Saturday, October 2
Albuquerque, NM
4:30 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
New Mexico
Photo by: U.S. Air Force photo by Justin R
GAME 5: Air Force (3-1, 0-1) at New Mexico (2-2, 0-0)
9/27/2021 8:37:00 AM | Football
05.Air Force Football Release vs. New MexicoGame Notes 05 Air Force2021 MWFB Weekly Release Week 5Digital Game Program
Saturday, Oct. 2, 4:30 p.m. MT, Albuquerque, NM
GAME 5: Air Force (3-1, 0-1) at New Mexico (2-2, 0-0)
Saturday, Oct. 2, 4:30 p.m. MT, Albuquerque, NM
BROADCAST INFORMATION
• Television: FS2
Dan Hellie (play-by-play), Robert Smith (analyst)
• Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, CO; XM 385, Internet 975
Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
STORYLINES
• Air Force leads the New Mexico series, 23-14, and has a 19-12 advantage in conference games...Air Force is 13-3 at home, 10-10 at New Mexico and 0-1 in neutral site games.
• Air Force defeated UNM, 44-22, the last time the two played in Albuquerque.
• Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 357.2 average...the Falcons rushed for a season-high 446 yards vs. Florida Atlantic and the team has averaged 441.5 yards the last two games.
• Air Force has held six of the last seven opponents under 20 points scored...Air Force is third in the MW and 34th nationally in scoring defense allowing just 18.2 points per game.
• Air Force has forced a punt on the opponent's opening drive of the game in all four games this season.
THE SERIES
• Air Force leads the series, 23-14, and has a 19-12 advantage in conference games.
• Air Force is 13-3 at home, 10-10 at New Mexico and 0-1 in neutral site games.
• Air Force has won three straight overall following a three-game streak by New Mexico.
• Air Force defeated UNM, 44-22, last season in Albuquerque.
• Air Force defeated UNM, 42-24, in 2018 in Falcon Stadium to snap a three-game losing streak to the Lobos...UNM had won four of the last six overall in the series.
• Prior to the UNM run, Air Force had won five straight and eight of nine.
• The teams first played in 1957 in Colorado Springs...Air Force won the game, 31-0.
LAST SEASON
(Nov. 20, 2020) Air Force defeated New Mexico, 28-0, to snap a two-game losing streak. The shutout was the first for Air Force since 2018 and first against a conference opponent since 2011. The Falcons scored on their first three drives with Haaziq Daniels capping the opening drive with a four-yard scoring run. Brad Roberts added a pair of touchdown runs in the second quarter to give Air Force a 21-0 halftime lead. Following a mistake-filled third quarter that saw Air Force fumble three times and New Mexico miss three field goals, Roberts sealed the game with a 44-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter to make up the final margin. Air Force had 422 total yards, including 356 rushing while converting 9-13 third downs. Roberts led the Falcons with career highs of 28 carries, 177 yards and three touchdowns. New Mexico had 304 total yards, including 221 passing. Johnathan Youngblood led the Air Force defense with eight tackles.
LAST TIME AT NEW MEXICO
(Nov. 23, 2019) Air Force defeated New Mexico, 44-22, to snap a three-game losing streak to the Lobos. The Falcons took a 14-10 halftime lead behind touchdown runs from Donald Hammond III and Taven Birdow. Air Force exploded in the second half behind the passing of Hammond. The Falcons extended the lead to 30-16 behind a pair of Hammond touchdown passes. He added two more early in the fourth quarter to put the Falcons in front, 44-16, before the Lobos added a touchdown in the final minutes to make up the final margin. Hammond hit 9-10 passes for a career-high 327 yards, the fifth most in Air Force history and most since 1976. He threw for a career-best four touchdowns, two each to Geraud Sanders and Ben Waters. Sanders finished with five catches for 156 yards and Waters had four catches for 171 yards. They became the first duo with over 100 yards each since 2004. The Falcons had 540 yards of total offense while holding New Mexico to 358. Demonte Meeks led the defense with a career-best 14 tackles.
