Air Force Travels to #19/20 Utah
10/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 19, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Air Force (4-3, 3-1) at #19/20 Utah (5-1, 2-0)
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m. Mtn
Rice-Eccles Stadium (45,017), Salt Lake City, UT
TELEVISION
VERSUS
Ted Robinson (play-by-play); Anthony Herron (analyst); Lindsay Soto (sidelines)
RADIO
KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs
KCKK 1510 AM in Denver and Northern Colorado
Goairforcefalcons.com
Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Lee Douglas (analyst); Jay Ricci/Bob Ihle (pre- and post-game)
THE BREAKDOWN
Record: Air Force (4-3, 3-1 MWC), Utah (5-1, 2-0 MWC)
Streaks: Air Force (W 1), Utah (W 3)
Next week: Air Force (at Colorado State), Utah (vs. Wyoming)
Last week: Air Force (W 10-0 vs. Wyoming), Utah (W 35-15 at UNLV)
Website: Air Force (goairforcefalcons.com), Utah (Utahutes.com)
THE COACHES
- Air Force: Troy Calhoun (Air Force, 1989) has a 21-12 record in his third season at Air Force. Calhoun is 14-6 vs. the Mountain West, 12-4 at home, 8-6 in road games, 1-2 in neutral site games, 7-6 in non-conference games and 1-1 vs. Utah.
- Utah: Kyle Whittingham (BYU, 1984) is in his fifth season at Utah. He has led the Utes to a 42-15 overall record. Whittingham, who was named National Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association in 2008, has been at Utah as an assistant or head coach since 1994.
- Air Force is playing a nationally ranked team for the second time in three weeks. The Falcons took on then-No. 10/9 TCU Oct. 10 in Falcon Stadium.
- This week's game marks the first of two straight conference road games for Air Force. The Falcons play at Colorado State Oct. 31.
- Air Force is 14-6 in conference games since 2007, including a 6-3 mark in conference road games.
- Air Force and Utah have split the last two meetings with each team winning on the road. The Falcons defeated Utah, 20-12, in 2007 in Salt Lake City, while the Utes were 30-23 winners in Falcon Stadium last year.
- Air Force leads the overall series 14-11, including a 7-6 mark in Salt Lake City. Air Force snapped a four-game Utah winning streak with its 20-12 victory in 2007. The Falcons have won two of the last four meetings played at Utah.
- Air Force and Utah each won last week. The Falcons defeated Wyoming, 10-0, in Falcon Stadium while Utah won, 35-15, at UNLV.
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 324-272-13. The Falcons are 175-113-3 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 40-38 as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The team is 24-16 at home and 16-22 on the road. The Falcons are 70-57 overall since joining the MWC in 1999, including marks of 40-24 at home, 26-29 on the road, 4-4 in neutral site games and 2-2 in bowls.
THE SERIES
Air Force and Utah meet for the 26th time. The Falcons lead the series 14-11 overall and 13-10 in conference games. Air Force is 7-5 at home and 7-6 in Utah. The teams first played Nov. 16, 1957, in Utah. The Utes won the game, 34-0. Recently the series has been marked by very close games. The three games from 2001-03 were decided by a combined seven points and 11 of the last 12 games have been decided by less than 10 points.
Year by Year1957 - Utah 34-0 (A)1958 - AFA 16-14 (H)1983 - AFA 33-31 (H)1984 - Utah 28-17 (A)1985 - AFA 37-15 (H)1986 - AFA 45-35 (A)1987 - AFA 48-27 (H)1988 - AFA 56-49 (A)1989 - AFA 42-38 (A)1990 - AFA 52-21 (H)1991 - AFA 24-21 (A)1992 - Utah 20-13 (H)1993 - Utah 41-24 (A)1994 - AFA 40-33 (H)1995 - Utah 22-21 (A)1999 - Utah 21-15 (H)2000 - AFA 23-14 (A)2001 - AFA 38-37 (H)2002 - AFA 30-26 (A)2003 - Utah 45-43 (H) 3ot2004 - Utah 49-35 (A)2005 - Utah 38-35 (A)2006 - Utah 17-14 (H)2007 - AFA 20-12 (A)2008 - Utah 30-23 (H)Site ( ) is for AF
TIES TO UTAH
Air Force junior fullback Jared Tew is a native of Park City, Utah, and attended Park City High School. Tew is the lone Falcon from the state of Utah. He lettered three years in football and one each in basketball and track at Park City. Tew was an all-state football selection as a senior.
