Saturday, September 22
Logan, UT
8:15 PM
Air Force Academy
at
Utah State
Air Force travels to Logan, Utah, to take on Utah State
9/17/2018 8:53:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Sept. 22, 8:15 p.m. MT, Maverik Stadium (ESPN2)
Air Force @ Utah State
Saturday, Sept. 22, 8:15 p.m. ET, Maverik Stadium (25,100)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television: ESPN2
Roy Philpott (play-by-play); Tom Ramsey (analyst)
Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, CO; The Fan 104.3 in Denver
SIRIUS 121, SM 384, Internet 978
Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Category Air Force Utah State
Record:....................... 1-1 (0-0 MW)................................... 2-1 (0-0 MW)
Streak:........................ L 1 ................................................................ W 2
Last Week:.................. OPEN....................... W 73-12 vs. Tennessee Tech
Next Week:................. vs. Nevada (9/29)....................................... OPEN
Conference:................ Mountain West........................... Mountain West
Location:..................... Colorado Springs, CO............................ Logan, UT
Athletic Website:........ GoAirForceFalcons.com...... UtahStateAggies.com
THE COACHES
Category Air Force Utah State
Head Coach:................ Troy Calhoun...................................... Matt Wells
Alma Mater (Year):...... Air Force, 1989........................... Utah State, 1996
Career Record:............ 83-61 (12th year)......................... 36-33 (6th year)
Record at School:......... Same.......................................................... Same
Record vs. Opponent:.. 3-2................................................................. 2-3
STORYLINES
• This week's game is the Mountain West opener for both schools
• Air Force and Utah State are playing for the seventh time overall and sixth as conference foes
• The Falcons lead the series, 4-2, overall and hold a 3-2 advantage in conference games
Air Force is 3-1 at home and 1-1 at Utah State
• Air Force is 13-6 in Mountain West openers, including a 6-2 mark on the road
THE SERIES
• Air Force and Utah State are playing for the seventh time overall and sixth as conference foes
• The Falcons lead the series, 4-2, overall and hold a 3-2 advantage in conference games
• Air Force is 3-1 at home and 1-1 at Utah State
• Air Force has won three straight overall, all decided by one score
• Air Force defeated Utah State, 27-20, in 2016 in the last meeting in Logan, Utah
• Air Force beat Utah State, 38-35, last season in Falcon Stadium
• Utah State's last win in the series came in 2014 in Logan, Utah, 34-16
• The teams first played Nov. 8, 1969 in Falcon Stadium resulting in a 38-13 Air Force win in the only non-conference game in the series
Year by Year
1969 - AFA 38-13 (H)
2013 - USU 52-20 (H)
2014 - USU 34-16 (A)
2015 - AFA 35-28 (H)
2016 - AFA 27-20 (A)
2017 - AFA 38-35 (H)
(H/A) is for AFA
LAST YEAR VS. UTAH STATE
A second half surge lifted Air Force to a 38-35 come-from-behind victory in the home finale against Utah State at Falcon Stadium. In his debut as a starter, quarterback Isaiah Sanders rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns on a school-record 44 carries to lead the Falcons.
The teams exchanged scores in the first half and Utah State led, 21-17, at the half. Sanders opened the second half with a TD run to put the Falcons in front for the first time. The teams exchanged scores in the second half until Sanders put Air Force ahead for good with his third TD run with 1:38 remaining. Air Force had 440 total yards, including 407 rushing, while Utah State had 521 total yards. Fullback Jacob Stafford chipped in with 112 yards rushing for Air Force while the defense was led by Grant Ross with nine tackles. Gerold Bright led Utah State with 102 yards rushing while Jordan Love hit 17 of 30 passes for 284 yards.
Air Force senior PK Luke Strebel became Air Force's all-time leading scorer with 254 career points after scoring eight points in the game. Strebel surpassed the previous record of 252 held by Beau Morgan (1994-96) and Dee Dowis (1986-89). Strebel finished his career a perfect 131-of-131 on PATs and 41-of-48 on field goal attempts, good for a .854 percentage, ranking second all-time at Air Force.
