Game 13: #24/24 Air Force (10-2, 7-1 MW) vs. Washington State (6-6, 3-6 Pac-12)
12/9/2019 9:46:00 AM | Football
Cheez-It Bowl, Friday, Dec. 27, 8:15 p.m. MT, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Digital Bowl Guide
Game 13: #24/24 Air Force (10-2, 7-1 MW) vs. Washington State (6-6, 3-6 Pac-12)
Cheez-It Bowl, Friday, Dec. 27, 8:15 p.m. MT, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television: ESPN
Clay Matvick (play-by-play)
Ryan Leaf (analyst)
Olivia Dekker (reporter)
Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs
The Fan 104.3 in Denver
American Forces Network (AFN)
Jim Arthur (play-by-play)
Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
National Radio: ESPN
Mark Neely (ply-by-play)
Tom Ramsey (analyst)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Category Air Force Washington State
Nickname:................... Falcons Cougars
Location:..................... Colorado Springs, CO Pullman, WA
Athletic Website:........ GoAirForceFalcons.com WSUCougars.com
Record:....................... 10-2 (7-1 MW Mtn/2nd) 6-6 (3-6 Pac-12 North/5th)
Current Streak:............ W 7 L 1
Head Coach:................ Troy Calhoun Mike Leach
Alma Mater (Year):... Air Force, 1989 BYU, 1983
Career Record:.......... 97-69 (13th year) 139-89 (18th year)
Record at School:...... Same 55-46 (8th year)
STORYLINES
• Air Force is playing in its 27th bowl game. The Falcons have earned a bowl bid 10 times in head coach Troy Calhoun's 13 seasons. Air Force has an 12-13-1 all-time bowl record, including a 4-5 mark under Calhoun
• This season marks the first since 1998 that Air Force is nationally ranked heading into the bowl season...the Falcons are ranked 24th in both polls
BOWL HISTORY
Air Force is playing in its 27th bowl game. The Falcons have earned a bowl bid 10 times in head coach Troy Calhoun's 13 seasons. Air Force has an 12-13-1 all-time bowl record, including a 4-5 mark under Calhoun.
BOWL FACTS
• This is Air Force's first appearance in the Cheez-It Bowl...the Falcons did play in the Copper Bowl in 1995, falling to Texas Tech, 55-41
• Air Force is playing a Pac-12 team in a bowl for the first time since taking on California in the 2015 Armed Forces Bowl
• Air Force is 1-4 all-time in bowl games vs. the Pac-12 with the lone win coming over Washington, 45-25, in the 1998 O'ahu Bowl
• This season marks Air Force's second straight bowl game in Arizona, as the Falcons defeated South Alabama, 45-21, in the 2016 Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
• Air Force will be playing a Power 5 team for the second time this season, both coming against Pac-12 teams...The Falcons defeated Colorado, 30-23, in overtime in Boulder
• This season marks the first since 1998 that Air Force is nationally ranked heading into the bowl season...The Falcons are ranked 24th in both polls
BOWL / ARIZONA TIES
• Air Force senior NG Mosese Fifita's younger brother, Ma'ake, is a freshman offensive lineman at Washington State...they are from Snohomish, Wash.
• Air Force has eight players from the state of Arizona on the roster
3 - Milton Bugg III, CB, 6-0, 175, Jr., Gilbert, AZ (Williams Field)
8 - DeAndre Hughes, WR, 5-8, 162, So., Phoenix, AZ (Tempe)
16 - Corvan Taylor, FS, 6-2, 200, So., Gilbert, AZ (Gilbert)
35 - Christopher Musselman, ILB, 6-2, 220, Sr., San Tan Valley, AZ (Poston Butte)
36 - Caleb Humphrey, OLB, 6-3, 186, So., Casa Grande, AZ (Desert Vista)
48 - Jake Ksiazek, OLB, 6-2, 230, Sr., Tucson, AZ (Tucson Salpointe Catholic)
75 - Colin Marquez, OG, 6-3, 280, Sr., Mesa, AZ (Red Mountain)
88 - Kyle Patterson, TE, 6-6, 245, Fr., Gilbert, AZ (Perry)
THE SERIES
• Air Force and Washington State are meeting for the first time.