LOOKING AT NEW MEXICO
New Mexico has lost two straight after opening the season 2-0 ... UTEP defeated New Mexico, 20-13, last week in Texas ... New Mexico averages 18.5 points per game while allowing 24.0 ... Tavian Combs leads the Lobos with 32 total tackles and has two interceptions ... Jerrick Reed II is second in tackles with 28 ... Aaron Dumas leads the team in rushing with a 48.0 per-game average ... Terry Wilson, Jr., leads the team in passing, hitting 74-126 for 752 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions ... Luke Wyson leads the team in receiving with 14 catches for 101 yards ... Manny Logan-Greene has 12 catches for a team-best 132 yards and a touchdown.
AN AIR FORCE WIN WOULD
• Air Force would improve to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in Mountain West play
• Air Force would improve to 2-0 in road games this season
• Air Force would improve to 24-14 overall in the UNM series, including a 20-12 mark in conference meetings
• Air Force would improve to 11-10 at New Mexico and win for the second straight time on the road in the series
LAST WEEK
Air Force defeated Florida Atlantic, 31-7, in Falcon Stadium. Quarterback Haaziq Daniels powered the running game with a career-high 164 yards and two touchdowns, including a school-record 94 yard touchdown run. Daniels scored on Air Force's first two drives to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead. Brad Roberts added a touchdown run and Anthony Rodriguez added his first-career field goal to give Air Force a 24-0 lead. FAU closed the half with a 34-yard touchdown run by N'Kosi Perry to cut the lead to 24-7 at the half. The touchdown marked the first time the Owls had reached Air Force's side of the field. Micah Davis added a touchdown run in the third quarter to make up the final margin. Air Force finished with 516 total yards, including 446 rushing. Davis added 93 yards and Roberts 77 for the Falcons. Air Force held FAU to 214 total yards, including just 73 passing. The defense was led by Alec Mock, who had seven tackles. Tre Bugg III, Trey Taylor and Demonte Meeks added four each.
LAST WEEK'S GAME NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force evened the series vs. Florida Atlantic, 1-1.
• Air Force improved to 7-4 against teams from Conference-USA.
• Air Force improved to 42-26 against non-conference opponents under head coach Troy Calhoun, including a 27-4 mark at home.
• Air Force used game captains. The captains for the FAU game were seniors Jordan Jackson (DL), Demonte Meeks (ILB) and Tre Bugg III (CB).
• Air Force sophomore defensive backs Trey Taylor and Camby Goff, along with sophomore center Luke Hallstrom each made the first start of their career. The Hallstrom start marks three different starters in four games at center.
• Air Force scored a touchdown on its opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. The Falcons have scored a touchdown on the opening drive in three of four games this season. Defensively, Air Force forced a punt on Florida Atlantic's opening drive. The Falcons have forced a punt on the opening drive in all four games.
• FAU's touchdown, which came with 3:42 left in the second quarter marked the first time in the game the Owls reached Air Force's side of the field.
• Air Force's 97-yard scoring drive in the third quarter is the longest of the season. The previous was 75 yards last week vs. Utah State. The 6:39 time of possession was just 13 seconds off the season best of 6:52 vs. Utah State.
• Air Force had a season-high 446 yards rushing. The previous best was 437 the previous week vs. Utah State
Individual Notes
• Junior QB Haaziq Daniels set a school record with a 94-yard touchdown run. He broke the record of 88 yards set by Joel Carlson vs. Army in 1971. The touchdown was the second on the day for Daniels, as he also capped Air Force's opening drive. He has scored at least one rushing touchdown in each game this season and has had multiple touchdowns twice. Daniels rushed for a career-high 164 yards to record the second 100-yard game of his career. His previous high and first-career 100-yard game came last week vs. Utah State with 102 yards.
• Junior NG Kalawai'a Pescaia finished with two tackles and a tackle for loss. Pescaia has had a tackle for loss in three of four games this season.
• Sophomore DB Trey Taylor started the first game of his career and responded with a career-high four tackles, four solo stops, a sack, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and three pass breakups.
• Sophomore PK Anthony Rodriguez hit the first field goal of his career, a 31-yarder in the second quarter.