LAST TIME AT UTAH STATE
(Sept 24, 2016) Air Force defeated Utah State, 27-20, in Logan, Utah, in the Mountain West opener for both schools. Luke Strebel got the Falcons on the board with first-quarter field goal. Utah State scored 10 unanswered points to take a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter. The Falcons responded with a Tyler Williams four-yard touchdown run to tie it and Nate Romine and Ryan Reffitt hooked up on a 12-yard touchdown connection to give the Falcons a 17-10 halftime lead. The Aggies added a fourth quarter field goal to cut the lead to 17-13 before Jacobi Owens scored on a one-yard run and Luke Strebel added a field goal in the final five minutes to put the Falcons up 27-13. Utah State scored a late touchdown to make up the final margin. The Falcons had 326 total yards. The defense was led by Grant Ross, who had 10 tackles, and Weston Steelhammer added nine. Haji Dunn chipped in with seven tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Dunn had the defensive play of the game with a sack, forced and recovered fumble to set up Owens' fourth-quarter TD run to make it a two-score game.
CONFERENCE OPENERS
• Air Force is 13-6 in Mountain West openers dating back to 1999
• The Falcons are 7-4 at home and 6-2 on the road
• Air Force is 1-1 vs. Utah State in conference openers (2016, 2013)
• Air Force defeated Utah State, 27-20, in Logan, Utah, in 2016 and lost 52-20 at home in 2013
• Air Force is 2-5 in its last seven MW openers, winning back-to-back openers in 2015-16
• Air Force won a Mountain West-record 11 straight openers from 2000-10
• The Falcons are 25-13 all-time in conference openers dating back to 1980
• Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun is 6-5 in conference openers
Air Force Mountain West Openers
Year Opponent Result
2018 at Utah State
2017 San Diego State L 24-28
2016 at Utah State W 27-20
2015 San Jose State W 37-16
2014 at Wyoming L 13-17
2013 Utah State L 20-52
2012 at UNLV L 35-38
2011 TCU L 19-35
2010 BYU W 35-14
2009 at New Mexico W 37-13
2008 at Wyoming W 23-3
2007 at Utah W 20-12
2006 at Wyoming W 31-24
2005 San Diego State W 41-29
2004 at UNLV W 27-10
2003 Wyoming W 35-29
2002 New Mexico W 38-31 OT
2001 San Diego State W 45-21
2000 BYU W 32-12
1999 Wyoming L 7-10
HEAD COACHES AT ALMA MATERS
Air Force's Troy Calhoun and Utah State's Matt Wells are two of 22 coaches nationally leading their alma mater. Calhoun and Wells are two of the five in the Mountain West, including Bryan Harsin of Boise State, Nick Rolovich of Hawaii and Fresno State's Jeff Tedford.
AIR FORCE FOLLOWING AN OPEN WEEK
Air Force is 4-6 overall and 2-2 in conference games under head coach Troy Calhoun following an open week. The Falcons are 2-3 at home and 2-3 on the road. The Falcons lost, 29-13, last season at Michigan following the only open week. Air Force's last win came at Utah State, 27-20, following the 2016 open week.
AN AIR FORCE WIN.....
• Air Force would improve to 2-1 overall, including a 1-1 road record.
• Air Force would win its fourth straight in the series vs. Utah State, including its second straight on the road
• Air Force would improve to 5-2 overall vs. Utah State, including a 4-2 mark in conference games. The Falcons would improve to 2-1 at Utah State
• Air Force would improve to 14-6 all-time in Mountain West openers, including winning three of the last four.
• The Falcons would post its second straight win in a Mountain West road opener, both coming vs. Utah State (2016)
• Air Force would improve to 5-6 overall and 3-2 in Mountain West games following an open week under head coach Troy Calhoun
• Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun would improve to 84-61 overall in his 12th season, including a 50-38 record in MW contests. The coach would improve to 4-2 all-time vs. Utah State.
LAST GAME
Air Force nearly pulled off a comeback at Florida Atlantic, but the Owls made an interception in the final minute to secure a 33-27 win at FAU Stadium. FAU jumped to a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter before taking a 20-7 halftime lead. Quarterback Isaiah Sanders and tight end Kade Waguespack connect for the first touchdown pass and catch of their careers to cut the lead to 19-14. Following an FAU score, Taven Birdow scored on a touchdown run to cut the lead to 25-20. Following another FAU score, Garrett Kauppila gave the Falcons life with a blocked punt the Lakota Wills returned for a touchdown with 50 seconds remaining. Air Force recovered an onside kick to take possession, but the late interception ended the comeback bid. The Falcons finished with 373 total yards and were led by fullback Cole Fagan, who rushed for 80 yards in his first-career start. Sanders added 34 yards rushing and hit 8-13 passes for 164 yards and a score. Kauppila led the defense with nine tackles. Chris Robison led FAU with 471 yards passing and three touchdowns on 33-of-40 passing.
