
GAME 11: Air Force vs. Colorado State
11/14/2022 9:20:00 AM | Football
11.Air Force vs. Colorado State.pdfColorado State Game Notes.pdf2022 MWFB Weekly Release Week 12.pdfDigital Game Program
Saturday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m. MT, Falcon Stadium (Colorado Springs, CO)
GAME 11: Air Force vs. Colorado State
Saturday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m. MT, Falcon Stadium (Colorado Springs, CO)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
• Television: FS2
Guy Haberman (play-by-play), Will Blackmon (analyst)
• Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, 104.3 the Fan in Denver, SIRIUS 386, SXM App 976
Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
THE SERIES
• Air Force leads the overall series, 37-21-1, including a 26-15 mark in conference games
• The Falcons are 21-11-1 at home and 16-10 at Colorado State
• Air Force has won five straight and 13 of the last 15 in the series
• Air Force has won eight straight at home dating back to 2002
• Air Force and Colorado State did not play in 2020 due to COVID, snapping a streak of 42 consecutive years of games dating back to 1978
• Air Force defeated Colorado State, 35-21, last season in Fort Collins
• Air Force defeated Colorado State, 27-19, in 2018 in the last game at Falcon Stadium
• The teams first played in 1957 in Colorado Springs, resulting in a 20-7 Colorado State win
LAST SEASON
(Nov. 13, 2021) Air Force defeated Colorado State, 35-21, in Fort Collins to register its fifth straight win in the series and 13th in the last 15 meetings. The win improved Air Force to 3-0 in Canvas Stadium. John Lee Eldridge III and Brad Roberts powered Air Force with first quarter touchdown runs while quarterback Haaziq Daniels hit Brandon Lewis with a school-record 92 yard pass to give the Falcons a 21-7 lead. Colorado State scored at the end of the half to cut the lead to 21-14 at halftime. Dane Kinamon and Roberts added third quarter touchdowns around a CSU score to make up the final margin. The Falcons ran out the clock in the fourth quarter with a 15-play, 60-yard drive that used the final 8:08. Roberts led the way with 151 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, while DeAndre Hughes chipped in with 108 yards on eight carries. Daniels finished with 121 yards passing and two scores. The defense was led by Camby Goff, who had a career-high 10 tackles. Air Force had 509 total yards, including 388 rushing while holding CSU to just 308 total yards.
LAST TIME IN FALCON STADIUM
(Nov. 10, 2018) Air Force defeated Colorado State, 27-19, on Thanksgiving Day in Falcon Stadium. The Falcons opened the scoring with a three yard run to take a 7-0 lead. The Falcons extended the lead to 14-0 on a Donald Hammond III 16-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Bennett. Colorado State got on the board with a Collin Hill to Preston Williams touchdown connection to cut the lead to 14-6. Following a Jake Koehnke field goal, Hill and Williams connected again to make the 17-13 at the half. Koehnke added his second field goal to make it 20-13 with 13:49 left before Williams caught his third touchdown pass. A blocked extra point kept Air Force in front, 20-19. The Falcons secured the win with a Kadin Remsberg touchdown to cap an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took 6:18 off the clock to make up the final margin. Colorado State's last chance ended with an interception by Kyle Floyd deep in Air Force territory. Colorado State finished with 437 total yards, including 373 passing. Williams led the way with 12 catches for 248 yards and three scores. Air Force finished with 474 total yards, including 393 rushing. Hammond completed 8-16 passes for 81 yards and a score. The defense was led by Kyle Johnson, who had eight tackles.
THE RAM-FALCON TROPHY
Air Force and Colorado State compete each year for the Ram-Falcon Trophy. The 2022 season marks the 42nd year of the trophy competition with Air Force holding a 26-15 lead. The Falcons secured their fifth straight trophy last season with a 35-21 win in Fort Collins Nov. 13.
The trophy's origin is tracked back to Shelly Godkin, a former ROTC commander at Colorado State. He watched the teams play in 1978 and sought to translate his impressions into a trophy symbolic of an annual game. The first Ram-Falcon trophy game was in 1980.
SENIORS FINAL HOME GAME
Air Force senior players and managers will be participating in the final home game of their careers. The senior have helped Air Force to a 33-15 overall record and a pair of bowl games. The Falcons won the 2019 Cheez-It Bowl over Washington State, 31-21, and the 2021 First Responder Bowl over Louisville, 31-28. The seniors will be headed to the White House this spring as 2022 Commander-in-Chief's Trophy champions. The group navigated through a difficult COVID period while maintaining the standard of excellence in the program.
