Air Force Hosts Wyoming In Key MWC Football Contest
10/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 12, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Air Force (3-3, 2-1) vs. Wyoming (4-2, 2-0)
Saturday, Oct. 17, 12 p.m. Mtn
Falcon Stadium (46,692), USAFA, CO
TELEVISION
The Mountain West Sports Network (The Mtn.)
Dan Gutowsky (play-by-play); Jay Leeuwenburg (analyst); Roger Bailey (sidelines)
RADIO
KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs
KCKK 1510 AM in Denver and Northern Colorado
Goairforcefalcons.com
Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Lee Douglas (analyst); Jay Ricci/Bob Ihle (pre- and post-game)
THE BREAKDOWN
Record: Air Force (3-3, 2-1 MWC), Wyoming (4-2, 2-0 MWC)
Streaks: Air Force (L 2), Wyoming (W 3)
Next week: Air Force (at Utah), Wyoming (Idle)
Last week: Air Force (L 17-20 vs. No. 9/10 TCU), Wyoming (W 37-13 vs. New Mexico)
Website: Air Force (goairforcefalcons.com), Wyoming (wyomingathletics.com)
- Air Force is 2-1 at home this season and 11-4 in two-plus years under head coach Troy Calhoun.
Air Force leads the overall series, 24-20-3, including a 14-9-1 mark. The Falcons have won the last three meetings and a win this week would produce the first four-game winning streak in the long-standing series for either school. Air Force defeated Wyoming, 23-3, last year in Laramie and won, 20-12, the last time the two played in Falcon Stadium in 2007.
- Wyoming is tied for first in the MWC with a 2-0 record. The Cowboys are 4-2 overall. Wyoming has won three straight games.
- Air Force lost to No. 10/9 TCU, 20-17, in Falcon Stadium last week. Wyoming defeated New Mexico, 37-13, in Laramie last week.
THE COACHES
- Air Force: Troy Calhoun (Air Force, 1989) has a 20-12 record in his third season at Air Force. Calhoun is 13-6 vs. the Mountain West, 11-4 at home, 8-6 in road games, 1-2 in neutral site games, 7-6 in non-conference games and 2-0 vs. Wyoming. n Wyoming: Dave Christensen (W. Washington, 1985) is in his first season at Wyoming. He has led the Cowboys to a 4-2 mark in his first collegiate head coaching position.
THIS IS AIR FORCE FOOTBALL
- Air Force is playing its 54th season of varsity football. The Falcons played their first season of varsity football in 1956.
- Air Force has an all-time record of 323-272-13. The Falcons are 174-113-3 at home and 149-159-10 on the road and in neutral site games. AFA has played in 19 bowl games and has an 8-10-1 all-time record.
- This season marks the third under head coach Troy Calhoun, who is a 1989 graduate of the Air Force Academy. He is the sixth head coach in school history and first graduate to hold the position.
- Air Force is playing in its 30th year in a conference. This season marks the school's 11th year in the Mountain West Conference. Prior to 1999, Air Force was a member of the Western Athletic Conference from 1980-98. The school was an independent prior to 1980.
- Air Force is 39-38 as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The team is 23-16 at home and 16-22 on the road. The Falcons are 69-57 overall since joining the MWC in 1999, including marks of 39-24 at home, 26-29 on the road, 4-4 in neutral site games and 2-2 in bowls.
THE SERIES
Air Force and Wyoming are meeting for the 48th time overall and 29th time as conference foes. Air Force holds a 24-20-3 overall series lead and a 15-13 mark in conference games. Air Force is 14-9-1 at home, 9-11-2 in Laramie and 1-0 in neutral site games. The teams first played Nov. 2, 1957, to a 7-7 tie in Laramie. Air Force has won three straight games in the series and a win this week would produce the first four-game winning streak by either school. Air Force defeated Wyoming, 23-3, last year in Laramie and won, 20-12, the last time the two played in Falcon Stadium in 2007.