AIR FORCE VS. PAC-12
• Air Force is playing its 50th game against a team from the Pac-12, including its second this season
• The Falcons are 19-28-2 all-time against the Pac-12
• Air Force defeated Colorado, 30-23, in overtime earlier this season (Sept. 14)
• Air Force's last meeting in a bowl against a team from the Pac-12 came in 2015 vs. California in the Armed Forces Bowl, resulting in a 55-36 Cal win
Air Force vs. the Pac-12 (Conference members at the time of game)
Team G W-L-T Last Meeting
Arizona State 1 0-1-0 1987
California 9 2-7-0 2015
Colorado 1 1-0-0 2019
Oregon 13 4-8-1 1997
Stanford 7 3-4-0 1970
UCLA 11 4-6-1 1976
Washington 7 5-2-0 2005
Total 49 19-28-2 2015
AIR FORCE VS. POWER FIVE
Air Force is 4-9 against Power Five teams in the regular season since 2003. The Falcons are 0-2 at home and 4-7 on the road/neutral. Air Force is 2-7 under head coach Troy Calhoun with the wins coming at Notre Dame, 41-24, in 2007 and at Colorado, 30-23, in overtime earlier this season. A closer look at the most recent games follows.
Year Team Result
2019 at Colorado W 30-23 OT
2017 at #7 Michigan L 13-29
2015 at #4 Michigan St. L 21-35
2013 vs. Notre Dame L 10-45
2012 at #19 Michigan L 25-31
2011 at Notre Dame L 33-59
2010 at #7 Oklahoma L 24-27
2009 at Minnesota L 13-20
2007 at Notre Dame W 41-24
2006 at #11 Tennessee L 30-31
2005 vs. Washington (N) W 20-17
2004 vs. #13 California L 14-56
2003 at Northwestern W 22-21
AIR FORCE VS. NON-CONFERENCE FOES UNDER CALHOUN
Air Force is 38-25 against non-conference opponents under head coach Troy Calhoun, including a 3-1 mark this season. The Falcons are 25-4 at home, 8-16 on the road and 5-5 in neutral site games. Air Force defeated Colgate, 48-7, Aug. 31 in Falcon Stadium in the season opener. The Falcons won at Colorado, 30-23, in overtime Sept. 14 and lost at Navy, 34-25, Oct. 5. The Falcons defeated Army, 17-13, Nov. 2 in Falcon Stadium.
AN AIR FORCE WIN WOULD.....
• Air Force would finish the season 11-2 overall which would be the third-most wins in school history, trailing only the 12-1 marks in 1985 and 1998
• Air Force would win its eight consecutive game, which would tie as the fourth-longest win streak in school history
• Air Force would win its second straight bowl game and third in the last four
• Air Force would improve to 13-13-1 all-time in bowl, including a 5-5 mark under head coach Troy Calhoun
• Air Force would improve to 20-28-2 vs. the Pac-12 Conference
• Air Force would win its second straight game vs. a Power 5 team
• Air Force would improve to 4-1 this season vs. non-conference opponents
• The Falcons would improve to 39-25 under head coach Troy Calhoun against non-conference opponents, including a 6-5 mark in neutral site games
AIR FORCE LAST TIME OUT
Air Force defeated Wyoming, 20-6, in Falcon Stadium in the regular season finale for both teams. The win snapped a three-game Wyoming winning streak in the series and gave Air Force its first 10-win regular season since 1998. Donald Hammond III rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown and hit 5-6 passes for 121 yards and the game-clinching 75 yard touchdown pass to Ben Waters. Hammond's touchdown run gave Air Force a 7-0 halftime lead. Jake Koehnke added a field goal in the third to make it 10-0. The Cowboys got on the board with a Cooper Rothe field goal to make it 10-3. Koehnke added his second field goal to make it 13-3 before Rothe hit another one to cut the lead to 13-6 with 2:23 to play. Hammond connected with Waters on the next drive to make up the final margin. Air Force had a season-low 305 total yards, including 162 rushing, but held Wyoming to just 225 total yards. Kadin Remsberg added a team-high 63 yards rushing while Waters had three catches for 100 yards. The defense was led by Jeremy Fejedelem, who had 10 tackles and a career-best two interceptions. Demonte Meeks added 10 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Game 13: #24/24 Air Force (10-2, 7-1 MW) vs. Washington State (6-6, 3-6 Pac-12)
