#25 Air Force Travels to Navy
9/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 29, 2003
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#25 Air Force at Navy
Saturday, Oct. 4, 11:35 a.m. (Mountain)
FedEx Field, Landover, MD
THE RECORDS: Air Force is 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West Conference. Navy is 2-2 overall.
TELEVISION: CN8 Sports. Joe Beninati (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (color) and Greg Murphy (sidelines) will call the action. The game will not be televised in the Colorado Springs or Denver area and will not be part of the ESPN plan. The game is available on DirecTV and Dish Network.
RADIO: Locally on KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs and Sportsradio 950, the Fan in Denver. Jim Arthur (play-by-play) and Irv Brown (analyst) call the action. They are joined by KVOR's Jay Ritchie and Greg Lazor (KKMG) for the pre and post-game shows.
LAST WEEK: Air Force defeated BYU, 24-10, in Provo, UT. Navy lost at Rutgers, 48-27.
NEXT WEEK: Air Force returns to Mountain West Conference play to take on UNLV on Saturday, Oct. 11, in Falcon Stadium. The game time is TBA. Navy plays at Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m.
AFA STREAKS: Air Force has won five consecutive games. The team has won four consecutive regular season road games. AFA has won 12 consecutive Commander-in-Chief's Trophy games.
THE COACHES: Air Force is coached by Fisher DeBerry (Wofford, 1960), who is in his 20th season. The winningest coach in school history, DeBerry has posted a 154-83-1 record. For more information on Fisher DeBerry, please turn to page 14. Navy is coached by Paul Johnson (W. Carolina, 1979), who is in his second season. Johnson has led Navy to a 4-12 record. He has a 66-22 career record in his seventh season.
THE SERIES: This is the 36th meeting between the two service academies. Air Force holds a 25-10 all-time lead. The teams first played in 1960 in Baltimore, Md. The Midshipmen won the game, 35-3. For more information on the series, please turn to page 2.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE/TRAVEL: Air Force departs for the Navy game on Thursday. The team's Thursday practice will be closed to the media, as the team will leave for the airport following practice. AFA will stay at the Greenbelt Marriott at 6400 Ivy Lane. The phone number is (301) 441-4700. AFA Players and coaches will not be available for interviews after Wednesday.
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S TROPHY: Air Force won its 16th Commander-in-Chief's Trophy last season, which is the No. 1 goal of the Air Force football program. The 2003 season marks the 33rd year of Commander-in-Chief's Trophy competition between Air Force, Army and Navy. Each year, the President of the United States hosts the winning team at the White House to present them the CIC Trophy. 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 is 6-0 in CIC games and will attempt to become the fifth class overall and fourth 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.
THE AIR FORCE - NAVY SERIES: This is the 36th meeting between the two service academies. Air Force holds a 25-10 all-time lead. The Falcons are 14-3 at home, 7-5 at Navy and 4-2 in neutral site games. This week is the third time the two teams have played at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. The Falcons have won the previous two games by a combined 11 points. AFA defeated Navy, 19-14, in 1999 and 24-18 in 2001. AFA has won six consecutive games overall and 19 of the last 21 dating back to 1982. The teams first played in 1960 in Baltimore, Md. The Midshipmen won the game, 35-3.
LAST YEAR VS. NAVY: Air Force took the first step in winning the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy with a 48-7 win over Navy in Falcon Stadium. Navy opened the game with a nine-play, 68-yard scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead. Kyle Eckel capped the drive with a five-yard run. Air Force cut the lead to 7-3 on a Joey Ashcroft 34-yard field in the final minute of the first quarter. The Falcons took over from that point. Wes Crawley put the Falcons on top for good when he returned a fumble 52 yards for a touchdown and a 10-7 lead. Chance Harridge then scored a pair of touchdowns to give AFA a 24-7 halftime lead. It was all Air Force in the second half. Harridge added two more scores and Ashcroft added another field goal to put AFA up 41-7 early in the fourth quarter. Matt Ward capped the scoring with his first-career touchdown on an 18-yard dash to make up the final margin. Air Force rolled up 536 total yards, including 429 rushing. The team averaged 7.2 yards per play and didn't have any turnovers. Defensively, Air Force held Navy to 101 yards in the second half. The Midshipmen's top offensive player, quarterback Craig Candeto, was also held in check. After rushing for 95 yards in the first half, Candeto was held to four yards in the second half. Charles Bueker led the way with 13 total tackles while Anthony Schlegel chipped in with 10. Trevor Hightower added eight total tackles and a pair of quarterback sacks. Harridge led the offense with a career-high 161 yards rushing and four touchdowns. He also hit six of seven passes for a then career-high 107 yards. He also recorded the longest run (61) and pass (44) of his career to date. Ward added 66 yards rushing while Darnell Stephens had 52.
