2023 Recap: Air Force ends season 9-4 overall
1/10/2024 10:32:00 AM | Football
Falcons close season with Armed Forces Bowl win
SEASON RECAP
Air Force ended the season 9-4 overall and finished fourth in the Mountain West with a 5-3 record. The Falcons capped the season with a 31-21 win over #24/25 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas. The bowl win marks a program-record fifth straight and second straight in the Armed Forces Bowl. The victory over a ranked team is the first by the Falcons since 2016 and first-ever in a bowl. Air Force improved to 40-12 the last four full seasons, including a 23-9 mark in conference games over the same stretch.
Air Force opened the season 8-0 and was ranked 17th in both polls, marking the third straight week ranked, the longest streak since being ranked four straight weeks in 2002. The regular season ranking was the first since Oct. 3, 2010, when Air Force was ranked 25th in the AP poll. The ranking in both polls in the regular season is the first since Oct. 10, 2010, when the Falcons were 23rd in each poll. Air Force was ranked 25th in the initial College Football Playoff poll, marking the first appearance in the poll in program history. The Falcons finished the season among others receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches poll, ranking 34th with seven points.
Air Force senior Trey Taylor earned the Jim Thorpe Award, as the nation's top defensive back, marking just the second major award in program history and first since 1987. He also earned the Defender of the Nation Award and was the program's first first-team All-American since 2010, earning first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association.
Air Force placed seven players on the all-Mountain West football teams. Senior offensive lineman Thor Paglialong, along with defensive lineman PJ Ramsey, outside linebacker Bo Richter and Taylor were all named first-team all-Mountain West. Seniors Emmanuel Michel (fullback), Adam Karas (offensive lineman) and Alec Mock (inside linebacker) were named second-team all-MW. Junior kicker Matthew Dapore, senior safety Jayden Goodwin and senior quarterback Zac Larrier all earned honorable mention honors. Air Force's seven first- and second-team selections is the most since 2009.
AIR FORCE 40-12 LAST FOUR SEASONS
• Air Force is 40-12 the last four full seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Air Force was 9-4 this season and finished 10-3 in 2022 and 2021 and 11-2 in 2019.
• The Falcons are 23-9 in conference play during the same stretch. Air Force was 5-3 this season and finished tied for fourth. The team was 5-3 and finished second in the Mountain Division last season. Air Force shared the Mountain Division title with a 6-2 mark in 2021 and finished second with a 7-1 mark in 2019.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Air Force's 31-21 win over #24/25 James is the program's first over a ranked team since beating #19 Boise State, 27-20, Nov. 25, 2016, in Falcon Stadium. Air Force snapped a three-game losing streak vs. ranked teams. The win is the first over a ranked team in a bowl game in program history. Air Force improved to 1-2-1 all-time in bowl games vs. ranked teams.
• Air Force is 19-75-4 all-time vs. ranked teams.
• Air Force was ranked 17th in both polls earlier this season, marking the third straight week ranked, the longest streak since being ranked four straight weeks in 2002.
• The regular season ranking is the first since Oct. 3, 2010, when Air Force was ranked 25th in the AP poll. The ranking in both polls in the regular season is the first since Oct. 10, 2010, when the Falcons were 23rd in each poll.
• Air Force was ranked 25th in the initial College Football Playoff poll, marking the first appearance in the poll in program history.
• Air Force finished the season unranked in the AP poll and among others receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches poll. The Falcons were 34th with seven points.
AIR FORCE VS. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
• Air Force finished 4-1 this season and is 13-2 over the last three seasons vs. non-conferences foes.
• Air Force is 52-28 against non-conference opponents under head coach Troy Calhoun.
• The Falcons are 31-4 at home, 11-17 on the road and 10-7 in neutral site games.
AIR FORCE BOWL NOTES
• Air Force has played in 30 bowl games. The Falcons are 16-13-1 all-time.
• The Falcons have earned a bowl bid 13 times in Head Coach Troy Calhoun's 17 seasons. Air Force is 8-5 in bowls under Calhoun.
• Air Force has won five straight and six of the last seven bowl games.
• The Armed Forces Bowl ranked third in viewership during the second week of bowl week with 2.44 million viewers. The bowl trailed only the Las Vegas Bowl between Northwestern and Utah (3.09 million) and hte Birmingham Bowl between Duke and Troy (2.67 million).