Year by Year1957 - Tied 7-7 (A)1958 - AFA 21-6*1959 - AFA 20-7 (A)1960 - Wyo 15-0 (A)1962 - AFA 35-14 (H)1964 - Tied 7-7 (H)1965 - Wyo 31-14 (A)1966 - Wyo 13-0 (H)1967 - Wyo 37-10 (A)1968 - AFA 10-3 (H)1969 - Wyo 27-25 (H)1970 - AFA 41-17 (A)1971 - AFA 23-19 (H)1972 - AFA 45-14 (H)1974 - Wyo 20-16 (A)1975 - Wyo 24-10 (H)1976 - AFA 41-12 (H)1977 - Tied 0-0 (A)1980 - AFA 25-7 (H)1981 - Wyo 17-10 (H)1982 - AFA 44-34 (H)1983 - Wyo 14-7 (A)1984 - Wyo 26-20 (A)1985 - AFA 49-7 (A)1986 - Wyo 23-17 (H)1987 - Wyo 27-13 (A)1988 - Wyo 48-45 (H)1989 - AFA 45-7 (H)1990 - Wyo 24-12 (A)1991 - AFA 51-28 (H)1992 - AFA 42-28 (A)1993 - Wyo 31-18 (H)1994 - AFA 34-17 (A)1995 - AFA 34-10 (H)1996 - Wyo 22-19 (A)1997 - AFA 14-3 (H)1998 - AFA 10-3 (A)1999 - Wyo 10-7 (H)2000 - AFA 51-34 (A)2001 - AFA 24-13 (H)2002 - Wyo 34-26 (A)2003 - AFA 35-29 (H)2004 - Wyo 43-26 (A)2005 - Wyo 29-28 (H)2006 - AFA 31-24 (A)2007 - AFA 20-12 (H)2008 - AFA 23-3 (A)
* Washburn Field, CS, CO
Site is for AFA
LAST YEAR VS. WYOMING
Air Force defeated Wyoming, 23-3, in the Mountain West Conference season opener for both schools.
In a defensive battle that was even at 3-3 at halftime, Air Force finally broke the game open in the third quarter behind a 74-yard run from Kyle Halderman.
Quarterback Shea Smith followed with a one-yard touchdown run to give Air Force a 13-3 lead with 2:41 left in the third quarter. Ryan Harrison kicked his third field goal of the game to give Air Force a 16-3 lead early in the fourth quarter and fullback Todd Newell capped the win with a one-yard touchdown run in the final three minutes of the game.
The defense was dominant all day, allowing just 216 total yards, including just 76 passing. Air Force's three points allowed is the best in a Mountain West Conference game in school history and best in any conference game since 1998. Safety Chris Thomas led the way with a season-high 13 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Ken Lamendola chipped in 11 tackles. Jake Paulson added three tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
The offense was led by Halderman, who rushed for 85 yards on three carries. Kyle Lumpkin added 71 yards on 16 carries while Smith chipped in with 43 yards on 16 carries. Smith also hit three of four passes for 15 yards.
COMPARING AIR FORCE AND WYOMING
Air Force and Wyoming are among the nation's top five in turnover margin. Air Force leads the nation with a 2.67 per-game average. Wyoming is second in the conference and fifth nationally with a 1.50 average.
Air Force -- 2.67 (20 takeaways, 11 fumbles, 9 INT; 4 turnovers, 3 fumbles, 1 INT)
Wyoming -- 1.50 (14 takeaways, 4 fumbles, 10 INT; 5 turnovers, 4 fumbles, 1 INT)
AIR FORCE TIES TO WYOMING
Air Force assistant coach Matt Wallerstedt coached at Wyoming from 1997-2002. He was the defensive line coach from 1997-99 under head coach Dana Dimel and the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach from 2000-02 under head coach Vic Koenning. Wallerstedt was 2-4 against Air Force while at Wyoming.
