Air Force Hosts UNLV In Home Finale
11/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 9, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Air Force (6-4, 4-2) vs. UNLV (4-6, 2-4)
Saturday, Nov. 14, 4 p.m. MT
Falcon Stadium (46,692), USAF Academy, CO
TELEVISION
The Mountain West Sports Network (The Mtn)
James Bates (play-by-play); Todd Christensen (analyst); Natalie Vickers (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 (6-4, 4-2 MWC), UNLV (4-6, 2-4 MWC)
Streaks: Air Force (W 2), UNLV (W 1)
Next week: Air Force (at BYU), UNLV (IDLE)
Last week: Air Force (W 35-7 vs. Army), UNLV (W 35-16 vs. Colorado State)
Website: Air Force (goairforcefalcons.com), UNLV (unlvrebels.com)
THE COACHES
- Air Force: Troy Calhoun (Air Force, 1989) has a 23-13 record in his third season at Air Force. Calhoun is 15-7 vs. the Mountain West, 13-4 at home, 9-7 in road games, 1-2 in neutral site games, 8-6 in non-conference games and 2-0 vs. UNLV.
- UNLV: Mike Sanford (USC, 1978) is in his fifth year at UNLV. Sanford has guided the Rebels to a 15-42 career mark.
- This week's game is the final home game for 15 seniors. The group will be honored prior to the game.
- Air Force leads the overall series 10-4, including a 5-1 mark at home and a 5-3 road mark. The Falcons have won two straight and six of the last seven games in the series. Air Force has won three straight at home since a 34-10 UNLV win in 2001, including a 31-14 victory in 2007. The Falcons defeated UNLV, 29-28, last season in Las Vegas.
- Air Force and UNLV each won home games last week. The Falcons defeated service academy rival Army, 35-7, while UNLV beat Colorado State, 35-16.
- Air Force is 13-4 at home over the last three seasons which is the fourth-best three-year run in school history and best since 1998-2000 when the team was 14-3.
- Air Force is bowl-eligible for the third straight year under head coach Troy Calhoun, who is only the second coach in school history to have his team bowl-eligible in his first three years. This season is the first time since 2003 that Air Force has been bowl-eligible three consecutive years. If the Falcons are selected for a bowl game this season, it would mark the first time since 1990-92 the team appeared in a bowl game three straight years.
THIS IS AIR FORCE FOOTBALL
- Air Force has an all-time record of 326-273-13 in its 54th season of varsity football. The Falcons are 176-113-3 at home and 150-160-10 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 41-39 as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The team is 24-16 at home and 17-23 on the road. The Falcons are 72-58 overall since joining the MWC in 1999, including marks of 41-24 at home, 27-30 on the road, 4-4 in neutral site games and 2-2 in bowls.
THE SERIES
Air Force and UNLV meet for the 15th time overall and 14th time as conference foes. Air Force holds a 10-4 overall lead a 10-3 mark in conference games. Air Force is 5-1 at home and 5-3 on the road.
The Falcons have won two straight and six of the last seven games in the series. Air Force has won three straight at home since a 34-10 UNLV win in 2001, including a 31-14 victory in 2007. The Falcons defeated UNLV, 29-28, last season in Las Vegas.
Year by Year 1981 - UNLV 24-21 (A) 1996 - AFA 65-17 (A) 1997 - AFA 25-24 (H) 1998 - AFA 52-10 (A) 1999 - AFA 35-16 (H) 2000 - UNLV 34-13 (A) 2001 - UNLV 34-10 (H) 2002 - AFA 49-32 (A) 2003 - AFA 24-7 (H) 2004 - AFA 27-10 (A) 2005 - AFA 42-7 (H) 2006 - UNLV 42-39 (A) 2007 - AFA 31-14 (H) 2008 - AFA 29-28 (A)
CAREER STATISTICS VS. ARMY
Rushing (Att-Yds-TDs): Savier Stephens (1g, 1-6-0), Tim Jefferson (1g, 13-99-0), Asher Clark (1g, 20-65-0), Kyle Halderman (1g, 1-14-0), Jonathan Warzeka (1g, 1-7-0).
Passing (C-A-Int-Yds-TD): Tim Jefferson (1g, 6-7-0-162-2).
Receiving (#-Yds-TD): Sean Quintana (2g, 2-24-0), Josh Cousins (1g, 2-35-1), Kyle Halderman (1g, 1-44-1).