LAST TIME OUT
Air Force defeated #24/25 James Madison, 31-21, in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The bowl win is the fifth straight for the Falcons. Emmanuel Michel opened the scoring for Air Force, scoring the first of two one-yard rushing touchdowns to put the Falcons up, 7-0. Following a JMU touchdown pass, Michel scored again to make it 14-7 midway through the second quarter. The Falcons extended the lead to 21-7 at halftime with a Zac Larrier 42-yard touchdown pass to Jared Roznos. JMU cut the lead to 21-14 with a touchdown to open the third quarter. The Falcons answered with a Larrier touchdown run to make it 28-14. Matthew Dapore added a field goal midway through the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 31-14 with 8:20 remaining. JMU added a late touchdown to make up the final margin. Air Force rolled up 396 total yards, including 351 rushing against the nation's top-ranked rushing defense. Michel, who was named the game's most valuable player, rushed for an Air Force bowl game record 203 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries. Air Force held JMU to 283 total yards, including just 26 yards rushing on 19 carries. Senior Bo Richter led the way with Air Force bowl records of 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.
LAST GAME NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force won its fifth straight bowl game and sixth in the last seven, including its second consecutive Armed Forces Bowl. The five-game bowl winning streak is the longest in program history. Air Force improved to 16-13-1 all-time in 30 bowl games in program history. The Falcons improved to 3-4 all-time in the Armed Forces Bowl.
• Air Force improved to 5-0 all-time against teams from the Sun Belt, including a 2-0 mark against the conference in bowl games.
• Air Force improved to 9-0 this season when leading after three quarters of play.
• Air Force had zero penalties or turnovers in a game for the first time since Sept. 16, 2022 vs. Wyoming.
• Air Force scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the fourth time this season. The touchdown is the first on the opening drive since the Colorado State game Oct. 28, a span of four games. The Falcons punted in each of the previous four games.
• Air Force game captains were seniors Thor Paglialong (OC), Zac Larrier (QB), Bo Richter (OLB) and Trey Taylor (DB).
Individual Notes
• Senior QB Zac Larrier made his first start since the Hawaii game, returning after a two-game absence. Larrier was 3 for 5 passing for 45 yards and a touchdown and ran nine times for 26 yards and a touchdown.
• Senior FB Emmanuel Michel rushed for a career-high and Air Force bowl-record 203 yards to record his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season. He was named the Armed Forces Bowl MVP. The 100-yard effort is the sixth of his career. He also recorded a season-long 54-yard run on the first offensive play for Air Force. His previous high was 53 yards vs. Colorado State. The 54-yard run is the longest by a Falcon in a bowl game since Shayne Davern had a 55-yarder vs. Western Michigan in the 2014 Idaho Potato Bowl. Michel tied an Air Force bowl game record with two rushing touchdowns, the 16th time in program history it's been done and first time since Brad Roberts last year. He set a career-high with 35 carries, surpassing his previous bests of 33 carries for 148 yards against San Jose State.
• Senior OLB Bo Richter recorded five tackles and career highs of 3.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. He ties the Air Force bowl record for most sacks in a game and sets a new record for most TFLs in a bowl game (Corey Nelson had 3.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss vs. Fresno State in the 2000 Silicon Valley Bowl). Richter has recorded at least one tackle for loss in 11 of 13 games this season. Richter finished the season with 10.0 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. His 10 sacks is tied for fifth-most in a season at Air Force and the most since 1994.
• Senior ILB Johnathan Youngblood recorded his third interception of the season. He has had an interception in two of the last three games.
• Junior DL Payton Zdroik recorded two tackles, a sack and one quarterback hurry. Zdroik finished with 4.5 sacks on the season.
• Junior DB Jamari Bellamy had a team-leading six tackles, including a tackle for loss and one pass breakup. His six tackles tied a career high.
• Senior RB John Lee Eldridge III ran for 78 yards on 8 carries. Eldridge had a 51-yard run.
• Junior WR Jared Roznos had one catch, which went for a 42-yard touchdown reception. It was his third touchdown catch of the season. It was also his fourth catch of 40-plus yards this season.
AIR FORCE SECOND IN THE NATION IN RUSHING
• Air Force finished second in the nation in rushing with a 281.5 average. The Falcons have led the nation 33 of the last 39 weeks dating back to 2021.