AIR FORCE POST-GAME NOTES: Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry improved to 31-6 all-time in CIC games ... Air Force has now beaten Navy six consecutive times and 19 of the last 21 times ... AFA improved to 22-4 in its last 26 non-conference games ... AFA's 48 points are the most against Navy since a 49-7 win in 1998 ... Chance Harridge rushed and passed for 100 yards each for the first time in his career ... Harridge's four touchdowns are the fourth most in school history.
THE LAST TIME AT NAVY: Air Force defeated service academy rival Navy, 24-18, at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. The game was typical of service academy football -- hard hitting, close and emotional. Navy got on the board first behind a 54-yard pass from Brian Madden to Tony Lane to make it 6-0. The Falcons took over momentum in the game when Justin Pendry blocked the extra point attempt. Anthony Butler then put the Falcons in front, 7-6, on his first-career touchdown run (23 yards). Following a David Hills 23-yard field goal, Air Force quarterback Keith Boyea scored on a 43-yard run to put the Falcons ahead for good, 15-9. Boyea capped the TD run with a two-point conversion. Kicker Brooks Walters added a 30-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give the Falcons an 18-9 halftime lead. Navy opened the third quarter with another Hills field goal to pull to within 18-12. Halfback Leotis Palmer answered with his first touchdown of the season on a 14-yard run to make it 24-12. The Falcons looked to be going in for a final score to put the game away late in the fourth quarter when Boyea fumbled deep in Navy territory. The Midshipmen responded with an 80-yard drive to make it 24-18 with 3:27 left. Following an Air Force punt, safety Adam Hanes put the game away with an interception at midfield for Air Force. Boyea led the Falcons with 118 yards rushing. Palmer added 65 yards while fullback James Burnes chipped in with a career-best 81 yards. Boyea also passed well, hitting seven of 11 passes for 78 yards. Defensively, Andy Rule led the way with a career-best 13 tackles, two tackles for loss and a quarterback sack. Wes Crawley added a career-best 10 tackles while Hanes chipped in with eight.
THE NATION'S TOP TWO RUSHING OFFENSES BATTLE THIS WEEK: The top two rushing teams in college football battle this week. Navy leads the nation with a 311.75 average. The Falcons are second at 309.20 per game. The two have a big lead over No. 3 Minnesota, who averages 284.20 per game. Air Force, the defending national rushing champion, and Navy are traditionally two of the nation's top rushing teams annually.
AIR FORCE LAST WEEK: Air Force finally tasted vistory in Provo after 20 years and seven failed attempts. In a series often known for its offense, the defenses were on display as the Falcons won 24-10 to record their first victory in Provo since 1982. The defense was tremendous throughout the game, holding BYU to just 306 total yards. Linebacker Marchello Graddy led the way with 10 tackles, two tackles for loss for 14 yards and .5 sacks for four yards. The Falcons rolled up 11 total tackles for loss in the game, divided between nine players. Halfback Darnell Stephens led the offense with a career-high 93 yards rushing. Anthony Butler added 47 while quarterback Chance Harridge chipped in with 18 yards and two touchdowns. Harridge also hit 11 of 20 passes for 88 yards a touchdown. The passing attack spread the ball to seven different receivers which is the most by AFA since eight different Falcons caught passes vs. Notre Dame in 2000. The Cougars opened the scoring with a Matt Payne 35-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. Joey Ashcroft got Air Force on the board with a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter to tie the game at halftime. Harridge opened the third quarter with an eight-yard TD run to cap a 14-play, 56-yard drive and put the Falcons ahead, 10-3. BYU answered on its next drive to tie the score with a John Beck to Phillip Niu 25-yard TD pass. Harridge connected with J.P. Waller on a 30-yard scoring strike to put AFA ahead for good, 17-10, with 8:05 remaining. The defense then took over as Nate Allen forced a BYU fumble which was recovered by Ryan Carter. Although the offense didn't turn the chance into points, they ran 2:15 off the clock before giving the ball back to the Cougars. BYU failed on a fourth down play on its next drive, which the offense cashed in with a Harridge one-yard run to make up the final margin.
