. The Falcons closed the 2000 season with five consecutive 30-point scoring efforts and had eight games of 30 or more overall. Last season, the string continued with seven games of 30 points or more. The offense is off and running this season with games of 52 (twice), 49, 48, 38 and 30 points so far. Petersen has led the Falcons to 21 30-plus scoring efforts in his 34 games as offensive coordinator.
No. 9 IN THE BOOKS: Air Force's win over BYU Oct. 12 secured an impressive streak for another year. Air Force has posted nine consecutive seasons at .500 or better. Air Force's last losing season was in 1993 when the team went 4-8. During the last nine years, Air Force has averaged 8.1 wins per season and has a .683 winning percentage. The school is 72-35 overall.
DEFENSE MUCH IMPROVED: The new Air Force defensive system (3-3-5) has paid off big for the Falcons. The unit is much improved this season over 2001. The most important category is scoring defense. AFA allowed 32.2 points per game last year. This year, opponents are scoring just 21.3 per contest which leads the MWC and ranks 37th nationally. Air Force gave up an average of 452.7 yards per game last year. This season, that figure stands at 346.1 which ranks second in the conference and 47th nationally. The Falcons have had 15 different players combine for 53 tackles for loss. Sophomore Anthony Schlegel leads the way with 7.5 for 38 yards. Twelve different Falcons have combined for the team's 22 quarterback sacks. Sophomore John Rudzinski leads the team with 4.0 for 25 yards. Finally, 15 different players have combined for AFA's 35 pass deflections. Senior Wes Crawley leads the team with seven. Crawley leads the MWC with four interceptions this season and is the team's active career leader in interceptions with seven. AFA has 10 interceptions as a team this season.
BRING ON OVERTIME: Air Force has been very successful playing in overtime games since the format was added to college football in 1996. Air Force is 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Falcon Stadium during the extra period. The team is a perfect 3-0 in conference overtime games. All five games have been decided in the first extra period.
AIR FORCE TAKES BACK THE NATIONAL LEAD IN RUSHING: Air Force has taken back possession of the top spot nationally in rushing with a 299.5 average. The Falcons have ranks first or second every week this season. The team returns to the top spot for the first time in two weeks and eighth time overall this season. AFA won its 18th conference rushing title last season with a 273.2 per-game average. The Falcons ranked third nationally. Air Force has been one of the premier rushing teams in college football over the years. Since Fisher DeBerry took over in 1984, AFA has finished among the nation's top 10 18 times and the top five 14 times.
BLOCKED KICKS: Air Force is one of the premier kick-blocking teams in college football. Air Force has blocked four kicks this season (3 punts, FG). Nate Allen has two of the blocks with blocked punts vs. Northwestern and Utah. He earned MWC special teams player of the week honors for the block vs. Utah. He scored the first touchown of his career vs. Northwestern when he recovered his own block in the end zone. Allen is the active career leader on the team with three blocks, as he also blocked a punt last season vs. Army. Eric Thompson has a blocked field goal this season vs. Cal. He was named MWC special teams player of the week for his block. Paul Mayo recorded the first block of his career against Wyoming with a blocked punt. The block led to a safety. Air Force has blocked 79 kicks since 1990 which ranks second nationally to Virginia Tech. During the 1990s, Virginia Tech led the nation with 62 while Air Force was second with 59. AFA has blocked at least three kicks in 13 consecutive years.
FULLBACK RUSHING GAME: Air Force is tough to beat when the fullback rushing game is working. Air Force is 34-7 since 1990 when the position rushes for 100 or more yards. The fullbacks rushed for a season-high 139 yards at California in Air Force's 23-21 win. Steve Massie and Adam Cole each had their best days as Falcons. Massie rushed for a career-high 76 yards on 12 carries and had a career-long 45 yard run. Cole added a career-best 63 yards and a career-long 40 yard run. Cole entered the game with one carry for two yards on the year. The fullbacks added their second 100-yard day against BYU with 116 yards. Cole led the way with 59 yards while Massie added 33. Tim Gehrsitz chipped in with a career-high 23 yards and his first career touchdown.
PALMER WINS MR. INTENSITY AWARD: Senior Leotis Palmer won the team's Mr. Intensity Award which annually goes to the player that worked the hardest in the weight room during the off-season. Palmer recorded career bests in bench press (380), squat (500) and strength index (782). His strength index is the third highest ever at the Academy. Palmer also set a new team record with a 42-inch vertical jump.
HARRIDGE HAVING SPECIAL SEASON: Junior quarterback Chance Harridge is placing his name among the best in Air Force history. Harridge has already done something that some of the Academy's great option quarterbacks of all-time were unable to do. Harridge won in his first six career starts which is the third best start is school history and second best in the option era. Only Bob Parker's 8-0 start in 1970 and Blane Morgan's 7-0 start in 1997 are better. Harridge is on pace to shatter the single season school record for touchdowns and rushing touchdowns. Harridge leads the MWC and ranks sixth nationally in scoring with an 10.2 average. He has 17 rushing touchdowns which puts him within two TDs of tying the record of 19 rushing touchdowns set by Brian Bream in 1970. Bream also holds the overall touchdowns mark with 20. Harridge tied a school record with eight touchdowns in consecutive games with four each vs. Navy and BYU. He tied the 1989 mark of Dee Dowis (6 vs. SDSU, 2 vs. Wyoming). Harridge ranks third in the conference and 46th nationally in rushing with an average of 92.8 yards per game. He's had four 100-yard rushing performances this season, including a career-best 161 vs. Navy. Harridge also had 124 at California earlier this season. He is on pace to finish the season with 1,114 yards which would rank eighth all-time in AFA history. Harridge needs just 72 yards to surpass the 1,000-yard mark this season. Against Colorado State earlier this season, Harridge rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown as he became the 29th Falcon to top the 1,000 yard mark for his career. He currently ranks 26th in school history with 1,109 career rushing yards.
SCHLEGEL AMONG THE MWC LEADERS IN TACKLES: Sophomore linebacker Anthony Schlegel leads the team and ranks third in the conference in tackles with a 9.7 per-game average. Schlegel recorded a career-high 19 tackles against Notre Dame which is the most by a Falcon since All-American Chris Gizzi had 20 vs. Fresno State in 1997. Schlegel had 17 earlier this season at Utah. He leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss for 38 yards. Schlegel has had four double figure tackle games this season. He wears No. 51 to pay tribute to his all-time favorite player, Chicago hall-or-famer Dick Butkus.
ASHCROFT SEMIFINALIST FOR LOU GROZA AWARD: Junior place kicker Joey Ashcroft is one of 20 semifinalists for the 2002 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. The award will be given during a ceremony on Dec. 10 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Ashcroft is the only kicker from the Mountain West Conference on the list. He has hit 14 of 15 field goals this season and ranks second in the conference in kicker scoring with a 7.8 average. His .933 field goal percentage is a career record at the Academy and ranks second for a single season.
ASHCROFT MWC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: For the second time this season, kicker Joey Ashcroft is the Mountain West Conference special teams player of the week. Ashcroft won the award for last week's effort at Army. The junior tied a school record with four field goals and hit all five extra points. Ashcroft also won the award earlier this season for his efforts vs. BYU.
THREE SELECTED FOR PARIDISE BOWL: Seniors Joel Buelow (DB), Leotis Palmer (HB) and Eric Thompson (DE) have been selected to play in the 2003 Paradise Bowl. The game is scheduled to be played Jan. 25 in St. George, Utah. Last season, quarterback Keith Boyea, defensive tackle Justin Pendry and linebacker Andy Rule were selected to play in the game.