• Air Force led the nation in rushing last season with a 326.7 average. The Falcons were the only program to average 300-plus yards per game. Air Force went wire-to-wire for the first time in program history, leading the nation since the first week of the season, setting a new school record for consecutive weeks leading the nation with 14.
• Air Force has won the national rushing title four times overall in program history. National title years: 2002 (307.8), 2020 (305.7), 2021 (327.7), 2022 (326.7). The Falcons are just the second school to win three straight titles and first since 2008.
2023 NCAA Rushing Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Liberty (CUSA).............. 293.3
2. Air Force (MW)............. 281.5
3. West Virginia (Big 12).... 228.9
4. UCF (Big 12).................. 228.2
5. Cincinnati (Big 12)......... 217.1
AIR FORCE AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS IN THREE OTHER CATEGORIES
• Air Force averaged an NCAA-best 20.38 yards per completion. The team held the top spot each week during the season.
• Air Force ranks fifth nationally in time of possession with a 33:18 mark. The Falcons won the time of possession battle in 10 of 13 games, posting 32:00-plus eight times. Air Force had a season-best 39:05 vs. San Jose State.
• Air Force led the nation in fewest penalty yards per game with a 24.77 average.
THIS AND THAT
• Air Force opened the season 8-0 which was the best start since a school-record 10-0 start in 1985 and just the fourth time in program history to start 8-0 or better.
• The Falcons opened 5-0 in Mountain West play for the first time in program history. The conference start is the second best in program history, trailing only the 6-0 start in 1985 in the WAC.
• Air Force has won 12 of its last 13 games by double digits.
• Air Force improved to 47-19-2 in season openers, including a 41-8 mark in season openers at home, following a 42-7 win over Robert Morris. The Falcons have 17 straight and 18 of the last 20. Air Force has won 26 straight openers against unranked teams dating back to 1994.
• Air Force defeated Robert Morris, 42-7, to win its 17th straight season opener. Air Force's 17-game winning streak is the third-best active streak in the nation, trailing only Ohio State (24) and Alabama (22).
• Air Force won 13 straight games dating back to last season until its first loss this season which tied a school record with the 1984-85 team. The streak was the fourth longest active streak in the nation.
2023 DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Air Force has held 15 of last 20 opponents to 21 points or fewer dating back to last season.
• Air Force gave up just 10 combined points its first two games, tied for the fewest allowed through two games of a season by a Mountain West school in conference history.
• The Falcons lead the conference in five categories. Air Force was among the top 10 nationally in four categories.
Single-Game Highlights
• Air Force held James Madison to 26 yards on 19 carries, an average of 1.4 yards per carry.
• Air Force held Navy scoreless in the first three quarters and to only one first down in the first half. The defense held Navy to minus nine yards on nine plays in the third quarter. Air Force held Navy to just 124 total yards on 64 plays, an average of 1.9 yards per play. Navy was held to just 22 rushing yards on 35 carries, an average of 0.6 yards per carry.
• Air Force held San Diego State scoreless in the second half, holding the Aztecs to 71 total yards and four first downs.
• Air Force held San Jose State to just eight yards in the third quarter and 80 yards in the second half. The Falcons shutout the Spartans in the second half.
• Air Force held Sam Houston to 80 total yards, the fourth-lowest total in program history and lowest since allowing 75 yards to Stony Brook in 2018. It was the seventh consecutive game holding an opponent below 300 yards on offense. Air Force only allowed Sam Houston to cross the 50 on one drive with the deepest penetration being the Air Force 29. The Bearkats took just 10 snaps in Air Force territory. The defense also forced Sam Houston into six three-and-out possessions.
AIR FORCE SIXTH NATIONALLY IN TOTAL DEFENSE
• Air Force once again had one of the nation's top defenses. The Falcons, who led the nation in total defense for the first time in program history last season, ranked sixth with a 277.7 average.
• Air Force has ranked in the nation's top 10 the last four seasons in total defense.
NCAA Total Defense Leaders
# Team (Conf.)................. Avg
1. Michigan (Big Ten)......... 247.0
2. Penn State (Big Ten)...... 247.6
3. Ohio State (Big Ten)...... 265.4
4. Ohio (MAC)................... 273.5
5. Notre Dame (Ind.)......... 276.3
6. Air Force (MW)............. 277.7
Air Force National Ranking Last Four Years
Year........ Ranking (Avg.)