HONORING COS
Air Force football will be honoring Jeff Cosky, the team's director of football operations, who will be participating in his final home game. Cosky is retiring in January after 30 years of service to Air Force Athletics, including 29 in his current position. Cosky has 40 years of service to the Air Force, enlisting on Sept. 21, 1982. He has helped the program to 13 Commander-in-Chief's Trophies, two conference titles and 16 bowl games.
AIR FORCE AT HOME
• Air Force is 71-24 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 six times overall in school history, four coming under Calhoun.
Year Rec. Notes
2022 5-1 Ninth time with 5-plus wins in 16 seasons under Calhoun
2021 4-2 Air Force .500 or better for 14th time in 15 seasons under Calhoun
2020 2-1 Loss came to No. 25 Boise State
2019 6-0 Sixth undefeated season in program history, fourth under Calhoun
2018 4-2 Air Force posts four or more wins for ninth time in 12 seasons
2017 3-3 20 wins over four years is best four-year run in school history
2016 5-1 Air Force went 17-1 in home games from 2014-16
2015 6-0 Fifth 6-0 mark in AF history, third under Calhoun
2014 6-0 Fourth 6-0 mark in AF history, second under Calhoun
2013 2-5 Lone losing record in Calhoun era
2012 5-1 Second-best mark in school history
2011 4-3 Air Force goes 14-5 from 2009-11
2010 5-1 Combined with 2009, 10 wins in two seasons is third-best in AF history
2009 5-1 Second-best mark in school history
2008 3-3 Two losses at the hands of nationally ranked teams
2007 6-0 Just the third undefeated home record in school history
Total 71-24
AIR FORCE 28-8 LAST THREE SEASONS
• Air Force is 28-8 the last three full seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Air Force is 7-3 this season, finished 10-3 last season and 11-2 in 2019. The losses have come at Wyoming, at Utah State and vs. Boise State this season, vs. Utah State, San Diego State and Army (N) last season and at Boise State and Navy in 2019.
• The Falcons are 16-6 in conference play, including a 3-3 mark this season. Air Force shared the Mountain Division title with a 6-2 mark last season and finished second with a 7-1 mark in 2019.
AN AIR FORCE WIN WOULD
• Air Force would improve to 8-3 overall and 4-3 in Mountain West play.
• Air Force would improve to 38-21-1, overall against Colorado State, including a 27-15 mark in conference games. The Falcons would improve to 22-11-1 at home vs. the Rams.
• Air Force would win the Ram-Falcon Trophy for the 27th time and improve to 27-15 in Ram-Falcon Trophy games.
• Air Force would win its sixth straight and 14th of the last 16 in the series. The Falcons would win their ninth straight at home in the series dating back to 2002.
• Air Force would improve to 29-8 the last three seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The Falcons would improve to 17-6 in MW games during the same span.
• Air Force would improve to 72-24 at home under head coach Troy Calhoun since 2007.
• Air Force would match the program record for home wins in a season with six.
LAST WEEK
Air Force defeated New Mexico, 35-3, in Falcon Stadium to win its fifth straight in the series and 10th straight at home vs. the Lobos. Senior quarterback Haaziq Daniels opened the scoring on Air Force's first drive with a 65-yard touchdown run to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead. John Lee Eldridge III added a 10-yard scoring run to push the lead to 14-0. Daniels hit David Cormier with a 33-yard touchdown pass to open the third quarter to make it 21-0. Following a New Mexico field goal, Daniels added his second touchdown run of the day to increase the lead to 28-3. Jensen Jones closed the scoring with a short touchdown run in the final minutes to make up the final margin. Air Force rushed for 428 yards and had 470 total yards. Brad Roberts led the way with 163 yards on 29 carries. Daniels chipped in with 113 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. He also hit 2-2 passes for 33 yards and a score. The defense held New Mexico to 172 total yards and eight first downs. The unit had 7.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and two pass breakups. Jayden Goodwin led the defense with six tackles. The Falcons held a 37:49-22:11 advantage in time of possession.
AIR FORCE AMONG THE NATION'S BEST IN MULTIPLE CATEGORIES
• Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 334.1 average, time of possession with a 35:51 mark and passing yards allowed with a 151.3 mark. The Falcons are second in the nation in fewest penalties per game (31.10), fifth in total defense (264.6), fourth in first down defense (134) and third in fourth down conversions (.824).