Tackles (UT-AT-TOT): Chris Thomas (3 g, 10-7-17), Ben Garland (2g, 4-5-9), Rick Ricketts (2g, 1-4-5), Reggie Rembert (2g, 5-1-6), Ken Lamendola (1g, 3-1-4), Anthony Wright (1g, 2-1-3), Justin Moore (1g, 2-1-3), Luke Hyder (1g, 2-0-2), Andre Morris, Jr. (1g, 1-1-2), Patrick Hennessey (1g, 0-1-1), John Falgout (1g, 0-1-1).
LAST YEAR
Air Force senior kicker Ryan Harrison kicked a 19-yard field goal with 2:36 remaining to propel Air Force past UNLV, 29-28, at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
Harrison's heroics were set up by a 17-play, 91-yard drive that took 7:03 of the clock and was engineered by freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson, who hit three-of-three passes for 31 yards and rushed four times for 11 yards on the drive.
Air Force opened the scoring with a Todd Newell 52-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The Falcons extended the lead to 14-0 with a Jefferson 28-yard touchdown strike to Josh Cousins early in the second quarter.
UNLV answered with a C.J. Cox five-yard run to cut the lead to 14-7. Harrison kicked the first of his career-high-tying three field goals to make it 17-7, but UNLV scored on an Omar Clayton to Phillip Payne 28-yard touchdown with just 14 seconds left in the half to make it 17-14 at halftime.
Harrison added another field goal to extend the lead to 20-14 midway through the third quarter. UNLV countered with a Clayton to Casey Flair nine-yard touchdown pass to take its first lead of the game, 21-20. The Rebels extended the lead to 28-20 with a Frank Summers 45-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter. Air Force answered on its next drive when Jefferson hit Kyle Halderman with a 44-yard touchdown pass with 13:47 remaining. Following a UNLV punt to put the Falcons on their own eight yard line, the Falcons mounted the game-winning drive.
Jefferson finished the game with a career-best 99 yards rushing and hit six of seven passes for a career-best 162 yards and the first two touchdown passes of his career. Newell added a career-best 134 yards rushing and Asher Clark chipped in with 65 yards on 20 carries. Air Force rolled up 508 total yards, including 346 rushing.
UNLV finished with 404 total yards, including 251 passing. The Rebels were led by Clayton, who hit 19 of 30 passes for 251 yards and two scores. Summers finished with 69 yards rushing while Cox added 60.
HOME SWEET HOME
Air Force is 13-4 over the last three seasons which is the fourth best mark in a three-year span in school history and best since 1998-2000 when the team was 14-3. The best three-year run in school history came from 1983-85 when the Falcons were 15-2. Air Force is 4-1 this season. The Falcons were 3-3 last year and 6-0 in 2007 which is just the third undefeated home mark in school history.
PLAYING BEST WHEN IT MATTERS MOST
Air Force is 12-4 under head coach Troy Calhoun in games during the second half of the season (last six games), including a 3-1 mark this year. 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.
LAST WEEK
Air Force defeated service academy rival Army, 35-7, in Falcon Stadium. Anthony Wright opened the scoring with an 88-yard punt return to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead. Army answered with a Trent Steelman 42-yard run to tie the score at 7-7 at halftime. The second half was all-Falcons, as the team out-scored Army 28-0. Asher Clark scored on two touchdown runs while Tim Jefferson ran and passed for scores, including a 73-yard scoring strike to Kevin Fogler. Fullback Jared Tew led the offense with 102 yards while Clark added 82. Jefferson hit four of seven passes for 131 yards while Fogler hauled in three catches for a career-best 129 yards. John Falgout and Justin Moore led the defense with 14 and 11 tackles, respectively.
LAST WEEK'S GAME NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force uses game captains. The captains for the Army game were Ben Garland, Ryan Gonzales, Brandon Geyer and Nick Charles.
• Air Force improved to 30-13-1 all-time vs. Army, including an 18-3 mark at home and a 27-11 mark in Commander-in-Chief's Trophy games. The Falcons have won four straight and 12 of the last 13 games against the Black Knights.
• Air Force improved to 49-27 all-time in Commander-in-Chief's Trophy games, including a 1-1 mark this season.
• Air Force's punt-return touchdown (Anthony Wright, 88 yards) is its sixth non-offensive touchdown of the season. The Falcons have also scored on three interception returns and two fumble returns.
• The crowd of 46,212 is a season high and the most since 46,339 attended the Navy game on Oct. 4 of last season.
• Air Force forced a punt on Army's opening drive of the second half. The Falcons have allowed the opponent just one score on its opening drive of the second half all season, a touchdown by Utah. Air Force has forced six punts, recorded an interception, a fumble and forced a turnover on downs in the other nine games.