• Junior DL Christopher Herrera recorded three tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Herrera has had a tackle for loss in three consecutive games.
• Sophomore WR Micah Davis recorded 117 all-purpose yards, including 93 rushing and 24 receiving. Davis has scored a rushing touchdown in two straight and three of four games this season.
• Senior DB Corvan Taylor recorded his third interception of the season and leads all active Falcons with five in his career.
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN RUSHING
Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 357.2 average. The Falcons opened the season with a 370-yard effort vs. Lafayette and had 437 against Utah State. Air Force rushed for a season-high 446 yards vs. Florida Atlantic. The team has averaged 441.5 yards per game the last games.
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 when Air Force won the title with a 307.8 average. 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) 357.2
2. Army (Ind.) 344.5
3. Florida (SEC) 322.5
4. Ole Miss (SEC) 298.7
5. Michigan (Big Ten) 290.8
DEFENSE NOTES
• Air Force leads the MW and ranks 34th nationally in scoring defense (18.2)
• Air Force has held six of the last seven opponents under 20 points scored
• Air Force is third in the MW and 46th nationally in pass defense (200.5)
• Air Force is third in the MW and 30th nationally in total defense (300.5)
• Air Force is fourth in the MW and 29th nationally in rushing defense (100.0)
• Air Force has forced a punt on the opponent's opening drive of the game in all four games
• Air Force held FAU to just 214 total yards, including just 73 passing...FAU never entered the Red Zone in the game and the team's touchdown late in the second quarter marked the first time in the game they reached Air Force's side of the field...FAU was held to just 10 first downs and an 0-2 performance on fourth down.
• Air Force held Navy to 68 total yards, which is the second-lowest total in program history and lowest since the record of 66 came vs. San Diego in 1956. Air Force held Navy to just 36 yards rushing on 34 carries. Navy averaged just 1.1 yards per rush and 1.5 yards per play overall. The Falcons forced Navy into 1-12 on third down and 0-2 on fourth downs. Air Force forced eight three-and-outs in 11 possessions and four possessions netting negative yards. The defense allowed just six first downs, the fifth-fewest in program history and fewest since Stony Brook had just four in 2018. It's the fewest allowed vs. an FBS program since Colorado State was held to four in 1958. Navy managed just one first down in the first three quarters.
Saturday, Oct. 2, 4:30 p.m. MT, Albuquerque, NM
BROADCAST INFORMATION
• Television: FS2
Dan Hellie (play-by-play), Robert Smith (analyst)
• Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, CO; XM 385, Internet 975
Jim Arthur (play-by-play); Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
STORYLINES
• Air Force leads the New Mexico series, 23-14, and has a 19-12 advantage in conference games...Air Force is 13-3 at home, 10-10 at New Mexico and 0-1 in neutral site games.
• Air Force defeated UNM, 44-22, the last time the two played in Albuquerque.
• Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 357.2 average...the Falcons rushed for a season-high 446 yards vs. Florida Atlantic and the team has averaged 441.5 yards the last two games.
• Air Force has held six of the last seven opponents under 20 points scored...Air Force is third in the MW and 34th nationally in scoring defense allowing just 18.2 points per game.
• Air Force has forced a punt on the opponent's opening drive of the game in all four games this season.
THE SERIES
• Air Force leads the series, 23-14, and has a 19-12 advantage in conference games.
• Air Force is 13-3 at home, 10-10 at New Mexico and 0-1 in neutral site games.
• Air Force has won three straight overall following a three-game streak by New Mexico.
• Air Force defeated UNM, 44-22, last season in Albuquerque.
• Air Force defeated UNM, 42-24, in 2018 in Falcon Stadium to snap a three-game losing streak to the Lobos...UNM had won four of the last six overall in the series.
• Prior to the UNM run, Air Force had won five straight and eight of nine.
• The teams first played in 1957 in Colorado Springs...Air Force won the game, 31-0.
