Friday, November 26
USAFA
1:30 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
UNLV
GAME 12: Air Force (8-3, 5-2 MW) vs. UNLV (2-9, 2-5 MW)
11/22/2021 10:59:00 AM | Football
12.Air Force Football vs. UNLVDigital Game ProgramUNLV FB Week 12 at AFA2021 MWFB Weekly Release Week 13
Friday, Nov. 26, 1:30 p.m. MT, Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO
GAME 12: Air Force (8-3, 5-2 MW) vs. UNLV (2-9, 2-5 MW)
Friday, Nov. 26, 1:30 p.m. MT, Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO
BROADCAST INFORMATION
• Television: CBS Sports Network
John Sadak (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst)
• Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, CO; XM 391, Internet 981
Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
STORYLINES
• Air Force has 29 senior players, along with 14 managers, that will be participating in the final home game of their careers this week. The senior have helped Air Force to a 28-15 overall record and a 2019 Cheez-It Bowl victory over Washington State, 31-21.
• Air Force could win the MW Mountain Division with a win and losses by Utah State and Boise State both...Air Force could also win it with a win and Utah State loss at New Mexico, regardless of what Boise State does...the Falcons would own a two-way tie with Boise State based on a win at Boise State earlier this season...If there is a three-way tied with Air Force, Boise State and Utah State, the Falcons would win based on Air Force and Boise State having a better division record and Air Force beating Boise State earlier this season.
THE SERIES
• Air Force and UNLV meet for the 22nd time overall and 21st as conference foes
• Air Force leads the overall series, 15-6, and a 15-5 mark in conference games
• The Falcons are 8-2 at home and 7-4 at UNLV
• Air Force has won three straight overall
• Air Force defeated UNLV, 34-30, in 2017 in the last meeting in Falcon Stadium
• Air Force defeated UNLV, 41-35, in 2018 in the last meeting in Las Vegas
• The teams first played in 1981 in Las Vegas. UNLV won the game, 24-21
LAST MEETING
(Oct. 19, 2018) Air Force defeated UNLV, 41-35, to pick up its first conference win of the season and snap a four-game road losing streak. Junior quarterback Isaiah Sanders rolled up 390 yards of total offense to lead the Falcons. Sanders rushed for a season-high 173 yards and three touchdowns while hitting nine of 11 passes for a career-best 217 yards and a score. Sanders scored his third rushing touchdown to open the third quarter and give the Falcons the lead for good, 27-21. He then connecting on a career-long 69 yard touchdown pass to Ronald Cleveland to make it 34-21. Cole Fagan added a career-long 49 yard run for a touchdown to put Air Force in front, 41-21, with 5:45 left in the third. UNLV came back with a pair of scores, the last coming with 7:34 left to make it 41-35. Sophomore Jordan Jackson tipped a pass attempt on fourth down with UNLV deep in Air Force territory with 1:44 remaining. The offense ran out the clock from that point to secure the win. Air Force had a season bests of 572 total yards, 355 rushing yards and 217 yards passing. Cleveland chipped in with three catches for a career-best 100 yards. The defense was led by Jeremy Fejedelem, who had 13 tackles and an interception. Kyle Johnson added a career-best 12 tackles and Brody Bagnall had 10 with a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss. UNLV had 400 total yards. Max Gilliam led the way with 261 yards on 26-of-38 passing.
LAST TIME AT AIR FORCE
(Oct. 14, 2017) Air Force used the second-largest comeback in school history to defeat UNLV, 34-30, in Falcon Stadium. The Rebels controlled the game and raced out to a 27-0 lead with 3:28 remaining in the second quarter. Air Force finally got on the board with an Arion Worthman 14 yard touchdown run to cut the halftime deficit to 27-7. The Falcons turned the ball over on their first two possessions in the second half, but held UNLV to just a field goal and a 30-7 lead. Worthman scored four straight touchdowns to complete the comeback, the final on a one-yard run with 2:14 remaining. Air Force forced UNLV to turn the ball over on downs on the next possession to seal the win. The 27-point comeback is the second-largest in school history and largest since coming from 28 points (31-3 halftime) down at Fresno State in 1996. Worthman finished with a career-high 30 carries for a season-best 166 yards and a career-best five touchdowns, the second most in school history. Air Force finished with 473 total yards, including 401 rushing. UNLV had 411 total yards, but managed only 107 total yards in the second half. Armani Rogers led the Rebels with 148 yards and a touchdown rushing while completing 12 of 27 passes for 145 yards.