CAREER STATISTICS VS. UTAH
Rushing (Att-Yds-TDs): Savier Stephens (2g, 19-57-2), Kyle Halderman (1g, 4-5-0), Jonathan Warzeka (1g, 1-(12)-0).
Passing (C-A-Int-Yds-TD): None
Receiving (#-Yds-TD): Kevin Fogler (1g, 4-93-0), Josh Cousins (1g, 2-37-0).
Tackles (UT-AT-TOT): Chris Thomas (3g, 11-11-22), Reggie Rembert (2g, 7-5-12), Luke Hyder (1g, 1-2-2), Ken Lamendola (1g, 5-7-12), Ben Garland (1g, 2-2-4), Anthony Wright (1g, 2-1-3), Patrick Hennessey (1g, 2-0-2), Rick Ricketts (1g, 2-0-2), Andre Morris, Jr. (1g, 1-1-2), Myles Morales (1g, 0-1-1).
AIR FORCE VS. RANKED TEAMS
Utah, ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll and 20th in the USA Today Coaches Poll, is the second ranked team the Falcons have played the last three weeks. Air Force also played then-No. 10/9 TCU on Oct. 10 in Falcon Stadium. TCU won the game, 20-17.
The Falcons are 14-65-4 all-time vs. ranked teams. Air Force has lost 12 straight games to ranked opponents since winning at No. 23 California, 23-21, in 2002. The Falcons were 0-3 vs. ranked team last season, dropping games to No. 20 Utah (23-30), No. 16/18 BYU (24-38) and No. 15/17 TCU (10-44).
LAST YEAR
Utah defeated Air Force, 30-23, in another classic battle in a historically close series. Darrell Mack scored on a nine-yard run with 58 second left to give the Utes the lead for good and Joe Dale added an interception on Air Force's next offensive play to seal the victory.
Utah opened the game with a Brian Johnson 47-yard touchdown pass to David Reed to take a 7-0 first-quarter lead. The Utes added a safety when punter Ryan Harrison miss-handled a snap in the end zone to take a 9-0 advantage.
Harrison got the Falcons on the board with a 44-yard field goal early in the second quarter and the team took the lead, 10-9, with a Shea Smith to Kyle Lumpkin eight-yard TD pass. On Utah's next drive, Jake Paulson picked up a fumble after a Rick Ricketts sack and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown to give the Falcons a 16-9 halftime lead. The Falcons forced three first-half turnovers and turned two of them into touchdowns.
The Utes took control in the second half. Mack scored the first of three touchdowns on the opening drive of the third quarter on an eight-yard run to tie the game at 16-16. He added a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter to give Utah a 23-16 lead. The Falcons answered with a Savier Stephens one-yard run to tie the game at 23 before Mack's game-winner in the final minute.
Utah finished the game with 440 total yards, including 197 rushing. Their defense held Air Force to just 191. Utah also held Air Force's rushing attack to 53 yards, the second fewest since the Falcons went to the option offense in 1980.
PLAYING BEST WHEN IT MATTERS MOST
Air Force is 10-3 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 a 1-1 mark this season. The loss came at the hands of then-No. 10/9 TCU, 20-17, Oct. 10. Air Force was 3-1 in 2007 and 2-0 last season. Prior to 2007, the Falcons were 8-14 in conference games in October since 1999. The team had not won more than one conference game in October since 1998.