Saturday, Sept. 22, 8:15 p.m. ET, Maverik Stadium (25,100)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television: ESPN2
Roy Philpott (play-by-play); Tom Ramsey (analyst)
Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, CO; The Fan 104.3 in Denver
SIRIUS 121, SM 384, Internet 978
Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Category Air Force Utah State
Record:....................... 1-1 (0-0 MW)................................... 2-1 (0-0 MW)
Streak:........................ L 1 ................................................................ W 2
Last Week:.................. OPEN....................... W 73-12 vs. Tennessee Tech
Next Week:................. vs. Nevada (9/29)....................................... OPEN
Conference:................ Mountain West........................... Mountain West
Location:..................... Colorado Springs, CO............................ Logan, UT
Athletic Website:........ GoAirForceFalcons.com...... UtahStateAggies.com
THE COACHES
Category Air Force Utah State
Head Coach:................ Troy Calhoun...................................... Matt Wells
Alma Mater (Year):...... Air Force, 1989........................... Utah State, 1996
Career Record:............ 83-61 (12th year)......................... 36-33 (6th year)
Record at School:......... Same.......................................................... Same
Record vs. Opponent:.. 3-2................................................................. 2-3
STORYLINES
• This week's game is the Mountain West opener for both schools
• Air Force and Utah State are playing for the seventh time overall and sixth as conference foes
• The Falcons lead the series, 4-2, overall and hold a 3-2 advantage in conference games
Air Force is 3-1 at home and 1-1 at Utah State
• Air Force is 13-6 in Mountain West openers, including a 6-2 mark on the road
THE SERIES
• Air Force and Utah State are playing for the seventh time overall and sixth as conference foes
• The Falcons lead the series, 4-2, overall and hold a 3-2 advantage in conference games
• Air Force is 3-1 at home and 1-1 at Utah State
• Air Force has won three straight overall, all decided by one score
• Air Force defeated Utah State, 27-20, in 2016 in the last meeting in Logan, Utah
• Air Force beat Utah State, 38-35, last season in Falcon Stadium
• Utah State's last win in the series came in 2014 in Logan, Utah, 34-16
• The teams first played Nov. 8, 1969 in Falcon Stadium resulting in a 38-13 Air Force win in the only non-conference game in the series
Year by Year
1969 - AFA 38-13 (H)
2013 - USU 52-20 (H)
2014 - USU 34-16 (A)
2015 - AFA 35-28 (H)
2016 - AFA 27-20 (A)
2017 - AFA 38-35 (H)
(H/A) is for AFA
LAST YEAR VS. UTAH STATE
A second half surge lifted Air Force to a 38-35 come-from-behind victory in the home finale against Utah State at Falcon Stadium. In his debut as a starter, quarterback Isaiah Sanders rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns on a school-record 44 carries to lead the Falcons.
The teams exchanged scores in the first half and Utah State led, 21-17, at the half. Sanders opened the second half with a TD run to put the Falcons in front for the first time. The teams exchanged scores in the second half until Sanders put Air Force ahead for good with his third TD run with 1:38 remaining. Air Force had 440 total yards, including 407 rushing, while Utah State had 521 total yards. Fullback Jacob Stafford chipped in with 112 yards rushing for Air Force while the defense was led by Grant Ross with nine tackles. Gerold Bright led Utah State with 102 yards rushing while Jordan Love hit 17 of 30 passes for 284 yards.
Air Force senior PK Luke Strebel became Air Force's all-time leading scorer with 254 career points after scoring eight points in the game. Strebel surpassed the previous record of 252 held by Beau Morgan (1994-96) and Dee Dowis (1986-89). Strebel finished his career a perfect 131-of-131 on PATs and 41-of-48 on field goal attempts, good for a .854 percentage, ranking second all-time at Air Force.
LAST TIME AT UTAH STATE
(Sept 24, 2016) Air Force defeated Utah State, 27-20, in Logan, Utah, in the Mountain West opener for both schools. Luke Strebel got the Falcons on the board with first-quarter field goal. Utah State scored 10 unanswered points to take a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter. The Falcons responded with a Tyler Williams four-yard touchdown run to tie it and Nate Romine and Ryan Reffitt hooked up on a 12-yard touchdown connection to give the Falcons a 17-10 halftime lead. The Aggies added a fourth quarter field goal to cut the lead to 17-13 before Jacobi Owens scored on a one-yard run and Luke Strebel added a field goal in the final five minutes to put the Falcons up 27-13. Utah State scored a late touchdown to make up the final margin. The Falcons had 326 total yards. The defense was led by Grant Ross, who had 10 tackles, and Weston Steelhammer added nine. Haji Dunn chipped in with seven tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Dunn had the defensive play of the game with a sack, forced and recovered fumble to set up Owens' fourth-quarter TD run to make it a two-score game.