Individual Notes
• Sophomore DB/PR Anthony Wright became the first Falcon to return a punt for a touchdown since Matt Farmer vs. New Mexico on Oct. 5, 1998. Wright's 88-yard return is the second-longest in school history and longest since Mike Quinlan set the school record with 92 yards vs. Colorado in 1960. Wright finished the game with 125 punt return yards on three returns which is the second most yards in a single game in Air Force history and the most since Chip Hough had 179 vs. SMU in 1971. He averaged 41.7 yards per return which is the second in school history and best since Hough had a 59.7 average vs. SMU in 1971.
• Sophomore RB Asher Clark scored the team's first offensive touchdown of the game on a 36-yard run. The touchdown run is his first this season. Clark also moved into a tie for 31st on the career rushing list with 1,129 yards. He is tied with Blane Morgan (1996-98). Clark moved past Bill Berry (1971-73), who had 1,074 yards and Curtis Martin (1968-70), who had 1,091 yards.
• Senior LB John Falgout recorded 14 tackles vs. Army to mark the fourth time in his six starts this season that he's had double figures in tackles. His 14 tackles are a career high. His previous high was 13 vs. Navy earlier this season.
• Sophomore SPC Erik Soderberg missed a career-long field goal attempt of 59 yards. The miss snapped a streak of seven consecutive made field goals by Soderberg.
• Sophomore QB Tim Jefferson and junior WR Kevin Fogler connected on a 73-yard touchdown pass to give Air Force a 21-7 lead in the third quarter. The reception is the longest of Fogler's career and the second-longest of Jefferson's. Fogler's previous long catch was 53 yards vs. Navy last season.
• Sophomore QB Tim Jefferson threw for 131 yards to mark his second straight game and fourth this season with 100 or more yards passing. Jefferson also connected on the second-longest completion of his career with a 73-yard strike for a touchdown.
• Junior FB Jared Tew rushed for 102 yards on 25 carries. His 102 yards rushing marks his second 100-yard game this season (105 vs. Wyoming) and third of his career (149 vs. Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl last season). Tew has 982 career rushing yards.
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 16 freshmen on the roster. Air Force's two-deep depth chart features three freshmen and 17 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 35 schools in the nation to have two or more freshmen (Means, Lawal) start a game.
100 YARD RUSHERS UNDER CALHOUN
- Air Force is 14-3 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); Army, W 35-7 (Jared Tew, 102).
BLOCKED KICKS
Air Force has blocked three kicks this season, two field goals and an extra point. Senior Ben Garland blocked a field goal vs. New Mexico while sophomore Zach Kauth blocked a field goal vs. Wyoming. Freshman Corbin Brown blocked an extra point vs. San Diego State. The 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 FOURTH NATIONALLY WITH 204-GAME SCORING STREAK
- Air Force has scored in 204 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 204-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.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
- The Falcons rank second in the conference and seventh nationally in total defense, allowing just 263.7 yards per game.
- Air Force leads the nation in passing defense with a 127.2 average.
- The unit has also allowed just 42-142 (29.6) third down conversions which ranks third in the conference and sixth eighth in nation.
- 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).
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 SCORING DEFENSE
- Air Force is second in the MWC and ninth nationally in scoring defense with a 12.9 average.
- Air Force has allowed more than 20 points just once this season, at No. 19 Utah in a 23-16 loss in overtime.
- Air Force's 12.9 points per game allowed ranks as the sixth best in school history and is the best since the 1997 team allowed 12.4.
- Air Force has had five shutouts since the inception of the MWC in 1999, which ranks third in conference history.
AIR FORCE TAKEAWAYS
- Air Force is a combined +42 in three seasons under head coach Troy Calhoun and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter.
- Air Force stands at +19 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 six of eight games this season and 19 of the last 25 games overall.
- The team's +1.80 turnover margin average this season ranks second in the nation.
- Air Force's 1.00 per-game turnover margin average last season ranked second in the conference and 11th nationally.
AIR FORCE HAS SIX NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
Air Force has scored six non-offensive touchdowns this season, including a school-record five defensive touchdowns. The team has scored two touchdowns on fumble returns, three on interception returns and on a punt return. Junior Anthony Wright has three of the scores, two on interception returns and a punt return.
• Wale Lawal -- 10-yard fumble return vs. Nicholls State
• Jon Davis -- 38-yard interception at New Mexico
• Reggie Rembert -- 47-yard fumble return vs. San Diego State
• Anthony Wright -- 47-yard interception return vs. San Diego State
• Anthony Wright -- 67-yard interception return vs. Navy
• Anthony Wright -- 88-yard punt return vs. Army
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Air Force has averaged 34.5 points per game the last two games.