LAST SEASON
(Nov. 20, 2020) Air Force defeated New Mexico, 28-0, to snap a two-game losing streak. The shutout was the first for Air Force since 2018 and first against a conference opponent since 2011. The Falcons scored on their first three drives with Haaziq Daniels capping the opening drive with a four-yard scoring run. Brad Roberts added a pair of touchdown runs in the second quarter to give Air Force a 21-0 halftime lead. Following a mistake-filled third quarter that saw Air Force fumble three times and New Mexico miss three field goals, Roberts sealed the game with a 44-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter to make up the final margin. Air Force had 422 total yards, including 356 rushing while converting 9-13 third downs. Roberts led the Falcons with career highs of 28 carries, 177 yards and three touchdowns. New Mexico had 304 total yards, including 221 passing. Johnathan Youngblood led the Air Force defense with eight tackles.
LAST TIME AT NEW MEXICO
(Nov. 23, 2019) Air Force defeated New Mexico, 44-22, to snap a three-game losing streak to the Lobos. The Falcons took a 14-10 halftime lead behind touchdown runs from Donald Hammond III and Taven Birdow. Air Force exploded in the second half behind the passing of Hammond. The Falcons extended the lead to 30-16 behind a pair of Hammond touchdown passes. He added two more early in the fourth quarter to put the Falcons in front, 44-16, before the Lobos added a touchdown in the final minutes to make up the final margin. Hammond hit 9-10 passes for a career-high 327 yards, the fifth most in Air Force history and most since 1976. He threw for a career-best four touchdowns, two each to Geraud Sanders and Ben Waters. Sanders finished with five catches for 156 yards and Waters had four catches for 171 yards. They became the first duo with over 100 yards each since 2004. The Falcons had 540 yards of total offense while holding New Mexico to 358. Demonte Meeks led the defense with a career-best 14 tackles.
LOOKING AT NEW MEXICO
New Mexico has lost two straight after opening the season 2-0 ... UTEP defeated New Mexico, 20-13, last week in Texas ... New Mexico averages 18.5 points per game while allowing 24.0 ... Tavian Combs leads the Lobos with 32 total tackles and has two interceptions ... Jerrick Reed II is second in tackles with 28 ... Aaron Dumas leads the team in rushing with a 48.0 per-game average ... Terry Wilson, Jr., leads the team in passing, hitting 74-126 for 752 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions ... Luke Wyson leads the team in receiving with 14 catches for 101 yards ... Manny Logan-Greene has 12 catches for a team-best 132 yards and a touchdown.
AN AIR FORCE WIN WOULD
• Air Force would improve to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in Mountain West play
• Air Force would improve to 2-0 in road games this season
• Air Force would improve to 24-14 overall in the UNM series, including a 20-12 mark in conference meetings
• Air Force would improve to 11-10 at New Mexico and win for the second straight time on the road in the series
LAST WEEK
Air Force defeated Florida Atlantic, 31-7, in Falcon Stadium. Quarterback Haaziq Daniels powered the running game with a career-high 164 yards and two touchdowns, including a school-record 94 yard touchdown run. Daniels scored on Air Force's first two drives to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead. Brad Roberts added a touchdown run and Anthony Rodriguez added his first-career field goal to give Air Force a 24-0 lead. FAU closed the half with a 34-yard touchdown run by N'Kosi Perry to cut the lead to 24-7 at the half. The touchdown marked the first time the Owls had reached Air Force's side of the field. Micah Davis added a touchdown run in the third quarter to make up the final margin. Air Force finished with 516 total yards, including 446 rushing. Davis added 93 yards and Roberts 77 for the Falcons. Air Force held FAU to 214 total yards, including just 73 passing. The defense was led by Alec Mock, who had seven tackles. Tre Bugg III, Trey Taylor and Demonte Meeks added four each.
LAST WEEK'S GAME NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force evened the series vs. Florida Atlantic, 1-1.
• Air Force improved to 7-4 against teams from Conference-USA.
• Air Force improved to 42-26 against non-conference opponents under head coach Troy Calhoun, including a 27-4 mark at home.
• Air Force used game captains. The captains for the FAU game were seniors Jordan Jackson (DL), Demonte Meeks (ILB) and Tre Bugg III (CB).
