Air Force wins second straight national rushing title
1/10/2022 9:58:00 PM | Football
With the official end of the college football season with the 2022 College Football Playoff national championship game, it's official that Air Force has won its second straight NCAA rushing title. The Falcons averaged 327.7 yards per game, winning the title by 47.1 yards per game over second place Army, who averaged 280.6. Kent State finished third (248.6), Northern Illinois fourth (241.4) and North Texas fifth (233.5).
Air Force led the nation for a school-record 10 consecutive weeks during the season, breaking the record of eight weeks set in 2010. The Falcons out-rushed 12 of 13 opponents this season and topped the 400-yard mark five times. The Falcons averaged 498 yards their final two games of the season, rushing for a season-high 511 vs. UNLV and 485 vs. Nevada. Air Force rushed for 400-plus in a school-record three straight games earlier this season, gaining 437 vs. Utah State, 446 vs. FAU and 408 vs. New Mexico.
Air Force won the national rushing title in 2020 with a 305.7 per-game average. The Falcons won their first title in 2002 with a 307.8 per-game average. Air Force has ranked among the nation's top 10 seven straight years and 33 of the last 34 overall.
The rushing attack was powered by the offensive line, nicknamed the Diesel. The Diesel was outstanding this season, as the team had eight different starting lineups up front. The line started three different centers. Despite the changes, the Diesel became the first Group of 5 team to earn finalist honors for the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the nation's top offensive line.
Senior Hawk Wimmer earned first-team all-conference honors this season, increasing the consecutive seasons with a first team member to three. Wimmer joins Parker Ferguson and Nolan Laufenberg from 2020 and Scott Hattok from 2019 as a first-team selection.
Junior fullback Brad Roberts led the Mountain West and ranked 17th nationally in rushing with an average of 104 yards per game. He rushed for 1,352 yards on a school-record 298 carries. His 1,352 yards are the third most in program history and most since Chad Hall had 1,478 in 2007. Roberts earned first-team all-MW honors to become the first Falcon running back to lead the MW in rushing and earn first-team all-conference honors since Hall accomplished both in 2007.
Air Force finished the season 10-3 overall and was co-champion of the Mountain West Mountain Division with a 6-2 mark. The Falcons posted double digit wins for the second time in three seasons (2019), fourth time under Head Coach Troy Calhoun and ninth time in school history. Air Force capped the season with a 31-28 victory over Louisville in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas, Texas, to record its third consecutive bowl win dating back to 2016, including two straight over Power 5 teams.
Air Force led the nation for a school-record 10 consecutive weeks during the season, breaking the record of eight weeks set in 2010. The Falcons out-rushed 12 of 13 opponents this season and topped the 400-yard mark five times. The Falcons averaged 498 yards their final two games of the season, rushing for a season-high 511 vs. UNLV and 485 vs. Nevada. Air Force rushed for 400-plus in a school-record three straight games earlier this season, gaining 437 vs. Utah State, 446 vs. FAU and 408 vs. New Mexico.
Air Force won the national rushing title in 2020 with a 305.7 per-game average. The Falcons won their first title in 2002 with a 307.8 per-game average. Air Force has ranked among the nation's top 10 seven straight years and 33 of the last 34 overall.
The rushing attack was powered by the offensive line, nicknamed the Diesel. The Diesel was outstanding this season, as the team had eight different starting lineups up front. The line started three different centers. Despite the changes, the Diesel became the first Group of 5 team to earn finalist honors for the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the nation's top offensive line.
Senior Hawk Wimmer earned first-team all-conference honors this season, increasing the consecutive seasons with a first team member to three. Wimmer joins Parker Ferguson and Nolan Laufenberg from 2020 and Scott Hattok from 2019 as a first-team selection.
Junior fullback Brad Roberts led the Mountain West and ranked 17th nationally in rushing with an average of 104 yards per game. He rushed for 1,352 yards on a school-record 298 carries. His 1,352 yards are the third most in program history and most since Chad Hall had 1,478 in 2007. Roberts earned first-team all-MW honors to become the first Falcon running back to lead the MW in rushing and earn first-team all-conference honors since Hall accomplished both in 2007.
Air Force finished the season 10-3 overall and was co-champion of the Mountain West Mountain Division with a 6-2 mark. The Falcons posted double digit wins for the second time in three seasons (2019), fourth time under Head Coach Troy Calhoun and ninth time in school history. Air Force capped the season with a 31-28 victory over Louisville in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas, Texas, to record its third consecutive bowl win dating back to 2016, including two straight over Power 5 teams.
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