CONFERENCE OPENERS
• Air Force is 13-6 in Mountain West openers dating back to 1999
• The Falcons are 7-4 at home and 6-2 on the road
• Air Force is 1-1 vs. Utah State in conference openers (2016, 2013)
• Air Force defeated Utah State, 27-20, in Logan, Utah, in 2016 and lost 52-20 at home in 2013
• Air Force is 2-5 in its last seven MW openers, winning back-to-back openers in 2015-16
• Air Force won a Mountain West-record 11 straight openers from 2000-10
• The Falcons are 25-13 all-time in conference openers dating back to 1980
• Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun is 6-5 in conference openers
Air Force Mountain West Openers
Year Opponent Result
2018 at Utah State
2017 San Diego State L 24-28
2016 at Utah State W 27-20
2015 San Jose State W 37-16
2014 at Wyoming L 13-17
2013 Utah State L 20-52
2012 at UNLV L 35-38
2011 TCU L 19-35
2010 BYU W 35-14
2009 at New Mexico W 37-13
2008 at Wyoming W 23-3
2007 at Utah W 20-12
2006 at Wyoming W 31-24
2005 San Diego State W 41-29
2004 at UNLV W 27-10
2003 Wyoming W 35-29
2002 New Mexico W 38-31 OT
2001 San Diego State W 45-21
2000 BYU W 32-12
1999 Wyoming L 7-10
HEAD COACHES AT ALMA MATERS
Air Force's Troy Calhoun and Utah State's Matt Wells are two of 22 coaches nationally leading their alma mater. Calhoun and Wells are two of the five in the Mountain West, including Bryan Harsin of Boise State, Nick Rolovich of Hawaii and Fresno State's Jeff Tedford.
AIR FORCE FOLLOWING AN OPEN WEEK
Air Force is 4-6 overall and 2-2 in conference games under head coach Troy Calhoun following an open week. The Falcons are 2-3 at home and 2-3 on the road. The Falcons lost, 29-13, last season at Michigan following the only open week. Air Force's last win came at Utah State, 27-20, following the 2016 open week.
AN AIR FORCE WIN.....
• Air Force would improve to 2-1 overall, including a 1-1 road record.
• Air Force would win its fourth straight in the series vs. Utah State, including its second straight on the road
• Air Force would improve to 5-2 overall vs. Utah State, including a 4-2 mark in conference games. The Falcons would improve to 2-1 at Utah State
• Air Force would improve to 14-6 all-time in Mountain West openers, including winning three of the last four.
• The Falcons would post its second straight win in a Mountain West road opener, both coming vs. Utah State (2016)
• Air Force would improve to 5-6 overall and 3-2 in Mountain West games following an open week under head coach Troy Calhoun
• Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun would improve to 84-61 overall in his 12th season, including a 50-38 record in MW contests. The coach would improve to 4-2 all-time vs. Utah State.
LAST GAME
Air Force nearly pulled off a comeback at Florida Atlantic, but the Owls made an interception in the final minute to secure a 33-27 win at FAU Stadium. FAU jumped to a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter before taking a 20-7 halftime lead. Quarterback Isaiah Sanders and tight end Kade Waguespack connect for the first touchdown pass and catch of their careers to cut the lead to 19-14. Following an FAU score, Taven Birdow scored on a touchdown run to cut the lead to 25-20. Following another FAU score, Garrett Kauppila gave the Falcons life with a blocked punt the Lakota Wills returned for a touchdown with 50 seconds remaining. Air Force recovered an onside kick to take possession, but the late interception ended the comeback bid. The Falcons finished with 373 total yards and were led by fullback Cole Fagan, who rushed for 80 yards in his first-career start. Sanders added 34 yards rushing and hit 8-13 passes for 164 yards and a score. Kauppila led the defense with nine tackles. Chris Robison led FAU with 471 yards passing and three touchdowns on 33-of-40 passing.
Players Mentioned
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DB
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QB
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QB
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