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN RUSHING, AGAIN
• Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 334.1 average, leading No. 2 Army by 34.7 yards per game. Air Force is the only team in the nation averaging over 300 yards per game. The Falcons have led the nation since the first week of the season and have set a new school record for consecutive weeks leading the nation with 11. Air Force led the nation 10 straight weeks last season.
• Air Force has rushed for 400-plus yards five times this season and are 5-0 when doing so. The Falcons have topped the 400-yard mark vs. Northern Iowa (582), Colorado (435), Nevada (461), UNLV (406) and New Mexico (421).
• Air Force rushed for 582 yards in the season opener vs. Northern Iowa, which is the sixth most in school history and the most since rushing for 595 vs. Tennessee State in 2011.
• Air Force won its second straight NCAA rushing title last season. The Falcons averaged 327.7 yards, winning the title by 47.1 yards per game over second place Army, who averaged 280.6. The Falcons out-rushed 12 of 13 opponents and topped the 400-yard mark five times. The Falcons averaged 498 yards their final two regular season 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, 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 nine straight years and 34 of the last 35 overall.
2022 NCAA Rushing Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Air Force (MW)............. 334.1
2. Army (Ind.).................... 299.4
3. Ole Miss (SEC)...............259.8
4. Michigan (Big Ten)......... 251.4
5. UCF (AAC).....................249.5
DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Air Force has held nine opponents to 21 points or less this season. The Falcons have held 19 of 23 opponents to 21 points or less over the last two seasons. Air Force is holding its opponents to 14.4 points per game overall the last two seasons. The list follows: 2022: Northern Iowa (17), Colorado (10), Wyoming (17), Nevada (20), Navy (10), UNLV (7), Boise State (19), Army (7), New Mexico (3). 2021: Lafayette (14), Navy (3), Florida Atlantic (7), New Mexico (10), Wyoming (14), Boise State (17), San Diego State (20), Army (21), Colorado State (21), UNLV (14).
• Air Force leads the Mountain West in scoring defense (14.4) and passing defense (151.3). The Falcons rank third in pass efficiency defense (120.61), second in rushing defense (133.3), second in total defense (264.4), second in opponent first downs (134) and third in third-down percentage (33.6). Air Force ranks in the top 25 nationally in five categories overall.
• Air Force has held its last two opponents (Army, New Mexico) to just 317 total yards and 16 first downs, an average of 158.5 yards and eight first downs per game.
Saturday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m. MT, Falcon Stadium (Colorado Springs, CO)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
• Television: FS2
Guy Haberman (play-by-play), Will Blackmon (analyst)
• Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, 104.3 the Fan in Denver, SIRIUS 386, SXM App 976
Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
THE SERIES
• Air Force leads the overall series, 37-21-1, including a 26-15 mark in conference games
• The Falcons are 21-11-1 at home and 16-10 at Colorado State
• Air Force has won five straight and 13 of the last 15 in the series
• Air Force has won eight straight at home dating back to 2002
• Air Force and Colorado State did not play in 2020 due to COVID, snapping a streak of 42 consecutive years of games dating back to 1978
• Air Force defeated Colorado State, 35-21, last season in Fort Collins
• Air Force defeated Colorado State, 27-19, in 2018 in the last game at Falcon Stadium
• The teams first played in 1957 in Colorado Springs, resulting in a 20-7 Colorado State win
LAST SEASON
(Nov. 13, 2021) Air Force defeated Colorado State, 35-21, in Fort Collins to register its fifth straight win in the series and 13th in the last 15 meetings. The win improved Air Force to 3-0 in Canvas Stadium. John Lee Eldridge III and Brad Roberts powered Air Force with first quarter touchdown runs while quarterback Haaziq Daniels hit Brandon Lewis with a school-record 92 yard pass to give the Falcons a 21-7 lead. Colorado State scored at the end of the half to cut the lead to 21-14 at halftime. Dane Kinamon and Roberts added third quarter touchdowns around a CSU score to make up the final margin. The Falcons ran out the clock in the fourth quarter with a 15-play, 60-yard drive that used the final 8:08. Roberts led the way with 151 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, while DeAndre Hughes chipped in with 108 yards on eight carries. Daniels finished with 121 yards passing and two scores. The defense was led by Camby Goff, who had a career-high 10 tackles. Air Force had 509 total yards, including 388 rushing while holding CSU to just 308 total yards.