• The Falcons have averaged 121.0 yards passing the last two games, including a season-best 131 yards vs. Army last week.
• Air Force has averaged over 5.4 and 5.0 yards per play, respectively, the last two games.
• Air Force has scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half in two straight games.
• Air Force has out-rushed eight of nine opponents this season.
• The offense has had just six turnovers in 10 games.
• Air Force is second in the MWC and 16th nationally in time of possession with a 32:07 mark.
• The Falcons have scored in 31 of 40 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 565 times this season and all of them have come by players that return next season.
REMBERT RETURN GAME
Junior Reggie Rembert is Air Force's career leader in kickoff returns and KOR yardage with 64 for 1,373 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 third in return yards. Please see charts on page nine for complete list of leaders.
GEYER NAMED MWC SPECIAL TEAMS POW
Senior SPC Brandon Geyer was named the MWC special teams player of the week vs. Army. Geyer punted six times for 289 yards (48.2 avg.) in Air Force's 35-7 win over service academy rival Army. In addition to hitting a career-long punt of 71 yards, the senior from Bay City, Mich., also booted the third-longest punt of his career, good for 63 yards. Geyer had one punt downed inside the 20 and finished with a career-best net punting average of 46.7, allowing only one nine-yard return on the day.
INDIVIDUAL QUICK HITS
QB Tim Jefferson - has averaged 121 yards on 11-of-18 passing with three touchdowns the last two games ... hit 4-7 passes for a season-high 131 yards and a 73-yard TD pass vs. Army last week ... hit 7-12 passes for 111 yards and matched his career high with two touchdown passes at Colorado State ... has a 153.37 passing efficiency mark this season and has thrown for five TDs and just one interception ... has a 144.16 career passing efficiency mark ... did not play vs. San Diego State, TCU and Utah ... has a 10-5 career record as a starter.
QB Connor Dietz - has played in seven games, starting three (SDSU, TCU, Utah) ... missed the last two games due to injury ... fourth on the team in rushing (52.7 ypg) ... led the team with career highs of 28 carries for 98 yards at Utah ... lead the team 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.
RB Asher Clark - second on the team and seventh in the MWC in rushing with 541 yards and two touchdowns ... has averaged 78.5 yards rushing the last two games (23 carries, 157 yds) ... 13 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns last week vs. Army, including a season-long 36-yard run for a touchdown ... 10 carries for 75 yards at Colorado State ... averages 5.1 yards per carry ... 31st in AF history in career rushing yards with 1,129 ... became the 35th player in school history to hit the 1,000-yard mark for his career earlier this season.
SPC Brandon Geyer - third, his highest ranking this season, in the MWC and 24th nationally in punting with a 43.1 average ... earned MWC player of the week honors vs. Army while averaging 48.2 yards on six punts, including a 46.7 net average ... had a career-long 71 yard punt and a 63 yard punt vs. Army ... 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 ... averaged 41.7 yards per punt vs. Utah with three inside the 20.
SPC Erik Soderberg - leads the MWC in scoring with an 8.3 average ... leads the conference and is third nationally in field goals with 1.90 per-game ... 19 made field goals is tied as the second most in school history ... third in the MWC in field goal percentage with a 76.0 mark ... tied a school record with four field goals vs. San Diego State, including a long from 48 yards ... hit three field goals at Utah, including a 48-yard boot to force overtime ... two field goals, including a career-long 50-yard kick at Colorado State ... has hit 19 of 25 field goals this season ... just one miss, a career-long 59-yard effort, in his last eight attempts ... also handles kickoff duties.
DB Chris Thomas - missed the New Mexico game due to injury ... Air Force's active career leader in tackles with 276 and pass breakups with 19 ... 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 ... matched his season high with eight tackles at Colorado State.
FB Jared Tew - ranks fourth in the conference in rushing with a 65.4 average ... two games with 100-plus rushing yards this season and three in his career ... rushed for 102 yards on 25 carries vs. Army ... season-high 105 yards and a score on a career-best 27 carries vs. Wyoming ... has averaged 94.5 yards rushing the last two games (45 carries, 189 yds) ... career-best three rushing touchdowns vs. Nicholls State ... career-best three kickoff returns for a career-high 90 yards at Minnesota ... rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown at Colorado State.