LAST WEEK
Air Force defeated Wyoming, 10-0, in Falcon Stadium to improve to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play. After a scoreless first half, Erik Soderberg got the Falcons on the board with a 29-yard field goal to make it 3-0. Jared Tew added a 17-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to give the Falcons a 10-0 lead. Tew finished the game with a season-high 105 yards rushing on 27 carries and scored his first touchdown since the season opener. Savier Stephens pitched in with 46 yards while Asher Clark added 39 for Air Force, which had 269 total yards and a nine minute edge in time of possession.
The defense held Wyoming to just 174 total yards, including just 74 passing, and had six quarterback sacks. Junior Reggie Rembert led the way with a career-best 10 tackles and a sack. Freshman Wale Lawal chipped in with a career-best eight tackles and sack while John Falgout added eight tackles. Senior Luke Hyder added five tackles, a pass breakup and the first interception of his career.
LAST WEEK'S GAME NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force uses game captains. The captains for the Wyoming game were seniors Peter Lusk and John Falgout and sophomore Anthony Wright, Jr.
• Air Force posted its first shutout vs. a conference opponent since winning at Colorado State, 24-0, in 1997. The shutout is the second for Air Force this season, as the team also shutout Nicholls State, 72-0, in the season opener. This season marks the first time since 1997 that Air Force has posted two shutouts in a season.
• Air Force has recorded the first four-game winning streak in the series with Wyoming.
• Air Force won its 175th home game and improved to 175-113-3 at home all-time.
• Air Force completed just one pass in the game, good for two yards. The one completion ties as sixth fewest in school history and is the fewest since Air Force went without a completion in a 31-28 win vs. Houston last season.
• Air Force blocked its third kick this season when sophomore Zach Kauth blocked a field goal attempt in the second quarter. The Falcons also blocked a field goal vs. New Mexico (Ben Garland) and an extra point vs. San Diego State. (Corbin Brown). Air Force's three blocked kicks are its most since blocking seven in 2006. Air Force has blocked at least one kick every year since 1990.
• Air Force's defense held Wyoming scoreless in the first half to mark its second first half shutout of the season. Air Force also held Nicholls State scoreless in the first half. The Wyoming game marked the fourth time this season the defense has held an opponent without a touchdown in the first half. In addition to the Nicholls State shutout, the Falcons held Minnesota to three points and San Diego State to a safety.
Individual Notes
• Freshman LB Wale Lawal, Jr., junior FB Nathan Walker and senior DB Luke Hyder each made the first start of their careers. Lawal is the second freshman to start for the Falcons this season, joining fellow linebacker Alex Means.
• Lawal recorded a career-best eight tackles in the game, including five unassisted stops and a quarterback sack.
• Junior DL Wylie Wikstrom recorded the first sack of his career. Wikstrom made his second career start in the game.
• Senior DB Luke Hyder recorded the first interception of his career, returning it 27 yards.
• Sophomore WR Zach Kauth recorded the first blocked kick of his career. Kauth blocked a field goal attempt in the second quarter. • Junior DB Reggie Rembert recorded a career-high 10 tackles, including a career-best eight unassisted. Rembert also recorded his first quarterback sack of the season.
• Sophomore SPC Erik Soderberg kicked a 29-yard field goal in the third quarter to put the Falcons on the board for the first time. The field goal is his 14th this season in 19 attempts which is the ninth most in a season in school history. Soderberg has kicked at least one field goal in every game this season.
• Junior FB Jared Tew rushed for a season-high 105 yards on 27 carries and scored on a 17-yard run. The touchdown is his fourth this season and first since the season opener vs. Nicholls State. The 100-plus yard game is the second of Tew's career, as he rushed for a career-best 149 yards vs. Houston in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl.
AIR FORCE FEATURES YOUNG TEAM IN 2009
Air Force is a young team. The Falcons have just 15 seniors on its 95-man roster. The team has 57 freshmen and sophomores which make up 60 percent of the roster. There are 42 sophomores and 15 freshmen on the roster. Air Force's two-deep depth chart features four freshmen and 19 sophomores.