Cheez-It Bowl, Friday, Dec. 27, 8:15 p.m. MT, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television: ESPN
Clay Matvick (play-by-play)
Ryan Leaf (analyst)
Olivia Dekker (reporter)
Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs
The Fan 104.3 in Denver
American Forces Network (AFN)
Jim Arthur (play-by-play)
Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
National Radio: ESPN
Mark Neely (ply-by-play)
Tom Ramsey (analyst)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Category Air Force Washington State
Nickname:................... Falcons Cougars
Location:..................... Colorado Springs, CO Pullman, WA
Athletic Website:........ GoAirForceFalcons.com WSUCougars.com
Record:....................... 10-2 (7-1 MW Mtn/2nd) 6-6 (3-6 Pac-12 North/5th)
Current Streak:............ W 7 L 1
Head Coach:................ Troy Calhoun Mike Leach
Alma Mater (Year):... Air Force, 1989 BYU, 1983
Career Record:.......... 97-69 (13th year) 139-89 (18th year)
Record at School:...... Same 55-46 (8th year)
STORYLINES
• Air Force is playing in its 27th bowl game. The Falcons have earned a bowl bid 10 times in head coach Troy Calhoun's 13 seasons. Air Force has an 12-13-1 all-time bowl record, including a 4-5 mark under Calhoun
• This season marks the first since 1998 that Air Force is nationally ranked heading into the bowl season...the Falcons are ranked 24th in both polls
BOWL HISTORY
Air Force is playing in its 27th bowl game. The Falcons have earned a bowl bid 10 times in head coach Troy Calhoun's 13 seasons. Air Force has an 12-13-1 all-time bowl record, including a 4-5 mark under Calhoun.
BOWL FACTS
• This is Air Force's first appearance in the Cheez-It Bowl...the Falcons did play in the Copper Bowl in 1995, falling to Texas Tech, 55-41
• Air Force is playing a Pac-12 team in a bowl for the first time since taking on California in the 2015 Armed Forces Bowl
• Air Force is 1-4 all-time in bowl games vs. the Pac-12 with the lone win coming over Washington, 45-25, in the 1998 O'ahu Bowl
• This season marks Air Force's second straight bowl game in Arizona, as the Falcons defeated South Alabama, 45-21, in the 2016 Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
• Air Force will be playing a Power 5 team for the second time this season, both coming against Pac-12 teams...The Falcons defeated Colorado, 30-23, in overtime in Boulder
• This season marks the first since 1998 that Air Force is nationally ranked heading into the bowl season...The Falcons are ranked 24th in both polls
BOWL / ARIZONA TIES
• Air Force senior NG Mosese Fifita's younger brother, Ma'ake, is a freshman offensive lineman at Washington State...they are from Snohomish, Wash.
• Air Force has eight players from the state of Arizona on the roster
3 - Milton Bugg III, CB, 6-0, 175, Jr., Gilbert, AZ (Williams Field)
8 - DeAndre Hughes, WR, 5-8, 162, So., Phoenix, AZ (Tempe)
16 - Corvan Taylor, FS, 6-2, 200, So., Gilbert, AZ (Gilbert)
35 - Christopher Musselman, ILB, 6-2, 220, Sr., San Tan Valley, AZ (Poston Butte)
36 - Caleb Humphrey, OLB, 6-3, 186, So., Casa Grande, AZ (Desert Vista)
48 - Jake Ksiazek, OLB, 6-2, 230, Sr., Tucson, AZ (Tucson Salpointe Catholic)
75 - Colin Marquez, OG, 6-3, 280, Sr., Mesa, AZ (Red Mountain)
88 - Kyle Patterson, TE, 6-6, 245, Fr., Gilbert, AZ (Perry)
THE SERIES
• Air Force and Washington State are meeting for the first time.