LOOKING AT UNLV
UNLV is 2-9 overall and 2-5 in the Mountain West ... The Rebels have won two of the last three with the only loss coming to San Diego State, 28-20, last week ... UNLV averages 21.4 points per game while allowing 31.4 ... Charles Williams leads UNLV in rushing and is second in the conference with an average of 102.2 per game ... Cameron Friel leads the team in passing, hitting 141-226 for 1,608 yards with six touchdowns and 11 interceptions ... UNLV's defense is led by Jacoby Windmon, who has 102 total tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 quarterback sacks ... UNLV is coached by Marcus Arroyo, who is in his second season.
AN AIR FORCE WIN WOULD
• Air Force would finish the regular season 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the MW
• Air Force would clinch at least a tie for MW Mountain Division title, it's second in program history and first since 2015
• Air Force would post its sixth season with nine wins under head coach Troy Calhoun
• Air Force would finish with six MW wins for the fourth time under head coach Troy Calhoun
• Air Force would improve to 16-6 all-time vs. UNLV, including a 16-5 mark in conference games
• Air Force would improve to 9-2 at home vs. UNLV
• Air Force would win its fourth straight overall and second straight at home vs. UNLV
• Air Force would improve to 4-2 this season at home, clinching the 12th winning season at home in Troy Calhoun's 15 seasons
• Air Force would improve to 66-23 under head coach Troy Calhoun at home
SENIORS FINAL HOME GAME
Air Force has 29 senior players, along with 14 managers, that will be participating in the final home game of their careers. The senior have helped Air Force to a 28-15 overall record and a 2019 Cheez-It Bowl victory over Washington State, 31-21. The group navigated through a difficult COVID period while maintaining the standard of excellence in the program.
AIR FORCE AT HOME
• Air Force is 65-23 in Falcon Stadium under head coach Troy Calhoun.
• Air Force had a school-record 15-game winning streak from 2014 to Oct. 22, 2016.
• Air Force went 20-4 at home from 2014-17, posting the most wins in a four-year span, breaking the record of 19 set from 1982-85 and 1998-2001 when the program went 19-4 those years.
• Air Force set a record for the best three-year run from 2014-16 with a 17-1 record, breaking the mark of 15-2 from 1983-85.
• The Falcons have finished undefeated at home just six times overall in school history, four coming under Calhoun.
LAST WEEK
Air Force defeated Nevada, 41-39, in triple overtime in Reno. Junior tailback DeAndre Hughes powered the Falcons with a career-high 221 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcon rolled up 499 total yards, including a season-high 476 rushing. Brad Roberts chipped in 117 yards and a touchdown while Haaziq Daniels added 59 yards. Nevada came from down 24-10 in the fourth quarter with a pair of Carson Strong touchdown passes to force overtime. Dane Kinamon scored in the first overtime, but Nevada matched. Both teams scored touchdowns and two-point conversions in the second overtime. Air Force scored on a Roberts one-yard run and Hughes added the conversion to force a third overtime. Daniels scored the two-pointer, then Camby Goff deflected Nevada's pass attempt to seal the win. Nevada finished with 369 total yards, including 340 yards passing and four touchdowns from Strong. Air Force's defense was led by junior Vince Sanford, who had six tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss, and senior Jordan Jackson, who had five tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss.
THE MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP BREAKDOWN
Air Force would represent the Mountain Division in the championship game if.....