CAREER STATISTICS VS. WYOMING
Rushing (Att-Yds-TDs): Savier Stephens (2g, 17-53-1), Kyle Halderman (1g, 11-66-0), Jared Tew (1g, 4-22-0).
Passing (C-A-Int-Yds-TD): None
Receiving (#-Yds-TD): Sean Quintana (2g, 1-5-0).
Tackles (UT-AT-TOT): Chris Thomas (3g, 15-7-22), Ben Garland (2g, 2-4-6), Reggie Rembert (2g, 5-0-5), Luke Hyder (2g, 1-0-1), Rick Ricketts (1g, 0-3-3), Ken Lamendola (1g, 4-7-11), Andre Morris, Jr., (2g, 1-0-1), Anthony Wright (1g, 0-1-1), Jon Davis (1g, 0-1-1), Patrick Hennessey (1g, 0-1-1).
PLAYING BEST WHEN IT MATTERS MOST
Air Force is 9-3 under head coach Troy Calhoun in games during the second half of the season (last six games). Air Force was 5-1 in 2007 which is the best mark since the 1998 team was 6-0. The Falcons were 4-2 last year. Prior to Calhoun's arrival in 2007, the Falcons were 12-24 over the last six games of the season since 2001.
TURNING AROUND A TREND
Air Force is 6-2 in conference games in the month of October over the last two-plus seasons, including an 0-1 mark this season following a 20-17 loss to No. 10/9 TCU Oct. 10. Prior to 2007, the Falcons were 8-14 in conference games in October since 1999. Air Force was 3-1 in 2007 and 2-0 last season. Prior to 2007, the Falcons had not won more than one conference game in October since 1998.
LAST WEEK
TCU, ranked No. 10/9 nationally, defeated Air Force, 20-17, in Falcon Stadium to hand the Falcons their first conference loss of the season.
The Horned Frogs had 393 total yards, ran 17 more plays than Air Force and had a 33:55 to 26:05 advantage in time of possession. Andy Dalton led TCU by hitting 16 of 28 passes for 198 yards while rushing for 38 yards. Joseph Turner had 72 yards rushing and a score.
After falling behind 14-0, the Falcons got on the board when Jonathan Warzeka threw a touchdown pass to Kevin Fogler to cut the lead to 14-7 at halftime. The team's exchanged field goals in the third quarter and TCU added another field goal to take a 20-10 lead. Connor Dietz, starting his second game at quarterback, scored his first-career touchdown on an eight-yard run to make up the final margin. TCU recovered an on-side kick to seal the win.
Dietz led the Falcons with 71 yards rushing and hit six of 17 passes for 42 yards. The defense was led by Justin Moore's 12 tackles while John Falgout and Jon Davis chipped in with 11 and 10 tackles, respectively.
LAST WEEK'S GAME NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force uses game captains. The captains for the TCU game were Mike Hampton, Reggie Rembert, Kevin Fogler and Brandon Geyer.
• Air Force forced three turnovers in the game. Air Force has 20 total takeaways this season (9 interceptions, 11 fumbles). The Falcons have forced two or more turnovers in five of six games this season and in 18 of their last 22 games.
Individual Notes
• Junior DE Wylie Wikstrom and junior TB Savier Stephens each made his first-career start while sophomore QB Connor Dietz made his second-career start.
• Junior LB Andre Morris, Jr., recorded his first interception this season and second of his career. The turnover is the fourth (INT, FF, 2 FR) Morris, Jr., has been involved in this season and sixth of his career (2 INT, 2 FF, 2 FR).
• Sophomore TB Asher Clark recorded his season-long run of 29 yards. The run set up an Air Force touchdown to make it 14-7.
• Sophomore WR Jonathan Warzeka threw the first pass of his career, completing it for a 16-yard scoring play to Kevin Fogler. The touchdown is the second of Warzeka's career (9-yard run vs. New Mexico).
• Junior WR Kevin Fogler caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season. Fogler has caught a TD pass in four of Air Force's six games this season.