Game Notes
Team Notes: Air Force's win is its first in Provo since 1982, snapping a seven-game losing streak ... Air Force improves to 5-0 for the second consecutive season. The 5-0 start is the fifth in the Fisher DeBerry era at the Academy. AFA also opened 5-0 in 1997, 1989 and 1985 ... Air Force improved its current winning streak to five games, the longest by the Falcons since opening last year 6-0 ... AFA improved to 6-18 all-time vs. BYU. The Falcons have now won five of the last seven games vs. the Cougars. The victory marks the first time in AFA history that the team has beaten BYU in consecutive seasons. AFA's only other two-game winning streak vs. BYU came in 1995 and 1998 ... AFA remains the only undefeated team in the MWC ... The Falcons improve to 2-0 this season on the road. The Falcons have posted a 36-20 road record since 1994 ... AFA won its 11th consecutive game in the months of August and September. The Falcons have won 27 of their last 32 games in August and September ... AFA improved to 67-24-1 with a returning starter at quarterback ... The Falcons improved to 56-23 since 1997. The 56 wins is the second most in the conference and ties as the 11th most nationally ... Air Force forced BYU into a punt following the interception by Donny Heaton on a failed field goal attempt. The Falcon defense has allowed just one field goal following a turnover by the offense. The AFA offense has had nine turnovers this season.
Individual Notes: Anthony Butler completed a 46-yard pass in the first quarter which is a career long. Butler has now completed two of three passes this season for 83 yards ... Alec Messerall's 46-yard reception in the first quarter is a career long. His previous long was 44 yards last year vs. Navy ... Steve Massie made his first start of the season. He missed the first two games of the season due to injury and returned against North Texas. Massie's start is the 11th of his career ... Harridge moved into the Air Force top 10 in career rushing during the game. Harridge ranks 10th in school history with 1,702 ... Chance Harridge became the first quarterback in AFA history to defeat BYU twice in his career. Harridge was the starter last year when AFA won and ends his career 2-0 vs. the Cougars ... Darnell Stephens recorded career highs in carries and yards with 16 carries for 93 yards. His previous best in each category was last week vs. Wyoming with 14 for 91 ... J.P. Waller matched his career-high with four catches. Waller also had four last year vs. Wyoming. Waller's four catches are the most by a Falcon in a game this season.
Season Notes
FALCONS IN THE NATIONAL POLLS: Air Force is ranked 25th this week in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. The Falcons received 132 points and trail No. 24 Florida by a single point. Air Force is 30th in the Associated Press poll with 29 points. Michigan State is No. 25 in the AP poll with 128 points. Air Force is nationally ranked for the first time this season and first time since Oct. 20 of last year when the team was ranked 19th in the coaches poll and 22nd in the AP poll. That week the Falcons lost to Wyoming and fell out of the polls after four consecutive weeks in. The four-week run in the polls last year started in week five when AFA was 25th in the coaches poll. The team's opponent that week was also Navy.
AIR FORCE ONE OF 14: Air Force is one of 14 undefeated teams nationally. The Falcons are one of just five teams that are 5-0. The others are Minnesota, LSU, Florida State and Ohio State. The remainder of the undefeated teams follows: Nebraska 4-0, Arkansas 4-0, Virginia Tech 4-0, Louisville 4-0, TCU 4-0, Tennessee 4-0, Miami (FL) 4-0, Northern Illinois 4-0 and Oklahoma 4-0.
AIR FORCE QUICK FACTS: Air Force is the only undefeated team in the MWC (5-0) ... The Falcons are one of only three teams in the MWC (Colorado State, UNLV) to defeat a team from a BCS conference on the road (W 22-21 at Northwestern) ... Air Force has eight interceptions this season for 211 return yards. The team's eight interceptions lead the Mountain West Conference and are tied for eighth nationally. Last year the team had 12 interceptions for 95 yards all season ... AFA ranks second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 16.2 points per game ... AFA leads the nation in net punting with a 45.1 average ... Air Force is 25th this week in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. AFA is 30th in the Associated Press poll ... The Falcons have had seven scoring drives of 80-plus yards this season ... Air Force is the least penalized team in the MWC, averaging just 32.6 yards per game ... The Falcons lead the MWC in kickoff coverage, allowing just 17.8 yards per return.