Air Force has had 15 freshmen play this season which is the third most in the nation. Only Tulane (17) and Texas A&M (16) have played more rookies. The Falcons are one of just 23 schools in the nation to have two or more freshmen (Means, Lawal) start a game.
AIR FORCE FOURTH NATIONALLY WITH 201-GAME SCORING STREAK
- Air Force has scored in 201 consecutive games dating back to 1992.
- The Falcons were last shutout by Mississippi, 13-0, in the 1992 Liberty Bowl.
- Air Force's streak is the second-longest active streak of teams in the Mountain West Conference and the fourth longest in the country.
- Air Force's 201-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 13-3 in games when they have a player rush for 100 or more yards since 2007.
- The team's only losses came in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl vs. California, vs. No. 16/14 BYU and vs. Houston in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl.
2007
South Carolina State, W 34-3 (Kip McCarthy, 129); Utah, W 20-12 (Shaun Carney, 113); TCU, W 20-17 OT (Jim Ollis, 138); UNLV, W 31-14 (Chad Hall, 169); Colorado State, W 45-21 (Chad Hall, 256); Wyoming, W 20-12 (Chad Hall, 167); Army, W 30-10 (Chad Hall, 275); Notre Dame, W 41-24 (Chad Hall, 142); San Diego State, W 55-23 (Jim Ollis, 163; Chad Hall, 151; Ty Paffett, 105); California, L 36-42 (Shaun Carney, 108; Jim Ollis, 101).
2008
San Diego State, W 35-10 (Asher Clark, 109); UNLV, W 29-28 (Todd Newell, 134); Colorado State, W 38-17 (Asher Clark, 136); BYU, L 24-38 (Todd Newell, 116); Houston, L 28-34 (Jared Tew, 149).
2009
Wyoming, W 10-0 (Jared Tew, 105)
NOTES ON THE DEFENSE
- Air Force leads the MWC and ranks seventh nationally in scoring defense with an 11.9 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 10th nationally in total defense, allowing just 266.7 yards per game.
- Air Force is first in the conference and fourth nationally in passing defense with a 139.1 average.
- The unit has also allowed just 28-100 (28.0) third down conversions, including just nine in the second half this season. Four of the nine came vs. No. 10/9 TCU. Air Force ranks third in the MWC and sixth nationally in third-down defense.
- Air Force posted its first shutout over a MWC team with a 10-0 win over Wyoming. The shutout is the first vs. a conference opponent since winning at Colorado State, 24-0, in 1997. The shutout is the second for Air Force this season, as the team also shutout Nicholls State, 72-0, in the season opener. This season marks the first time since 1997 that Air Force has posted two shutouts in a season.
- Air Force has posted two first-half shutouts this season (Nicholls State, Wyoming). In addition, the defense has held two others opponents without touchdowns in the first half (Minnesota, San Diego State).
DEFENSE HAS SCORED FIVE TIMES
Air Force's defense has scored five touchdowns this season. The five touchdowns is the most in a single season in Air Force history. Wale Lawal scored on a 10-yard fumble return vs. Nicholls State while Jon Davis took an interception back 38 yards at New Mexico. Reggie Rembert and Anthony Wright each scored vs. San Diego State. Rembert scored on a 47-yard fumble return while Wright took an interception back 47 yards for a score. Wright added a 67-yard interception 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.
• Air Force held Wyoming to just 74 yards passing and recorded a season-high six sacks in the game.
AIR FORCE RETURN GAME SHINING
- The Falcons rank second in the MWC and 15th nationally in kickoff returns with a 25.8 average.
-- Reggie Rembert is averaging 28.2 yards per return
-- Jared Tew is averaging 26.2 yards per return
- Air Force is sixth in the conference and 50th nationally in punt returns with a 9.6 norm.