• Senior DL Ben Garland recorded two sacks. Garland has 4.5 sacks this season which leads the team. Garland has had at least a half-sack or more in six of the last eight games.
• Junior DB Reggie Rembert forced and recovered a fumble in the third quarter. The forced fumble and recovery are each his second this season and fourth of his career. Rembert has six turnovers this season (2 INT, 2 FF, 2 FR) and 13 in his career (5 INT, 4 FF, 4 FR).
• Sophomore SPC Erik Soderberg kicked his 13th field goal of the season which ties as the ninth most in a single season in Air Force history. He is tied with Dave Lawson (1975), Randy Roberts (1994) and Joey Ashcroft (2003). Soderberg has hit at least one field goal in every game this season.
• Sophomore QB Connor Dietz scored the first touchdown of his career on an eight-yard rush in the fourth quarter. Dietz had thrown for a TD earlier this season. Dietz also rushed a career-high 15 times.
• Senior LB Justin Moore collected a career-high 12 tackles. His previous high was 11 last week at Navy.
• Sophomore DB Jon Davis collected a career-high 10 tackles, including a game- and career-high seven solo tackles.
AIR FORCE FEATURES YOUNG TEAM IN 2009
Air Force is a young team. The Falcons have just 15 seniors on its 95-man roster. The team has 57 freshmen and sophomores which make up 60 percent of the roster. There are 42 sophomores and 15 freshmen on the roster. Air Force's two-deep depth chart features four freshmen and 19 sophomores.
AIR FORCE FOURTH NATIONALLY WITH 200-GAME SCORING STREAK
- Air Force has scored in 200 consecutive games dating back to 1992.
- The Falcons were last shutout by Mississippi, 13-0, in the 1992 Liberty Bowl.,br> - Air Force's streak is the second-longest active streak of teams in the Mountain West Conference and the fourth longest in the country.
- Air Force's 200-game scoring streak is the 15th longest in Division I-A college history.
- Of the top 15 all-time, nine were started in the 1980s while the other five began in the 1970s.
100 YARD RUSHERS UNDER CALHOUN
- Air Force is tough to beat when it has had a 100-yard rusher under head coach Troy Calhoun. The Falcons are 12-3 in games when they have a player rush for 100 or more yards.
- The team's only losses came in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl vs. California, vs. No. 16/14 BYU and vs. Houston in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl.
2007
South Carolina State, W 34-3 (Kip McCarthy, 129); Utah, W 20-12 (Shaun Carney, 113); TCU, W 20-17 OT (Jim Ollis, 138); UNLV, W 31-14 (Chad Hall, 169); Colorado State, W 45-21 (Chad Hall, 256); Wyoming, W 20-12 (Chad Hall, 167); Army, W 30-10 (Chad Hall, 275); Notre Dame, W 41-24 (Chad Hall, 142); San Diego State, W 55-23 (Jim Ollis, 163; Chad Hall, 151; Ty Paffett, 105); California, L 36-42 (Shaun Carney, 108; Jim Ollis, 101).
2008
San Diego State, W 35-10 (Asher Clark, 109); UNLV, W 29-28 (Todd Newell, 134); Colorado State, W 38-17 (Asher Clark, 136); BYU, L 24-38 (Todd Newell, 116); Houston, L 28-34 (Jared Tew, 149).
NOTES ON THE DEFENSE
- Air Force leads the conference and ranks 11th nationally in scoring defense with a 13.8 average.
- The Falcons have allowed just 83 total points, including three in the third quarter.
- AF has allowed 42 points in the fourth quarter, but 12 came from San Diego State in the final 3:26. New Mexico scored seven in the final 3:00 while Minnesota scored seven on a defensive touchdown.
- The Falcons rank second in the conference and 18th nationally in total defense, allowing just 282.2 yards per game.
- Air Force is first in the conference and fifth nationally in passing defense with a 150.0 average.
- The unit has also allowed just 24-82 (28.6) third down conversions, including just nine in the second half this season. Four of the nine came vs. No. 10/9 TCU.