AIR FORCE AND THE BCS: Air Force's victory over Northwestern Sept. 6 marks the team's third consecutive regular season win and its third in the last four games overall against teams from BCS conferences. Air Force's only loss came at the hands of Virginia Tech, 20-13, in the 2002 San Francisco Bowl. The wins have come against Northwestern at home in 2002, at California in 2002 and at Northwestern this season. Last season's wins marked the first time since 1998 that Air Force has beaten two teams from BCS conferences in a single season. In 1998, the team beat Wake Forest from the ACC, 42-0, and Washington of the Pac-10, 45-25.
ROAD WARRIORS: Air Force has been tough on the road recently. The Falcons have won four consecutive regular season road games dating back to last season. Including this season's 2-0 road mark, the Falcons are 36-20 in the last 56 road games, including bowls, since 1994. Air Force has had just one losing road record in the last nine years.
5-0 START A SIGN OF GOOD THINGS: This season marks the fifth time in the Fisher DeBerry era that the Falcons have opened the season 5-0. In the previous four seasons, Air Force has averaged 9.5 wins per season and gone to a post-season bowl game every year. The team has never won fewer than eight games when opening 5-0. This is the second consecutive year AFA has opened 5-0 which is a first in the DeBerry era. Prior to last season, the team hadn't opened 5-0 since 1997.
RETURNING STARTER AT QUARTERBACK A GOOD SIGN: Senior quarterback Chance Harridge is one of 16 returning starters. That's a good sign for the Falcons. Since Fisher DeBerry took over as head coach in 1984, the Falcons are 67-24-1 when the starting quarterback returns. Air Force has averaged 8.8 wins per season and has a .733 winning percentage. The team has had just one losing season and three 10-plus win seasons. The last time AFA returned its starting QB was in 2000 when Mike Thiessen helped lead the Falcons to a 9-3 record.
FALCONS IN NON-CONFERENCE GAMES: Air Force is 26-6 in its last 32 non-conference games dating back to 1997. AFA is 16-3 at home and 10-3 on the road and in neutral site games. 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 in 2001 to third-ranked Oklahoma, 44-3, in Falcon Stadium. Last season, the team fell at home, 21-14, to seventh-ranked Notre Dame. AFA head coach Fisher DeBerry is 64-28 during his career in non-conference games.
SCORING FANCY: Air Force leads the Mountain West Conference in scoring offense with a 32.8 average. The Falcons are in search of their third scoring title in four years. AFA averaged 33.8 points per game last season to win the MWC scoring title for the second time in three years. The Falcons also took the top spot in 2000 with a 34.9 mark. Last season's average ranked 15th nationally and sixth in school history. The team scored 52 (twice), 49 (twice), 48, 38, 34 and 30 points. AFA got off to a fast start this season with a 49-point effort vs. Wofford. Assistant coach Chuck Petersen has led the Falcons to 26 30-plus scoring efforts in 42 games as offensive coordinator.
AIR FORCE TIED FOR 11TH NATIONALLY IN WINS SINCE 1997: Air Force is tied for the Mountain West Conference lead and ranks 11th nationally since 1997 in total wins. The Falcons have a 56-23 record (.709) and are tied in the polls with Colorado State, Oregon, Oklahoma and Texas. During the last seven 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.
DEFENSE PICKS UP WHERE IT LEFT OFF: The new Air Force defensive system (3-3-5) has paid off big for the Falcons. The 2003 season is the team's second in the system. Through five games this season, AFA has allowed just 16.2 points per game which ranks second in the conference and 23rd nationally. AFA is third in the league in total defense with a 335.8 average. The defense has already recorded eight interceptions for 211 return yards. The team's eight interceptions lead the conference and rank eighth nationally. Last year, AFA had just 12 interceptions for 95 yards overall. AFA is on pace to make a run at the all-time AFA interception record of 28 set in 1985. The defense has been outstanding this season following an Air Force turnover. The unit has allowed just three points following nine AFA turnovers. The team has stopped drives twice with interceptions, forced two punts and stopped an opponent on a fourth down play. A closer look at some highlights of the AFA defense this season follows below. Last year's unit was much improved over 2001. The most important category was scoring defense. AFA allowed 32.2 points per game in 2001. Last year, opponents scored just 23.3 per contest which ranked third in the MWC and 41st nationally. Air Force gave up an average of 452.7 yards per game in 2001. Last season, that figure was 354.3 which ranked third in the conference and 47th nationally.