-- Reggie Rembert is averaging 6.6 yards per return
-- Anthony Wright is averaging 14.2 yards per return
BLOCKED KICKS
Air Force blocked its third kick this season when sophomore Zach Kauth blocked a field goal attempt in the second quarter vs. Wyoming. The Falcons also blocked a field goal vs. New Mexico (Ben Garland) and an extra point vs. San Diego State (Corbin Brown). Air Force's three blocked kicks are its most since blocking seven in 2006. Air Force has blocked at least one kick every year since 1990.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Air Force has out-rushed all seven opponents this season.
• The offense has had just four turnovers in seven games.
• The Falcons have scored in 21 of 28 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 431 times this season and all of them have come by players that return next season.
AIR FORCE TAKEAWAYS
- Air Force is a combined +40 in three seasons under head coach Troy Calhoun and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter.
- Air Force stands at +17 in turnover margin this season. The Falcons forced a season-high six turnovers vs. San Diego State and four vs. Nicholls State and New Mexico. The Falcons have forced two or more turnovers in five of seven games this season and 18 of the last 23 games overall.
- The team's +2.43 turnover margin average this season leads the nation.
- Air Force's 1.00 per-game turnover margin average last season ranked second in the conference and 11th nationally.
REMBERT RETURN GAME
Junior Reggie Rembert is Air Force's career leader in kickoff returns and KOR yardage with 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.
INDIVIDUAL QUICK HITS
QB Tim Jefferson - rushed for a career-best two TDs and threw for one vs. Nicholls State ... has a 125.90 passing efficiency mark this season and a 133.00 career mark ... did not play vs. San Diego State and TCU ... has an 8-5 career mark as a starter.
QB Connor Dietz - has played in six games, starting two (SDSU, TCU) ... 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 ... first-career touchdown pass at New Mexico ... first-career start vs. San Diego State, finishing with 64 yards on nine carries and hitting three of six passes for 51 yards.
RB Asher Clark - has led the team in rushing twice this season -- game-high 90 yards on 12 carries at Minnesota and 86 yards on 20 carries at New Mexico ... ranks ninth in the MWC in rushing with an average of 50.1 yards per game ... averages 5.2 yards per carry.
SPC Brandon Geyer - fourth in the MWC in punting with a 42.7 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 an 8.6 average ... leads the conference and is fourth nationally in field goals with 2.00 per-game ... fifth in the MWC in field goal percentage with a 73.7 mark and is tied for first in PATs at 1.000 (18-18) ... tied a school record with four field goals vs. San Diego State, including a career long from 48 yards ... has hit 14 of 19 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 262, 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 fifth in the conference in rushing with a 60.3 average ... career-best three rushing touchdowns vs. Nicholls State ... career-best three kickoff returns for a career-high 90 yards at Minnesota ... season-high 105 yards rushing and a touchdown vs. Wyoming ... matched his career high with 27 carries.
DB Anthony Wright, Jr. - third in the MWC and is 36th nationally in interceptions with a .43 average ... has three interceptions on the year and four in his career ... has returned two INTs for touchdowns, a 47-yard effort for his first-career score vs. SDSU and a 67-yard effort at Navy to mark his second straight game with a pick-six ... career-best seven tackles at Minnesota ... first interception of the season vs. New Mexico .... averaging 14.2 yards on six punt returns to lead the team, but doesn't have enough attempts to qualify for conference/national statistics.
DL Ben Garland - fourth in the MWC in sacks with a .64 average ... has had at least a half sack in six of the last nine games ... sixth in the MWC in tackles for loss with 1.00 ... has 27 tackles this season, including a season-best eight vs. TCU, and leads the team in tackles for loss with 7.0 ... blocked the first kick of his career, a field goal 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 seven games this season.
LB Andre Morris, Jr - third 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 ... missed the Wyoming game due to injury.
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 ... career-best 10 tackles, including eight unassisted, and his first sack of the season vs. Wyoming.
Myles Morales, DL - second on the team in tackles for loss with 5.5 and sacks with 3.5 ... three straight games with at least one TFL, including 2.0 for 12 yards vs. New Mexico ... has had a sack in three of his last four games ... 18 total tackles.