2023....... 6th (277.7)
2022....... 1st (254.4)
2021....... 4th (296.5)
2020....... 6th (303.3)
Air Force ended the season 9-4 overall and finished fourth in the Mountain West with a 5-3 record. The Falcons capped the season with a 31-21 win over #24/25 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas. The bowl win marks a program-record fifth straight and second straight in the Armed Forces Bowl. The victory over a ranked team is the first by the Falcons since 2016 and first-ever in a bowl. Air Force improved to 40-12 the last four full seasons, including a 23-9 mark in conference games over the same stretch.
Air Force opened the season 8-0 and was ranked 17th in both polls, marking the third straight week ranked, the longest streak since being ranked four straight weeks in 2002. The regular season ranking was the first since Oct. 3, 2010, when Air Force was ranked 25th in the AP poll. The ranking in both polls in the regular season is the first since Oct. 10, 2010, when the Falcons were 23rd in each poll. Air Force was ranked 25th in the initial College Football Playoff poll, marking the first appearance in the poll in program history. The Falcons finished the season among others receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches poll, ranking 34th with seven points.
Air Force senior Trey Taylor earned the Jim Thorpe Award, as the nation's top defensive back, marking just the second major award in program history and first since 1987. He also earned the Defender of the Nation Award and was the program's first first-team All-American since 2010, earning first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association.
Air Force placed seven players on the all-Mountain West football teams. Senior offensive lineman Thor Paglialong, along with defensive lineman PJ Ramsey, outside linebacker Bo Richter and Taylor were all named first-team all-Mountain West. Seniors Emmanuel Michel (fullback), Adam Karas (offensive lineman) and Alec Mock (inside linebacker) were named second-team all-MW. Junior kicker Matthew Dapore, senior safety Jayden Goodwin and senior quarterback Zac Larrier all earned honorable mention honors. Air Force's seven first- and second-team selections is the most since 2009.
AIR FORCE 40-12 LAST FOUR SEASONS
• Air Force is 40-12 the last four full seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Air Force was 9-4 this season and finished 10-3 in 2022 and 2021 and 11-2 in 2019.
• The Falcons are 23-9 in conference play during the same stretch. Air Force was 5-3 this season and finished tied for fourth. The team was 5-3 and finished second in the Mountain Division last season. Air Force shared the Mountain Division title with a 6-2 mark in 2021 and finished second with a 7-1 mark in 2019.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Air Force's 31-21 win over #24/25 James is the program's first over a ranked team since beating #19 Boise State, 27-20, Nov. 25, 2016, in Falcon Stadium. Air Force snapped a three-game losing streak vs. ranked teams. The win is the first over a ranked team in a bowl game in program history. Air Force improved to 1-2-1 all-time in bowl games vs. ranked teams.
• Air Force is 19-75-4 all-time vs. ranked teams.
• Air Force was ranked 17th in both polls earlier this season, marking the third straight week ranked, the longest streak since being ranked four straight weeks in 2002.
• The regular season ranking is the first since Oct. 3, 2010, when Air Force was ranked 25th in the AP poll. The ranking in both polls in the regular season is the first since Oct. 10, 2010, when the Falcons were 23rd in each poll.
• Air Force was ranked 25th in the initial College Football Playoff poll, marking the first appearance in the poll in program history.
• Air Force finished the season unranked in the AP poll and among others receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches poll. The Falcons were 34th with seven points.
AIR FORCE VS. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
• Air Force finished 4-1 this season and is 13-2 over the last three seasons vs. non-conferences foes.
• Air Force is 52-28 against non-conference opponents under head coach Troy Calhoun.
• The Falcons are 31-4 at home, 11-17 on the road and 10-7 in neutral site games.
AIR FORCE BOWL NOTES
• Air Force has played in 30 bowl games. The Falcons are 16-13-1 all-time.
• The Falcons have earned a bowl bid 13 times in Head Coach Troy Calhoun's 17 seasons. Air Force is 8-5 in bowls under Calhoun.
• Air Force has won five straight and six of the last seven bowl games.
• The Armed Forces Bowl ranked third in viewership during the second week of bowl week with 2.44 million viewers. The bowl trailed only the Las Vegas Bowl between Northwestern and Utah (3.09 million) and hte Birmingham Bowl between Duke and Troy (2.67 million).