Season Defensive Highlights
The Falcons opened the year with a 49-0 domination of Wofford. Air Force allowed just 175 total yards against Wofford which is the best single-game effort in the MWC this season. The Terriers managed just nine first downs and drove into Falcon territory just three times, including once in the second half. Air Force's shutout is the team's third on opening day in the last eight years ... AFA recorded four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and held Northwestern to just 46 yards on 22 plays in the fourth quarter ... The Falcons held North Texas to just seven points until two late touchdowns made up the final margin. The biggest effort against North Texas was the defense picking up the offense after turnovers. The Mean Green had three possessions following AFA turnovers and were held to -5 yards on 10 plays. The defense forced three turnovers of its own ... AFA held BYU to 10 points or less for the second consecutive year, a first in school history.
AIR FORCE SEEKS SECOND STRAIGHT NATIONAL RUSHING TITLE: Air Force ranks second nationally in rushing this week with a 309.20 average. This week's opponent, Navy, leads the nation with a 311.75 norm. One of the most dominant rushing teams in college football since Fisher DeBerry took over in 1984, the Falcons have consistently been in the nation's top 10, but never won the title until last year. AFA has won 19 conference rushing titles and ranked among the nation's top 10 19 times and top five 15 times. The top spot nationally seems to be a comfortable position for Air Force. Dating back to their national title run of last year, Air Force has led the nation 14 of the last 20 weeks. The six weeks that AFA has not led, the team has ranked second five times and third once.
BLOCKED KICKS: Air Force is one of the premier kick-blocking teams in college football. After not blocking a kick in the first two games of the year, the Falcons have picked it up. AFA has blocked three kicks the last three games. The Falcons recorded their first block of the season vs. North Texas when Adrian Wright blocked a punt for his first-career block. AFA had two blocks vs. Wyoming. Nick Taylor blocked a PAT and Jeff Overstreet blocked a punt. The blocks were the first of each player's career. Air Force has blocked 83 kicks since 1990 which ranks second nationally to Virginia Tech, who has blocked 85. During the 1990s, Virginia Tech led the nation with 62 while Air Force was second with 60. AFA has blocked at least three kicks in 14 consecutive years. A closer look at AFA's success since 1990 follows below.
FULLBACK RUSHING GAME: Air Force is tough to beat when the fullback rushing game is working. The Falcons opened the 2003 season with the fullback game in high gear, despite missing one of its leaders. Last year's starter, Steve Massie, missed the opener with a stress reaction in his lower leg, but his teammates certainly made up for the loss. Dan Shaffer and Adam Cole, along with freshman Jacobe Kendrick combined for 170 yards and scored five touchdowns. Shaffer rushed for 64 yards and three TDs while Cole chipped in with 44 yards and a touchdown. Kendrick added 62 yards and a TD on 14 carries in his first-career game. Air Force is 35-8 since 1990 when the position rushes for 100 or more yards.