DB Anthony Wright, Jr. - eighth in the MWC in interceptions with a .30 average ... has three interceptions on the year and four in his career ... has three touchdowns this season ... has returned two INTs for touchdowns, a 47-yard effort for his first-career score vs. SDSU and a 67-yard effort at Navy ... career-best seven tackles at Minnesota ... first interception of the season vs. New Mexico .... recorded an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown to became the first Falcon to return a punt for a touchdown since Matt Farmer vs. New Mexico in 1998 ... his 88-yard return is the second-longest in school history and longest since Mike Quinlan set the school record of 92 yards vs. Colorado in 1960 ... Wright finished the Army game with 125 punt return yards on three returns which is the second most yards in a single game in Air Force history and the most since Chip Hough had 179 vs. SMU in 1971 ... he averaged 41.7 yards per return which is the second in school history and best since Hough had a 59.7 average vs. SMU in 1971.
DL Ben Garland - sixth in the MWC in sacks with a .45 average ... eighth in the MWC in tackles for loss with .90 ... at least one TFL in eight of 10 games this season ... Air Force's active career leader in tackles for loss with 19.0 ... season-best eight tackles vs. TCU ... blocked the first kick of his career, a field goal vs. New Mexico.
WR Jonathan Warzeka - second on the team in receptions with 13 and receiving yards with 180 ... 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 ... has scored a touchdown three ways (pass, rush, receiving) this season ... one of just 10 players in the nation to rushing, pass and catch a TD this season.
WR Kyle Halderman - missed the first six games of the season recovering from injury ... returned to the lineup vs. Wyoming ... matched his career high with three catches at Utah, good for 54 yards ... also had three carries for 14 yards ... rushed for 22 yards and a touchdown and caught an eight-yard touchdown pass at Colorado State.
WR Kevin Fogler - leads the team in receptions with 17 and receiving yards with 397 ... three catches for a career-high 129 yards vs. Army to record his first-career 100-yard game ... caught a career-long 73-yard touchdown pass vs. Army ... three straight games with a touchdown catch earlier this season ... has caught a touchdown pass in five of 10 games this season ... two catches for 41 yards at Colorado State.
LB Andre Morris, Jr - third on the team in tackles for loss with 5.5 ... fourth in the MWC in FF with .22 and second in FR with .22 ... 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 ... matched his career high with nine tackles at Utah ... also had a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
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 ... six tackles at Utah ... also recorded his first-career sack, first-career fumble recovery and first-career punt return, good for 35 yards.
Reggie Rembert, DB - leads the team and ranks fourth in the MWC in KORs with a 25.8 average ... fourth in the conference in punt returns with a 5.8 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 ... school's career leader and ranks fifth in KOR and third in KOR yards in MWC history with 64 returns for 1,373 yards ... leads the team and is tied for second in the conference in interceptions with three (.43 average per game) ... leads the conference in FR with .25 and is second in FF with .25.
Myles Morales, DL - second on the team in tackles for loss with 8.5 and sacks with 3.5 ... three straight games with at least one TFL, including 2.0 for 12 yards vs. New Mexico, earlier this season ... six tackles, including two for losses, and a pass breakup at Colorado State ... six tackles and a TFL vs. Army.
Justin Moore, LB - second on the team in tackles with 64, including 28 unassisted ... had a then-career-high 11 tackles at Navy ... new career high of 12 tackles vs. TCU ... had 11 tackles and a TFL vs. Army ... had sacks in each of the first two games of the season.
John Falgout, LB - played in every game, starting the last six ... leads the team in tackles with 80, including a team-high 32 unassisted ... double figures in tackles in four of his six starts ... has averaged 11.1 tackles per game in the six starts ... had a then-career-best and team-high 13 tackles at Navy ... team-best 11 tackles vs. TCU, eight vs. Wyoming, a team-high 11 at Utah and a team-best nine at Colorado State ... career-high 14 tackles vs. Army.
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 ... national punt returner of the week by College Football Performance Awards vs. Army.
- 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 ... named honorable mention place kicker of the week vs. Utah by College Football Performance Awards.
- Brandon Geyer, Sr., SPC - Names honorable mention national punter of the week by College Football Performance Awards vs. Army ... MWC special teams player of the week vs. Army.
- Gavin Mills, Fr., JV Team - Named one of five National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) National High School Scholar-Athletes for 2009.
THIS AND THAT
- Freshman LB 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 won its 17th Ram-Falcon Trophy with a 34-16 win at Colorado State earlier this season. The Falcons have won 17 trophies compared to 13 for Colorado State.
- Air Force is 7-3 in conference games in the month of October over the last three seasons, including a 2-2 mark this season. 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.
- Air Force is 5-4 overall and 4-2 in conference overtime games.