• Air Force sophomore defensive backs Trey Taylor and Camby Goff, along with sophomore center Luke Hallstrom each made the first start of their career. The Hallstrom start marks three different starters in four games at center.
• Air Force scored a touchdown on its opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. The Falcons have scored a touchdown on the opening drive in three of four games this season. Defensively, Air Force forced a punt on Florida Atlantic's opening drive. The Falcons have forced a punt on the opening drive in all four games.
• FAU's touchdown, which came with 3:42 left in the second quarter marked the first time in the game the Owls reached Air Force's side of the field.
• Air Force's 97-yard scoring drive in the third quarter is the longest of the season. The previous was 75 yards last week vs. Utah State. The 6:39 time of possession was just 13 seconds off the season best of 6:52 vs. Utah State.
• Air Force had a season-high 446 yards rushing. The previous best was 437 the previous week vs. Utah State
Individual Notes
• Junior QB Haaziq Daniels set a school record with a 94-yard touchdown run. He broke the record of 88 yards set by Joel Carlson vs. Army in 1971. The touchdown was the second on the day for Daniels, as he also capped Air Force's opening drive. He has scored at least one rushing touchdown in each game this season and has had multiple touchdowns twice. Daniels rushed for a career-high 164 yards to record the second 100-yard game of his career. His previous high and first-career 100-yard game came last week vs. Utah State with 102 yards.
• Junior NG Kalawai'a Pescaia finished with two tackles and a tackle for loss. Pescaia has had a tackle for loss in three of four games this season.
• Sophomore DB Trey Taylor started the first game of his career and responded with a career-high four tackles, four solo stops, a sack, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and three pass breakups.
• Sophomore PK Anthony Rodriguez hit the first field goal of his career, a 31-yarder in the second quarter.
• Junior DL Christopher Herrera recorded three tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Herrera has had a tackle for loss in three consecutive games.
• Sophomore WR Micah Davis recorded 117 all-purpose yards, including 93 rushing and 24 receiving. Davis has scored a rushing touchdown in two straight and three of four games this season.
• Senior DB Corvan Taylor recorded his third interception of the season and leads all active Falcons with five in his career.
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN RUSHING
Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 357.2 average. The Falcons opened the season with a 370-yard effort vs. Lafayette and had 437 against Utah State. Air Force rushed for a season-high 446 yards vs. Florida Atlantic. The team has averaged 441.5 yards per game the last games.
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 when Air Force won the title with a 307.8 average. 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) 357.2
2. Army (Ind.) 344.5
3. Florida (SEC) 322.5
4. Ole Miss (SEC) 298.7
5. Michigan (Big Ten) 290.8
DEFENSE NOTES
• Air Force leads the MW and ranks 34th nationally in scoring defense (18.2)
• Air Force has held six of the last seven opponents under 20 points scored
• Air Force is third in the MW and 46th nationally in pass defense (200.5)
• Air Force is third in the MW and 30th nationally in total defense (300.5)
• Air Force is fourth in the MW and 29th nationally in rushing defense (100.0)
• Air Force has forced a punt on the opponent's opening drive of the game in all four games
• Air Force held FAU to just 214 total yards, including just 73 passing...FAU never entered the Red Zone in the game and the team's touchdown late in the second quarter marked the first time in the game they reached Air Force's side of the field...FAU was held to just 10 first downs and an 0-2 performance on fourth down.
• Air Force held Navy to 68 total yards, which is the second-lowest total in program history and lowest since the record of 66 came vs. San Diego in 1956. Air Force held Navy to just 36 yards rushing on 34 carries. Navy averaged just 1.1 yards per rush and 1.5 yards per play overall. The Falcons forced Navy into 1-12 on third down and 0-2 on fourth downs. Air Force forced eight three-and-outs in 11 possessions and four possessions netting negative yards. The defense allowed just six first downs, the fifth-fewest in program history and fewest since Stony Brook had just four in 2018. It's the fewest allowed vs. an FBS program since Colorado State was held to four in 1958. Navy managed just one first down in the first three quarters.
Players Mentioned
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OG
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ILB
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