LAST TIME IN FALCON STADIUM
(Nov. 10, 2018) Air Force defeated Colorado State, 27-19, on Thanksgiving Day in Falcon Stadium. The Falcons opened the scoring with a three yard run to take a 7-0 lead. The Falcons extended the lead to 14-0 on a Donald Hammond III 16-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Bennett. Colorado State got on the board with a Collin Hill to Preston Williams touchdown connection to cut the lead to 14-6. Following a Jake Koehnke field goal, Hill and Williams connected again to make the 17-13 at the half. Koehnke added his second field goal to make it 20-13 with 13:49 left before Williams caught his third touchdown pass. A blocked extra point kept Air Force in front, 20-19. The Falcons secured the win with a Kadin Remsberg touchdown to cap an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took 6:18 off the clock to make up the final margin. Colorado State's last chance ended with an interception by Kyle Floyd deep in Air Force territory. Colorado State finished with 437 total yards, including 373 passing. Williams led the way with 12 catches for 248 yards and three scores. Air Force finished with 474 total yards, including 393 rushing. Hammond completed 8-16 passes for 81 yards and a score. The defense was led by Kyle Johnson, who had eight tackles.
THE RAM-FALCON TROPHY
Air Force and Colorado State compete each year for the Ram-Falcon Trophy. The 2022 season marks the 42nd year of the trophy competition with Air Force holding a 26-15 lead. The Falcons secured their fifth straight trophy last season with a 35-21 win in Fort Collins Nov. 13.
The trophy's origin is tracked back to Shelly Godkin, a former ROTC commander at Colorado State. He watched the teams play in 1978 and sought to translate his impressions into a trophy symbolic of an annual game. The first Ram-Falcon trophy game was in 1980.
SENIORS FINAL HOME GAME
Air Force senior players and managers will be participating in the final home game of their careers. The senior have helped Air Force to a 33-15 overall record and a pair of bowl games. The Falcons won the 2019 Cheez-It Bowl over Washington State, 31-21, and the 2021 First Responder Bowl over Louisville, 31-28. The seniors will be headed to the White House this spring as 2022 Commander-in-Chief's Trophy champions. The group navigated through a difficult COVID period while maintaining the standard of excellence in the program.
HONORING COS
Air Force football will be honoring Jeff Cosky, the team's director of football operations, who will be participating in his final home game. Cosky is retiring in January after 30 years of service to Air Force Athletics, including 29 in his current position. Cosky has 40 years of service to the Air Force, enlisting on Sept. 21, 1982. He has helped the program to 13 Commander-in-Chief's Trophies, two conference titles and 16 bowl games.
AIR FORCE AT HOME
• Air Force is 71-24 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 six times overall in school history, four coming under Calhoun.
Year Rec. Notes
2022 5-1 Ninth time with 5-plus wins in 16 seasons under Calhoun
2021 4-2 Air Force .500 or better for 14th time in 15 seasons under Calhoun
2020 2-1 Loss came to No. 25 Boise State
2019 6-0 Sixth undefeated season in program history, fourth under Calhoun
2018 4-2 Air Force posts four or more wins for ninth time in 12 seasons
2017 3-3 20 wins over four years is best four-year run in school history
2016 5-1 Air Force went 17-1 in home games from 2014-16
2015 6-0 Fifth 6-0 mark in AF history, third under Calhoun
2014 6-0 Fourth 6-0 mark in AF history, second under Calhoun
2013 2-5 Lone losing record in Calhoun era
2012 5-1 Second-best mark in school history
2011 4-3 Air Force goes 14-5 from 2009-11
2010 5-1 Combined with 2009, 10 wins in two seasons is third-best in AF history
2009 5-1 Second-best mark in school history
2008 3-3 Two losses at the hands of nationally ranked teams
2007 6-0 Just the third undefeated home record in school history
Total 71-24
AIR FORCE 28-8 LAST THREE SEASONS
• Air Force is 28-8 the last three full seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Air Force is 7-3 this season, finished 10-3 last season and 11-2 in 2019. The losses have come at Wyoming, at Utah State and vs. Boise State this season, vs. Utah State, San Diego State and Army (N) last season and at Boise State and Navy in 2019.
• The Falcons are 16-6 in conference play, including a 3-3 mark this season. Air Force shared the Mountain Division title with a 6-2 mark last season and finished second with a 7-1 mark in 2019.
AN AIR FORCE WIN WOULD
• Air Force would improve to 8-3 overall and 4-3 in Mountain West play.