• Air Force wins and Utah State and Boise State both lose
• Air Force wins and Utah State loses at New Mexico, regardless of what Boise State does...the Falcons would own a two-way tie with Boise State based on head-to-head results
• Air Force, Boise State and Utah State all win this week, which would create a three-way tie that the Falcons would win based on all three being 1-1 against each other, Air Force and Boise State having a better division record and Air Force beating Boise State earlier this season
Air Force could host the MW title game if...
• Fresno State wins the West Division, with head-to-head being the tiebreaker, since the two have not played, Air Force would host is the Falcons rank ahead of Fresno State in the composite computer rankings.
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN RUSHING FOR RECORD NINTH STRAIGHT WEEK
• Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 325.4 average...the Falcons are one of only two teams in the nation averaging over 300 yards
• This is a school-record ninth consecutive week the Falcons have led the nation, which breaks the record of eight set in weeks 1-8 in 2010
• Air Force has out-rushed its opponent in every game this season
• Air Force rushed for 400-plus yards three consecutive weeks, averaging 430.3 per game, earlier this season...Air Force rushed for 437 vs. Utah State, a season-high 446 vs. FAU and 408 vs. UNM
• Air Force won the national rushing title in 2020 with a 305.7 per-game average...the title is the second in program history and first since 2002
• Air Force has ranked among the nation's top 10 seven straight years and 33 of the last 34 overall.
2021 NCAA Rushing Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Air Force (MW) 325.4
2. Army (Ind.) 309.4
3. Kent State (MAC) 242.2
4. North Texas (C-USA) 236.6
5. Baylor (Big 12) 231.7
DEFENSE NOTES
• Air Force ranks in the top three of the MW and top 25 nationally in four categories
Category Stats MW NCAA
Scoring Defense 19.5 3rd 18th
Passing Defense 199.4 2nd 22nd
Rushing Defense 95.4 2nd 6th
Total Defense 294.7 1st 6th
• Air Force leads the MW and ranks fifth nationally in first down defense (165)
• Air Force is allowing just 17.9 points per game over the last two seasons
• Air Force has held 12 of the last 14 opponents to 21 points or less...the only two teams to score more than 21 are Utah State (49) and Nevada (39 in triple overtime) this season
• Air Force has held its opponent below 300 yards of total offense in six games...the Falcons have won five of the six games when doing so
Friday, Nov. 26, 1:30 p.m. MT, Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO
BROADCAST INFORMATION
• Television: CBS Sports Network
John Sadak (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst)
• Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, CO; XM 391, Internet 981
Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
STORYLINES
• Air Force has 29 senior players, along with 14 managers, that will be participating in the final home game of their careers this week. The senior have helped Air Force to a 28-15 overall record and a 2019 Cheez-It Bowl victory over Washington State, 31-21.
• Air Force could win the MW Mountain Division with a win and losses by Utah State and Boise State both...Air Force could also win it with a win and Utah State loss at New Mexico, regardless of what Boise State does...the Falcons would own a two-way tie with Boise State based on a win at Boise State earlier this season...If there is a three-way tied with Air Force, Boise State and Utah State, the Falcons would win based on Air Force and Boise State having a better division record and Air Force beating Boise State earlier this season.