HOW ABOUT A HALFBACK RUSHING GAME: Air Force has one of its best groups of halfbacks in recent years. The group is made up of senior Joe Schieffer, juniors Darnell Stephens, Anthony Butler and Kris Holstege and sophomores Matt Ward and Jason Boman. The group had its best game of the season against Wyoming, rushing for 235 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Darnell Stephens led the way with 91 yards and a TD on 14 carries. Anthony Butler added 70 yards on 10 carries while Matt Ward chipped in with 42 yards and two scores on just five carries. Schieffer added 34 yards which is the second-best day of his career. Schieffer's final carry, a five-yard gain, may have been the biggest as the Falcons picked up a fourth-and-one at Wyoming's 48 yardline to run out the clock. The 235 yards are the most by the halfbacks since the Army game last year when they went for 238 yards. In that game, Leotis Palmer had 66, Butler 84, Stephens 75 and Ward 13. Last week at BYU, the halfbacks again led the team. The group combined for 168 yards and were led by Stephens, who recorded career highs of 93 yards and 16 carries. Butler added 47 yards, Schieffer 24 and Ward four. The top three rushers in the game for AFA were halfbacks (Stephens, Butler, Schieffer) for the second time this season. Earlier this season against North Texas, the halfbacks were the team's top three rushers as well. That's pretty rare at the Academy. The last time that happened was in 2001 against UNLV in a loss. The last time it happened in an AFA win was in 1993 against Indiana State. Against North Texas, Ward led the way with 61 yards while Stephens added 54 and Butler 32. On the season, halfbacks have gained 52.3 percent (810 yards) of the team's 1,546 rushing yards. The group also has six of the 15 rushing touchdowns. Stephens leads the way with 289 yards while Butler has chipped in with 268.
Individual Notes
MARTIN WINS MWC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS: Senior punter Andrew Martin was named Mountain West Conference special teams player of the week for his efforts last week at BYU. Martin punted a career-high six times for a 50.5 average. He had one punt downed inside the 20 and a long punt of 66 yards. This is the first time in Martin's career he's won the award.
ALLEN ALREADY FOURTH: Junior defensive back Nate Allen has been solid this season. He is currently tied for fourth in the MWC with two interceptions. Allen has returned his two interceptions for 117 yards (79 vs. Northwestern and 38 vs. North Texas) which are the most by a Falcon in a season since Frank Staine-Pyne had 182 yards in 1997. Allen's interception return yards this season are the fourth most in school history. Allen was named Mountain West Conference defensive player of the week for his efforts in Air Force's 22-21 win over Northwestern. Allen gave the Falcons new life when he intercepted the first pass of his career and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown to pull AFA within eight points, 21-13, late in the third quarter. Allen also had a pass breakup and three unassisted tackles in the game. Allen's 79-yard return is the longest by a Falcon since teammate Larry Duncan set the school record with a 95-yard return against Army in 2001.
MARTIN LEADS THE MWC IN PUNTING / ON RECORD PACE: Senior Andrew Martin had a successful debut as the team's starting punter against Wofford. Martin punted twice for a 53.5 average with a long punt of 56 yards. His 53.5 average is the best by any punter in the MWC this season. He also had a punt downed inside the 20. Martin is averaging 47.4 yards per punt on the season which leads the conference. Martin doesn't have enough punts to qualify for the national statistics Martin's 47.4 norm is on pace to set a new single-season record at the Academy. The record is held by Mark Simon, who averaged 47.3 in 1985. Martin has been instrumental in helping the Falcons to lead the nation in net punting with a 45.1 average. Martin's career-long punt of 69 yards against Northwestern is the longest by a player in the MWC this season. As good as Martin's punting is, its his persistence that may be his best asset. Martin was cut during his freshman year. He walked back onto the team as a sophomore for spring practice and was the team's junior varsity punter in 2002. During last spring's drills, the Lucas, Ohio, native impressed the coaches with his improved leg strength and earned the starting job this fall.
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE EXPERIENCE: Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry often says there is no substitute for playing experience. The Falcons have a roster full of experienced players in 2003. The team has seven players with 10 or more consecutive starts. Leading the way is senior offensive lineman Brett Huyser, who has starting 22 consecutive and 23 overall. Tight end Adam Strecker, quarterback Chance Harridge and offensive linemen Brett Waller and Jesse Underbakke have each started 18 straight. Safety Larry Duncan follows with 15 consecutive starts while Monty Coleman has 12. Coleman has started 21 overall.
COLEMAN AMONG THE MWC'S BEST: Senior Monty Coleman is having a great season. In his second year at defensive end, Coleman is finding the position to his liking. Coleman is tied for third in the conference in quarterback sacks with 2.5 which is an average of .50 per game. He is sixth in the conference in tackles for loss with 5.5 for 28 yards. He averages 1.10 per game. While Coleman is rolling up big numbers on the field, it's off the field where he is having his biggest impact. Coleman helped start a mentoring program called Hope Springs, which is a pilot program under the umbrella of Big Brothers, Big Sisters. The program benefits teenagers from single-parent homes and that live with mothers or grandparents. Two of Coleman's teammates, Jeff Overstreet and Sean Rodgers, have also been active in the program. Coleman was mentored by former Phoenix Suns star, Kevin Johnson, while growing up in the Phoenix area.