Justin Moore, LB - leads the team in tackles with 47, including 22 unassisted ... had a then-career-high 11 tackles at Navy ... new career-high of 12 tackles vs. TCU ... had sacks in each of the first two games of the season.
John Falgout, LB - played in seven games, starting the last three ... second on the team in tackles with 46, including 20 unassisted ... has averaged 10.3 tackles in his three 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.
- Ben Garland, Sr., DL - Named first-team all-MWC midseason by Phil Steele's Magazine.
- Anthony Wright, Jr. So., DB - Named first-team all-MWC midseason by Phil Steele's Magazine.
- Reggie Rembert, Jr., - Named MWC defensive player of the week vs. San Diego State ... named national defensive player of the week and defensive back of the week by College Football Performance vs. San Diego State ... named National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter player of the week vs. San Diego State.
- Erik Soderberg, So., SPC - Named honorable mention kicker of the week by College Football Performance Awards vs. San Diego State ... one of three Lou Groza National Placekicker "Stars of the Week" vs. San Diego State ... Named first-team all-MWC midseason by Phil Steele's Magazine
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
10 - Air Force improved to 10-1 all-time in Mountain West Conference openers dating back to 1999. Air Force is 4-1 at home and 6-0 on the road.
24 - Falcon Stadium was ranked 24th by The Sporting News in a poll this summer on college football most unique stadiums. The poll measured everything from pregame tailgate parties to the roar of the crowd. Air Force was the only school from the Mountain West Conference in the top 25.
27 - Air Force is one of just 27 schools that didn't have a coaching staff change in 2009. Every position coach and coordinator returned from the 2008 season.
72 - Air Force's 72 points vs. Nicholls State is the third most in school history and most since scoring 73 vs. New Mexico in 1987. The 72 points tie a Mountain West Conference record with New Mexico, who scored 72 points vs. Texas State in Aug. 30, 2003. The victory margin of 72 points (72-0) is a school record, breaking the previous mark of 69 (69-0) vs. Northern Colorado in 1984. The 72-point victory margin is also a Mountain West Conference record, breaking the mark of 64 set by New Mexico (72) vs. Texas State (8) in 2003.
45 - Air Force scored 45 points in the first half vs. Nicholls State which is a school record and is the third most in MWC history (40 by New Mexico vs. SDSU in 2008 and BYU vs. Tulane in 2001).
292 - Air Force has gone 291 straight games without a kickoff return for a touchdown, dating back to the Utah game on Oct. 26, 1985.
THIS AND THAT
- 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.
- 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.
MILLS NAMED NFF HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE FOR 2009
The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced last week the selection of five exceptional individuals as the best and the brightest in the country for their accomplishments as athletes, scholars and citizens in high school, naming them as the NFF National High School Scholar-Athletes for 2009. Air Force football freshman Gavin Mills was one of the five recipients. Mills is currently a member of the Falcon football junior varsity team.
Mills was one of five selected from 400,000 high school football players, chosen as the best of the best for their combined academic and athletic excellence in the country. He was a graduate of Powell High School in Powell, Wyo.
A team captain his junior and senior year, Mills earned first team all-state and all-conference honors for three consecutive years. In 2007, he was named the Class 4-A Defensive Player of the Year. As a wide receiver, Mills made 66 receptions for 905 yards and 17 touchdowns. As a free safety, 67 unassisted tackles, 103 assisted tackles, 11 pass break-ups, 11 pass interceptions and three fumble recoveries over his career.
The valedictorian of his class, Mills tallied a 4.0 GPA and scored 27 on his ACT. A three-year member of the National Honor Society, he claimed the Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Award and the Wyoming Coaches Association Academic Award all four years of his high school career.
An outstanding leader, Mills was student body president his senior year and class president his junior year. Active in his church he was a Sunday school teacher and member of the youth group music team. Mills also volunteered for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Heartland Assisted Living facility and the community food drive.