THE SERIES
• Air Force and UNLV meet for the 22nd time overall and 21st as conference foes
• Air Force leads the overall series, 15-6, and a 15-5 mark in conference games
• The Falcons are 8-2 at home and 7-4 at UNLV
• Air Force has won three straight overall
• Air Force defeated UNLV, 34-30, in 2017 in the last meeting in Falcon Stadium
• Air Force defeated UNLV, 41-35, in 2018 in the last meeting in Las Vegas
• The teams first played in 1981 in Las Vegas. UNLV won the game, 24-21
LAST MEETING
(Oct. 19, 2018) Air Force defeated UNLV, 41-35, to pick up its first conference win of the season and snap a four-game road losing streak. Junior quarterback Isaiah Sanders rolled up 390 yards of total offense to lead the Falcons. Sanders rushed for a season-high 173 yards and three touchdowns while hitting nine of 11 passes for a career-best 217 yards and a score. Sanders scored his third rushing touchdown to open the third quarter and give the Falcons the lead for good, 27-21. He then connecting on a career-long 69 yard touchdown pass to Ronald Cleveland to make it 34-21. Cole Fagan added a career-long 49 yard run for a touchdown to put Air Force in front, 41-21, with 5:45 left in the third. UNLV came back with a pair of scores, the last coming with 7:34 left to make it 41-35. Sophomore Jordan Jackson tipped a pass attempt on fourth down with UNLV deep in Air Force territory with 1:44 remaining. The offense ran out the clock from that point to secure the win. Air Force had a season bests of 572 total yards, 355 rushing yards and 217 yards passing. Cleveland chipped in with three catches for a career-best 100 yards. The defense was led by Jeremy Fejedelem, who had 13 tackles and an interception. Kyle Johnson added a career-best 12 tackles and Brody Bagnall had 10 with a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss. UNLV had 400 total yards. Max Gilliam led the way with 261 yards on 26-of-38 passing.
LAST TIME AT AIR FORCE
(Oct. 14, 2017) Air Force used the second-largest comeback in school history to defeat UNLV, 34-30, in Falcon Stadium. The Rebels controlled the game and raced out to a 27-0 lead with 3:28 remaining in the second quarter. Air Force finally got on the board with an Arion Worthman 14 yard touchdown run to cut the halftime deficit to 27-7. The Falcons turned the ball over on their first two possessions in the second half, but held UNLV to just a field goal and a 30-7 lead. Worthman scored four straight touchdowns to complete the comeback, the final on a one-yard run with 2:14 remaining. Air Force forced UNLV to turn the ball over on downs on the next possession to seal the win. The 27-point comeback is the second-largest in school history and largest since coming from 28 points (31-3 halftime) down at Fresno State in 1996. Worthman finished with a career-high 30 carries for a season-best 166 yards and a career-best five touchdowns, the second most in school history. Air Force finished with 473 total yards, including 401 rushing. UNLV had 411 total yards, but managed only 107 total yards in the second half. Armani Rogers led the Rebels with 148 yards and a touchdown rushing while completing 12 of 27 passes for 145 yards.
LOOKING AT UNLV
UNLV is 2-9 overall and 2-5 in the Mountain West ... The Rebels have won two of the last three with the only loss coming to San Diego State, 28-20, last week ... UNLV averages 21.4 points per game while allowing 31.4 ... Charles Williams leads UNLV in rushing and is second in the conference with an average of 102.2 per game ... Cameron Friel leads the team in passing, hitting 141-226 for 1,608 yards with six touchdowns and 11 interceptions ... UNLV's defense is led by Jacoby Windmon, who has 102 total tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 quarterback sacks ... UNLV is coached by Marcus Arroyo, who is in his second season.
AN AIR FORCE WIN WOULD
• Air Force would finish the regular season 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the MW
• Air Force would clinch at least a tie for MW Mountain Division title, it's second in program history and first since 2015
• Air Force would post its sixth season with nine wins under head coach Troy Calhoun
• Air Force would finish with six MW wins for the fourth time under head coach Troy Calhoun
• Air Force would improve to 16-6 all-time vs. UNLV, including a 16-5 mark in conference games
• Air Force would improve to 9-2 at home vs. UNLV
• Air Force would win its fourth straight overall and second straight at home vs. UNLV
• Air Force would improve to 4-2 this season at home, clinching the 12th winning season at home in Troy Calhoun's 15 seasons
• Air Force would improve to 66-23 under head coach Troy Calhoun at home
SENIORS FINAL HOME GAME
Air Force has 29 senior players, along with 14 managers, that will be participating in the final home game of their careers. The senior have helped Air Force to a 28-15 overall record and a 2019 Cheez-It Bowl victory over Washington State, 31-21. The group navigated through a difficult COVID period while maintaining the standard of excellence in the program.
AIR FORCE AT HOME
• Air Force is 65-23 in Falcon Stadium under head coach Troy Calhoun.