LAST TIME OUT
Air Force defeated #24/25 James Madison, 31-21, in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The bowl win is the fifth straight for the Falcons. Emmanuel Michel opened the scoring for Air Force, scoring the first of two one-yard rushing touchdowns to put the Falcons up, 7-0. Following a JMU touchdown pass, Michel scored again to make it 14-7 midway through the second quarter. The Falcons extended the lead to 21-7 at halftime with a Zac Larrier 42-yard touchdown pass to Jared Roznos. JMU cut the lead to 21-14 with a touchdown to open the third quarter. The Falcons answered with a Larrier touchdown run to make it 28-14. Matthew Dapore added a field goal midway through the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 31-14 with 8:20 remaining. JMU added a late touchdown to make up the final margin. Air Force rolled up 396 total yards, including 351 rushing against the nation's top-ranked rushing defense. Michel, who was named the game's most valuable player, rushed for an Air Force bowl game record 203 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries. Air Force held JMU to 283 total yards, including just 26 yards rushing on 19 carries. Senior Bo Richter led the way with Air Force bowl records of 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.
LAST GAME NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force won its fifth straight bowl game and sixth in the last seven, including its second consecutive Armed Forces Bowl. The five-game bowl winning streak is the longest in program history. Air Force improved to 16-13-1 all-time in 30 bowl games in program history. The Falcons improved to 3-4 all-time in the Armed Forces Bowl.
• Air Force improved to 5-0 all-time against teams from the Sun Belt, including a 2-0 mark against the conference in bowl games.
• Air Force improved to 9-0 this season when leading after three quarters of play.
• Air Force had zero penalties or turnovers in a game for the first time since Sept. 16, 2022 vs. Wyoming.
• Air Force scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the fourth time this season. The touchdown is the first on the opening drive since the Colorado State game Oct. 28, a span of four games. The Falcons punted in each of the previous four games.
• Air Force game captains were seniors Thor Paglialong (OC), Zac Larrier (QB), Bo Richter (OLB) and Trey Taylor (DB).
Individual Notes
• Senior QB Zac Larrier made his first start since the Hawaii game, returning after a two-game absence. Larrier was 3 for 5 passing for 45 yards and a touchdown and ran nine times for 26 yards and a touchdown.
• Senior FB Emmanuel Michel rushed for a career-high and Air Force bowl-record 203 yards to record his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season. He was named the Armed Forces Bowl MVP. The 100-yard effort is the sixth of his career. He also recorded a season-long 54-yard run on the first offensive play for Air Force. His previous high was 53 yards vs. Colorado State. The 54-yard run is the longest by a Falcon in a bowl game since Shayne Davern had a 55-yarder vs. Western Michigan in the 2014 Idaho Potato Bowl. Michel tied an Air Force bowl game record with two rushing touchdowns, the 16th time in program history it's been done and first time since Brad Roberts last year. He set a career-high with 35 carries, surpassing his previous bests of 33 carries for 148 yards against San Jose State.
• Senior OLB Bo Richter recorded five tackles and career highs of 3.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. He ties the Air Force bowl record for most sacks in a game and sets a new record for most TFLs in a bowl game (Corey Nelson had 3.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss vs. Fresno State in the 2000 Silicon Valley Bowl). Richter has recorded at least one tackle for loss in 11 of 13 games this season. Richter finished the season with 10.0 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. His 10 sacks is tied for fifth-most in a season at Air Force and the most since 1994.
• Senior ILB Johnathan Youngblood recorded his third interception of the season. He has had an interception in two of the last three games.
• Junior DL Payton Zdroik recorded two tackles, a sack and one quarterback hurry. Zdroik finished with 4.5 sacks on the season.
• Junior DB Jamari Bellamy had a team-leading six tackles, including a tackle for loss and one pass breakup. His six tackles tied a career high.
• Senior RB John Lee Eldridge III ran for 78 yards on 8 carries. Eldridge had a 51-yard run.
• Junior WR Jared Roznos had one catch, which went for a 42-yard touchdown reception. It was his third touchdown catch of the season. It was also his fourth catch of 40-plus yards this season.
AIR FORCE SECOND IN THE NATION IN RUSHING
• Air Force finished second in the nation in rushing with a 281.5 average. The Falcons have led the nation 33 of the last 39 weeks dating back to 2021.
• Air Force led the nation in rushing last season with a 326.7 average. The Falcons were the only program to average 300-plus yards per game. Air Force went wire-to-wire for the first time in program history, leading the nation since the first week of the season, setting a new school record for consecutive weeks leading the nation with 14.