DEFENSE HAS SCORED FIVE TIMES
Air Force's defense has scored five touchdowns this season. The five touchdowns is the most in a single season in Air Force history. Wale Lawal scored on a 10-yard fumble return vs. Nicholls State while Jon Davis took an interception back 38 yards at New Mexico. Reggie Rembert and Anthony Wright each scored vs. San Diego State. Rembert scored on a 47-yard fumble return while Wright took an interception back 47 yards for a score. Wright added a 67-yard interception returnfor a score at Navy.
ADDITIONAL DEFENSIVE NOTES
• The unit recorded a shutout in the season opener vs. Nicholls State which is the first for Air Force since beating Wofford, 49-0, in 2003.
• Air Force held Nicholls State to just seven first downs which is the seventh fewest in school history and fewest since holding Southern Methodist to six in 1971.
• Air Force held Nicholls State to just 151 total yards which is the eighth fewest in school history and fewest since holding Army to 100 in 1999.
• Air Force held San Diego State's offense scoreless and to just 187 total yards until the Aztecs scored twice in the final minutes, including a score on the game's final play, against reserves.
• Air Force has not allowed a point on the opponent's opening drive of the second half this season. The Falcons have forced a three-and-out on the drive in three of six games this season.
AIR FORCE TAKEAWAYS
- Air Force is a combined +39 in two-plus seasons under head coach Troy Calhoun and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter.
- Air Force stands at +16 this season. The Falcons forced a season-high six turnovers vs. San Diego State and four vs. Nicholls State and New Mexico. The Falcons have forced two or more turnovers in five of six games this season and 18 of the last 22 games overall.
- The team's +2.67 turnover margin average this season leads the nation.
- Air Force's 1.00 per-game turnover margin average last season ranked second in the conference and 11th nationally.
AIR FORCE RETURN GAME SHINING
- The Falcons rank second in the MWC and 16th nationally in kickoff returns with a 26.3 average. -- Reggie Rembert posted career highs of five returns for 120 yards vs. TCU
-- Jared Tew posted career highs of three returns for 90 yards vs. Minnesota
- Air Force is third in the conference and 33rd nationally in punt returns with an 11.7 norm.
REMBERT RETURN GAME
Junior Reggie Rembert is Air Force's career leader in kickoff returns and KOR yardage with 61 for 1,319 yards. Rembert broke the records of All-American Ernie Jennings (1868-70), who had 43 returns for 1,037 yards. Rembert is the Mountain West Conference's active career leader. He ranks fifth in conference history overall in returns and return yards. Please see charts on page nine for complete list of leaders.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Air Force has out-rushed all six opponents this season.
• The offense has had just four turnovers in six games.
• The Falcons have scored in 19 of 24 quarters this season and have twice scored 17 points in the first quarter (Nicholls State and New Mexico).
• Air Force tied a Mountain West Conference record with 72 points vs. Nicholls State. The 72 points are the third-most in school history. The 72-point victory margin is a school and Mountain West Conference record, breaking the mark of 64 set by New Mexico (72) vs. Texas State (8) in 2003.
• 17 different Falcons have carried the ball this season. The team has rushed the ball 362 times this season and all of them have come by players that return next season.
INDIVIDUAL QUICK HITS
QB Tim Jefferson - rushed for a career-best two TDs and threw for one vs. Nicholls State ... has a 135.57 passing efficiency mark this season and a 136.46 career mark ... did not play vs. San Diego State and TCU ... has a 7-5 career mark as a starter.
RB Asher Clark - has led the team in rushing twice this season -- game-high 90 yards on 12 carries at Minnesota and 86 yards on 20 carries at New Mexico ... ranks ninth in the MWC in rushing with an average of 52.0 yards per game ... averages 5.6 yards per carry.
SPC Brandon Geyer - sixth in the MWC in punting with a 43.1 average ... averaged 45.6 yards on seven punts vs. San Diego State ... two 50-plus-yard punts vs. Navy, including a season-best of 56 yards.