• Air Force had a school-record 15-game winning streak from 2014 to Oct. 22, 2016.
• Air Force went 20-4 at home from 2014-17, posting the most wins in a four-year span, breaking the record of 19 set from 1982-85 and 1998-2001 when the program went 19-4 those years.
• Air Force set a record for the best three-year run from 2014-16 with a 17-1 record, breaking the mark of 15-2 from 1983-85.
• The Falcons have finished undefeated at home just six times overall in school history, four coming under Calhoun.
LAST WEEK
Air Force defeated Nevada, 41-39, in triple overtime in Reno. Junior tailback DeAndre Hughes powered the Falcons with a career-high 221 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcon rolled up 499 total yards, including a season-high 476 rushing. Brad Roberts chipped in 117 yards and a touchdown while Haaziq Daniels added 59 yards. Nevada came from down 24-10 in the fourth quarter with a pair of Carson Strong touchdown passes to force overtime. Dane Kinamon scored in the first overtime, but Nevada matched. Both teams scored touchdowns and two-point conversions in the second overtime. Air Force scored on a Roberts one-yard run and Hughes added the conversion to force a third overtime. Daniels scored the two-pointer, then Camby Goff deflected Nevada's pass attempt to seal the win. Nevada finished with 369 total yards, including 340 yards passing and four touchdowns from Strong. Air Force's defense was led by junior Vince Sanford, who had six tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss, and senior Jordan Jackson, who had five tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss.
THE MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP BREAKDOWN
Air Force would represent the Mountain Division in the championship game if.....
• Air Force wins and Utah State and Boise State both lose
• Air Force wins and Utah State loses at New Mexico, regardless of what Boise State does...the Falcons would own a two-way tie with Boise State based on head-to-head results
• Air Force, Boise State and Utah State all win this week, which would create a three-way tie that the Falcons would win based on all three being 1-1 against each other, Air Force and Boise State having a better division record and Air Force beating Boise State earlier this season
Air Force could host the MW title game if...
• Fresno State wins the West Division, with head-to-head being the tiebreaker, since the two have not played, Air Force would host is the Falcons rank ahead of Fresno State in the composite computer rankings.
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN RUSHING FOR RECORD NINTH STRAIGHT WEEK
• Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 325.4 average...the Falcons are one of only two teams in the nation averaging over 300 yards
• This is a school-record ninth consecutive week the Falcons have led the nation, which breaks the record of eight set in weeks 1-8 in 2010
• Air Force has out-rushed its opponent in every game this season
• Air Force rushed for 400-plus yards three consecutive weeks, averaging 430.3 per game, earlier this season...Air Force rushed for 437 vs. Utah State, a season-high 446 vs. FAU and 408 vs. UNM
• Air Force won the national rushing title in 2020 with a 305.7 per-game average...the title is the second in program history and first since 2002
• Air Force has ranked among the nation's top 10 seven straight years and 33 of the last 34 overall.
2021 NCAA Rushing Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Air Force (MW) 325.4
2. Army (Ind.) 309.4
3. Kent State (MAC) 242.2
4. North Texas (C-USA) 236.6
5. Baylor (Big 12) 231.7
DEFENSE NOTES
• Air Force ranks in the top three of the MW and top 25 nationally in four categories
Category Stats MW NCAA
Scoring Defense 19.5 3rd 18th
Passing Defense 199.4 2nd 22nd
Rushing Defense 95.4 2nd 6th
Total Defense 294.7 1st 6th
• Air Force leads the MW and ranks fifth nationally in first down defense (165)
• Air Force is allowing just 17.9 points per game over the last two seasons
• Air Force has held 12 of the last 14 opponents to 21 points or less...the only two teams to score more than 21 are Utah State (49) and Nevada (39 in triple overtime) this season
• Air Force has held its opponent below 300 yards of total offense in six games...the Falcons have won five of the six games when doing so
Players Mentioned
ILB
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QB
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DB
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WR
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DT
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ILB
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WR
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OLB
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QB
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