• Air Force would improve to 38-21-1, overall against Colorado State, including a 27-15 mark in conference games. The Falcons would improve to 22-11-1 at home vs. the Rams.
• Air Force would win the Ram-Falcon Trophy for the 27th time and improve to 27-15 in Ram-Falcon Trophy games.
• Air Force would win its sixth straight and 14th of the last 16 in the series. The Falcons would win their ninth straight at home in the series dating back to 2002.
• Air Force would improve to 29-8 the last three seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The Falcons would improve to 17-6 in MW games during the same span.
• Air Force would improve to 72-24 at home under head coach Troy Calhoun since 2007.
• Air Force would match the program record for home wins in a season with six.
LAST WEEK
Air Force defeated New Mexico, 35-3, in Falcon Stadium to win its fifth straight in the series and 10th straight at home vs. the Lobos. Senior quarterback Haaziq Daniels opened the scoring on Air Force's first drive with a 65-yard touchdown run to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead. John Lee Eldridge III added a 10-yard scoring run to push the lead to 14-0. Daniels hit David Cormier with a 33-yard touchdown pass to open the third quarter to make it 21-0. Following a New Mexico field goal, Daniels added his second touchdown run of the day to increase the lead to 28-3. Jensen Jones closed the scoring with a short touchdown run in the final minutes to make up the final margin. Air Force rushed for 428 yards and had 470 total yards. Brad Roberts led the way with 163 yards on 29 carries. Daniels chipped in with 113 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. He also hit 2-2 passes for 33 yards and a score. The defense held New Mexico to 172 total yards and eight first downs. The unit had 7.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and two pass breakups. Jayden Goodwin led the defense with six tackles. The Falcons held a 37:49-22:11 advantage in time of possession.
AIR FORCE AMONG THE NATION'S BEST IN MULTIPLE CATEGORIES
• Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 334.1 average, time of possession with a 35:51 mark and passing yards allowed with a 151.3 mark. The Falcons are second in the nation in fewest penalties per game (31.10), fifth in total defense (264.6), fourth in first down defense (134) and third in fourth down conversions (.824).
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN RUSHING, AGAIN
• Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 334.1 average, leading No. 2 Army by 34.7 yards per game. Air Force is the only team in the nation averaging over 300 yards per game. The Falcons have led the nation since the first week of the season and have set a new school record for consecutive weeks leading the nation with 11. Air Force led the nation 10 straight weeks last season.
• Air Force has rushed for 400-plus yards five times this season and are 5-0 when doing so. The Falcons have topped the 400-yard mark vs. Northern Iowa (582), Colorado (435), Nevada (461), UNLV (406) and New Mexico (421).
• Air Force rushed for 582 yards in the season opener vs. Northern Iowa, which is the sixth most in school history and the most since rushing for 595 vs. Tennessee State in 2011.
• Air Force won its second straight NCAA rushing title last season. The Falcons averaged 327.7 yards, winning the title by 47.1 yards per game over second place Army, who averaged 280.6. The Falcons out-rushed 12 of 13 opponents and topped the 400-yard mark five times. The Falcons averaged 498 yards their final two regular season 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, 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 nine straight years and 34 of the last 35 overall.
2022 NCAA Rushing Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Air Force (MW)............. 334.1
2. Army (Ind.).................... 299.4
3. Ole Miss (SEC)...............259.8
4. Michigan (Big Ten)......... 251.4
5. UCF (AAC).....................249.5
DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Air Force has held nine opponents to 21 points or less this season. The Falcons have held 19 of 23 opponents to 21 points or less over the last two seasons. Air Force is holding its opponents to 14.4 points per game overall the last two seasons. The list follows: 2022: Northern Iowa (17), Colorado (10), Wyoming (17), Nevada (20), Navy (10), UNLV (7), Boise State (19), Army (7), New Mexico (3). 2021: Lafayette (14), Navy (3), Florida Atlantic (7), New Mexico (10), Wyoming (14), Boise State (17), San Diego State (20), Army (21), Colorado State (21), UNLV (14).
• Air Force leads the Mountain West in scoring defense (14.4) and passing defense (151.3). The Falcons rank third in pass efficiency defense (120.61), second in rushing defense (133.3), second in total defense (264.4), second in opponent first downs (134) and third in third-down percentage (33.6). Air Force ranks in the top 25 nationally in five categories overall.
• Air Force has held its last two opponents (Army, New Mexico) to just 317 total yards and 16 first downs, an average of 158.5 yards and eight first downs per game.
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