AIR FORCE VS. PAC-12
• Air Force is playing its 50th game against a team from the Pac-12, including its second this season
• The Falcons are 19-28-2 all-time against the Pac-12
• Air Force defeated Colorado, 30-23, in overtime earlier this season (Sept. 14)
• Air Force's last meeting in a bowl against a team from the Pac-12 came in 2015 vs. California in the Armed Forces Bowl, resulting in a 55-36 Cal win
Air Force vs. the Pac-12 (Conference members at the time of game)
Team G W-L-T Last Meeting
Arizona State 1 0-1-0 1987
California 9 2-7-0 2015
Colorado 1 1-0-0 2019
Oregon 13 4-8-1 1997
Stanford 7 3-4-0 1970
UCLA 11 4-6-1 1976
Washington 7 5-2-0 2005
Total 49 19-28-2 2015
AIR FORCE VS. POWER FIVE
Air Force is 4-9 against Power Five teams in the regular season since 2003. The Falcons are 0-2 at home and 4-7 on the road/neutral. Air Force is 2-7 under head coach Troy Calhoun with the wins coming at Notre Dame, 41-24, in 2007 and at Colorado, 30-23, in overtime earlier this season. A closer look at the most recent games follows.
Year Team Result
2019 at Colorado W 30-23 OT
2017 at #7 Michigan L 13-29
2015 at #4 Michigan St. L 21-35
2013 vs. Notre Dame L 10-45
2012 at #19 Michigan L 25-31
2011 at Notre Dame L 33-59
2010 at #7 Oklahoma L 24-27
2009 at Minnesota L 13-20
2007 at Notre Dame W 41-24
2006 at #11 Tennessee L 30-31
2005 vs. Washington (N) W 20-17
2004 vs. #13 California L 14-56
2003 at Northwestern W 22-21
AIR FORCE VS. NON-CONFERENCE FOES UNDER CALHOUN
Air Force is 38-25 against non-conference opponents under head coach Troy Calhoun, including a 3-1 mark this season. The Falcons are 25-4 at home, 8-16 on the road and 5-5 in neutral site games. Air Force defeated Colgate, 48-7, Aug. 31 in Falcon Stadium in the season opener. The Falcons won at Colorado, 30-23, in overtime Sept. 14 and lost at Navy, 34-25, Oct. 5. The Falcons defeated Army, 17-13, Nov. 2 in Falcon Stadium.
AN AIR FORCE WIN WOULD.....
• Air Force would finish the season 11-2 overall which would be the third-most wins in school history, trailing only the 12-1 marks in 1985 and 1998
• Air Force would win its eight consecutive game, which would tie as the fourth-longest win streak in school history
• Air Force would win its second straight bowl game and third in the last four
• Air Force would improve to 13-13-1 all-time in bowl, including a 5-5 mark under head coach Troy Calhoun
• Air Force would improve to 20-28-2 vs. the Pac-12 Conference
• Air Force would win its second straight game vs. a Power 5 team
• Air Force would improve to 4-1 this season vs. non-conference opponents
• The Falcons would improve to 39-25 under head coach Troy Calhoun against non-conference opponents, including a 6-5 mark in neutral site games
AIR FORCE LAST TIME OUT
Air Force defeated Wyoming, 20-6, in Falcon Stadium in the regular season finale for both teams. The win snapped a three-game Wyoming winning streak in the series and gave Air Force its first 10-win regular season since 1998. Donald Hammond III rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown and hit 5-6 passes for 121 yards and the game-clinching 75 yard touchdown pass to Ben Waters. Hammond's touchdown run gave Air Force a 7-0 halftime lead. Jake Koehnke added a field goal in the third to make it 10-0. The Cowboys got on the board with a Cooper Rothe field goal to make it 10-3. Koehnke added his second field goal to make it 13-3 before Rothe hit another one to cut the lead to 13-6 with 2:23 to play. Hammond connected with Waters on the next drive to make up the final margin. Air Force had a season-low 305 total yards, including 162 rushing, but held Wyoming to just 225 total yards. Kadin Remsberg added a team-high 63 yards rushing while Waters had three catches for 100 yards. The defense was led by Jeremy Fejedelem, who had 10 tackles and a career-best two interceptions. Demonte Meeks added 10 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Players Mentioned
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