SPC Erik Soderberg - second in the MWC in scoring with a 9.3 average ... leads the conference and is fifth nationally in field goals with 2.17 per-game ... third in the MWC in field goal percentage with a 72.7 mark and is tied for first in PATs at 1.000 (17-17) ... hit two field goals at Navy, including a 39-yarder as time expired to force overtime ... tied a school record with four field goals vs. San Diego State ... hit a career-long 48 yard field goal vs. SDSU ... has hit 13 of 18 field goals this season, the ninth most made in school history ... also handles kickoff duties.
LB Ken Lamendola - out for the rest of the season with a knee injury ... led the team and was among the league leaders with 118 tackles last year.
DB Chris Thomas - missed the New Mexico game due to injury ... Air Force's active career leader in tackles with 258, tackles for loss with 18.5 and pass breakups with 17 ... preseason first-team all-conference selection ... involved in 14 career turnovers (4 INT, 3 FF, 7 FR) ... ranks third in MWC history in fumble recoveries with seven ... season-high eight tackles vs. TCU.
FB Jared Tew - ranks seventh in the conference in rushing with a 52.8 average ... career-best three kickoff returns for a career-high 90 yards at Minnesota ... season bests of 23 carries and 68 yards rushing vs. San Diego State ... his 23 carries are the most by a Falcon this season.
DB Anthony Wright, Jr. - second in the MWC and is 24th nationally in interceptions with a .50 average ... has three interceptions on the year and four in his career ... has returned two INTs for touchdowns, a 47-yard effort for his first-career score vs. SDSU and a 67-yard effort at Navy to mark his second straight game with a pick-six ... career-best seven tackles at Minnesota ... first interception of the season vs. New Mexico .... averaging 16.0 yards on five punt returns to lead the team, but doesn't have enough attempts to qualify for conference/national statistics.
DL Ben Garland - fourth in the MWC in sacks with a .75 average ... has had at least a half sack in six of the last eight games ... has 25 tackles this season, including a season-best eight vs. TCU, and leads the team in tackles for loss with 6.0 ... blocked the first kick of his career, a PAT vs. New Mexico.
WR Jonathan Warzeka - tied for the team lead in receptions with 11 and is second in receiving yards with 139 ... recorded a career-long 44-yard reception vs. San Diego State ... rushed for 26 yards on five carries and scored his first rushing touchdown of the season at New Mexico ... career highs in rushing with 10 carries for 42 yards and receiving with three catches for 44 yards at Minnesota ... threw a touchdown pass (first of career) vs. TCU.
WR Kevin Fogler - tied for team lead in receptions with 11 ... leads the team in receiving yards with 223 ... three straight games with a touchdown catch earlier this season ... has caught a touchdown pass in four of six games this season.
LB Andre Morris, Jr - second on the team in tackles for loss with 4.0 ... named MWC player of the week vs. New Mexico with seven tackles and two sacks ... career-highs of nine total tackles and six solo tackles at Minnesota ... recorded his first interception of the season vs. TCU.
QB Connor Dietz - has played in five games, starting two ... lead the Falcons in rushing with 85 yards on seven carries vs. Nicholls State ... led the team with 71 yards on 15 carries vs. TCU and scored the first rushing touchdown of his career ... rushed for 23 yards on five carries and hit two of four passes for 40 yards and his first-career touchdown pass at New Mexico ... first-career start vs. San Diego State, finishing with 64 yards on nine carries and hitting three of six passes for 51 yards.
Jon Davis, DB - tied for second on the team in interceptions with two ... recorded the first two interceptions of his career vs. New Mexico and returned one 38 yards for his first-career touchdown ... is the first Falcon since Carson Bird in 2007 with two interceptions in a game.
Reggie Rembert, DB - leads the team in KORs with a 28.2 average ... career highs with five returns for 120 yards vs. TCU ... two returns for 96 yards, including a career-best 60-yard effort, at New Mexico ... named MWC defensive player of the week vs. San Diego State with a team-best seven tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble ... returned the fumble recovery 47 yards for his first-career touchdown.