• Air Force has won the national rushing title four times overall in program history. National title years: 2002 (307.8), 2020 (305.7), 2021 (327.7), 2022 (326.7). The Falcons are just the second school to win three straight titles and first since 2008.
2023 NCAA Rushing Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Liberty (CUSA).............. 293.3
2. Air Force (MW)............. 281.5
3. West Virginia (Big 12).... 228.9
4. UCF (Big 12).................. 228.2
5. Cincinnati (Big 12)......... 217.1
AIR FORCE AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS IN THREE OTHER CATEGORIES
• Air Force averaged an NCAA-best 20.38 yards per completion. The team held the top spot each week during the season.
• Air Force ranks fifth nationally in time of possession with a 33:18 mark. The Falcons won the time of possession battle in 10 of 13 games, posting 32:00-plus eight times. Air Force had a season-best 39:05 vs. San Jose State.
• Air Force led the nation in fewest penalty yards per game with a 24.77 average.
THIS AND THAT
• Air Force opened the season 8-0 which was the best start since a school-record 10-0 start in 1985 and just the fourth time in program history to start 8-0 or better.
• The Falcons opened 5-0 in Mountain West play for the first time in program history. The conference start is the second best in program history, trailing only the 6-0 start in 1985 in the WAC.
• Air Force has won 12 of its last 13 games by double digits.
• Air Force improved to 47-19-2 in season openers, including a 41-8 mark in season openers at home, following a 42-7 win over Robert Morris. The Falcons have 17 straight and 18 of the last 20. Air Force has won 26 straight openers against unranked teams dating back to 1994.
• Air Force defeated Robert Morris, 42-7, to win its 17th straight season opener. Air Force's 17-game winning streak is the third-best active streak in the nation, trailing only Ohio State (24) and Alabama (22).
• Air Force won 13 straight games dating back to last season until its first loss this season which tied a school record with the 1984-85 team. The streak was the fourth longest active streak in the nation.
2023 DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Air Force has held 15 of last 20 opponents to 21 points or fewer dating back to last season.
• Air Force gave up just 10 combined points its first two games, tied for the fewest allowed through two games of a season by a Mountain West school in conference history.
• The Falcons lead the conference in five categories. Air Force was among the top 10 nationally in four categories.
Single-Game Highlights
• Air Force held James Madison to 26 yards on 19 carries, an average of 1.4 yards per carry.
• Air Force held Navy scoreless in the first three quarters and to only one first down in the first half. The defense held Navy to minus nine yards on nine plays in the third quarter. Air Force held Navy to just 124 total yards on 64 plays, an average of 1.9 yards per play. Navy was held to just 22 rushing yards on 35 carries, an average of 0.6 yards per carry.
• Air Force held San Diego State scoreless in the second half, holding the Aztecs to 71 total yards and four first downs.
• Air Force held San Jose State to just eight yards in the third quarter and 80 yards in the second half. The Falcons shutout the Spartans in the second half.
• Air Force held Sam Houston to 80 total yards, the fourth-lowest total in program history and lowest since allowing 75 yards to Stony Brook in 2018. It was the seventh consecutive game holding an opponent below 300 yards on offense. Air Force only allowed Sam Houston to cross the 50 on one drive with the deepest penetration being the Air Force 29. The Bearkats took just 10 snaps in Air Force territory. The defense also forced Sam Houston into six three-and-out possessions.
AIR FORCE SIXTH NATIONALLY IN TOTAL DEFENSE
• Air Force once again had one of the nation's top defenses. The Falcons, who led the nation in total defense for the first time in program history last season, ranked sixth with a 277.7 average.
• Air Force has ranked in the nation's top 10 the last four seasons in total defense.
NCAA Total Defense Leaders
# Team (Conf.)................. Avg
1. Michigan (Big Ten)......... 247.0
2. Penn State (Big Ten)...... 247.6
3. Ohio State (Big Ten)...... 265.4
4. Ohio (MAC)................... 273.5
5. Notre Dame (Ind.)......... 276.3
6. Air Force (MW)............. 277.7
Air Force National Ranking Last Four Years
Year........ Ranking (Avg.)
2023....... 6th (277.7)
2022....... 1st (254.4)
2021....... 4th (296.5)
2020....... 6th (303.3)
Players Mentioned
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