WRIGHT NAMED SPECIAL TEAMS LEADER: Senior Adrian Wright has been named special teams leader this season by the coaching staff. This season marks the first time the staff has given out the honor. Wright was chosen because he plays on every special teams unit and has shown great leadership. Wright is responsible for motivating the units during practices and games. In addition, Wright works with the team to select the music and video used to introduce the units.
MASSIE WINS MR. INTENSITY AWARD: Senior fullback Steve Massie was awarded the football team's Jack Braley Mr. Intensity Award, given annually to the player on the team that worked the hardest and had the most dedication in the weight room during the off season. Massie ranked first on the team in bench press with a maximum lift of 405 pounds. Massie squated 515 pounds and cleaned 319 until a wrist injury forced him to slow down.
THREE FALCONS SELECTED FOR POST-SEASON BOWL GAMES: Air Force senior quarterback Chance Harridge and senior tight Adam Strecker have been selected to play in the Las Vegas All-American Classic, formerly known as the Paradise Bowl. The game takes place at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004, and will be televised by Fox Sports. The classic pits the West team made up of players from the Big 12, Mountain West, Pacific 10, Sun Belt and Western Athletic Conferences against the East with players from the Big 10, Big East, Conference USA, Mid-American and Southeastern conferences. Harridge and Strecker's selection makes three all-star game appearances for the Falcons, as teammate Brett Huyser was selected for the East-West Shrine Classic.
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Air Force has three brother combinations on the team this season. Junior fullback Dan Shaffer is joined by his younger brother, David, a sophomore nose guard. Senior fullback Steve Massie is joined by his younger brother, John, a freshman on the junior varsity. Junior place kicker Michael Greenaway has a younger brother, Brendan, who is a freshman on the JV.
HARRIDGE ON NATIONAL RADIO SHOW: Senior quarterback Chance Harridge has been selected to participate in a weekly national radio show on Fox Sports Radio this season. Harridge will tape his interview each Wednesday during the football season for the show which airs every Saturday on the Fox radio network. The show airs locally on KKZN 760 in Denver, KIIX 1410 in Fort Collins and KGHF 1350 in Colorado Springs.
Football Facts
FAST STARTS THE NORM: Air Force has a history of getting off to a fast start with Fisher DeBerry at the helm. In addition to a 17-3 mark in season openers, the Falcons are 61-24 (.717) in August and September under DeBerry. Air Force has won 11 straight and 27 of its last 32 games during the last eight seasons in August and September. That's an .843 winning percentage. AFA's last loss in August or September came against third-ranked Oklahoma in 2001. The Falcons completed a 5-0 mark this season during the early months.
MOST RETURNING STARTERS IN DEBERRY ERA: Air Force finds itself in unfamilier territory in 2003. The team may go from underdog to favorite. The reason is simple. The Falcons return 16 starters from last season's team. AFA has seven starters on offense and defense returning as well as two on special teams. The 16 returning starters is the most in Fisher DeBerry's tenure at the Academy. Last year, Air Force returned only five starters which was the fewest in the DeBerry era.
AIR FORCE OPENS WITH ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST PRODUCTIVE DAYS: Air Force got 2003 off to a great start with its 49-0 win over Wofford. The Falcons had one of the best statistical days, as the team ranked among the national leaders in several categories. The team tied for the national lead in scoring defense with the shutout. AFA's 49-point effort was the sixth-best nationally. The team ranked in the nation's top five in five other categories. AFA's rushing offense (380) was first, the net punting (50.5) was second, the total defense (175) was fourth, passing defense (87) seventh and the turnover margin of +2 was tied for ninth.
DEBERRY WINS NO. 150: Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry won his 150th career game as the Falcons defeated his alma mater, Wofford College, 49-0, on Aug. 30. DeBerry has a 152-83-1 career record in 20 seasons as a head coach, all at the Academy. DeBerry is the winningest coach in service academy football history. His .646 winning percentage is the best in Air Force history and his 152 wins at Air Force is more than the other four head coaches in school history combined (134-151-12).