Myles Morales, DL - second on the team in tackles for loss with 5.0 and sacks with 3.0 ... three straight games with at least one TFL, including 2.0 for 12 yards vs. New Mexico ... has had a sack in two of the last three games ... 17 total tackles.
Justin Moore, LB - leads the team in tackles with 42, including 19 unassisted ... had a then-career-high 11 tackles at Navy ... new career-high of 12 tackles vs. TCU ... averaged 11.5 tackles in his last two games ... had sacks in each of the first two games of the season.
John Falgout, LB - played in six games, starting the last two ... second on the team in tackles with 38, including 16 unassisted ... has averaged 12 tackles in his two starts ... had a career-best 13 tackles at Navy ... 11 tackles vs. TCU.
AIR FORCE INDIVIDUAL HONORS
- Chris Thomas , Sr., DB - First-team preseason all-MWC.
- Nick Charles, Sr., OL - First-team preseason all-MWC ... Outland Trophy Watch List ... Allstate/AFCA Coaches Association Good Works Team nominee ... 2009 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List.
- Andre Morris, Jr., Jr., LB - Named Mountain West Conference defensive player of the week vs. New Mexico ... College Football Insider (CFI) honorable mention defensive player of the week vs. New Mexico.
- Jon Davis, So., DB - Named honorable mention defensive back performer of the week by College Football Performance Awards vs. New Mexico.
- Reggie Rembert, Jr., - Named MWC defensive player of the week vs. San Diego State ... named national defensive player of the week and defensive back of the week by College Football Performance vs. San Diego State ... named National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter player of the week vs. San Diego State.
- Erik Soderberg, So., SPC - Named honorable mention kicker of the week by College Football Performance Awards vs. San Diego State ... one of three Lou Groza National Placekicker "Stars of the Week" vs. San Diego State.
THIS AND THAT
- Falcon Stadium was ranked 24th by The Sporting News in a poll this summer on college football most unique stadiums. The poll measured everything from pregame tailgate parties to the roar of the crowd. Air Force was the only school from the Mountain West Conference in the top 25. Notre Dame Stadium was No. 1, followed by Ohio State's Ohio Stadium and Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
- Air Force is one of just 27 schools that didn't have a coaching staff change in 2009. Every position coach and coordinator returned from the 2008 season. Other schools without changes: UAB, Baylor, Colorado State, Duke, East Carolina, Georgia Tech, Houston, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan State, Navy, Nebraska, Nevada, NC State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas A&M, Troy, UTEP, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Washington State, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
- Air Force's 72 points vs. Nicholls State is the third most in school history and most since scoring 73 vs. New Mexico in 1987. The 72 points tie a Mountain West Conference record with New Mexico, who scored 72 points vs. Texas State in Aug. 30, 2003. The victory margin of 72 points (72-0) is a school record, breaking the previous mark of 69 (69-0) vs. Northern Colorado in 1984. The 72-point victory margin is also a Mountain West Conference record, breaking the mark of 64 set by New Mexico (72) vs. Texas State (8) in 2003.
- Air Force scored 45 points in the first half vs. Nicholls State which is a school record and is the third most in MWC history (40 by New Mexico vs. SDSU in 2008 and BYU vs. Tulane in 2001).
- Freshman linebacker Wale Lawal made the most of his first-ever college football play. Lawal entered the Nicholls State game in the fourth quarter and his first play resulted in tackle for loss for 10 yards, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a 10-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown.
- Air Force improved to 10-1 all-time in Mountain West Conference openers dating back to 1999. Air Force is 4-1 at home and 6-0 on the road.
- LB Alex Means - became the first Air Force freshman defensive player to start opening day since A.J. Scott vs. BYU in 1981.
- Air Force is 5-3 overall and 3-1 in Falcon Stadium in overtime games since the format was started in 1996. The team is 4-1 in conference overtime games.
