Game 11: Air Force (3-7, 1-4 MW) vs. Nevada (3-8, 0-5 MW)

Game 11: Air Force (3-7, 1-4 MW) vs. Nevada (3-8, 0-5 MW)
Saturday, Nov. 23, 8:30 p.m. MT, Mackay Stadium (30,000), Reno, NV

THE GAME
• The Falcons lead the series, 5-2, overall. Air Force is 3-1 at home and 2-1 at Nevada. The Falcons have won four of the last five in the series. Five of the seven games have been decided by seven points or less.
• Air Force defeated Nevada, 48-20, in 2022 in Falcon Stadium in the last meeting. The Falcons defeated Nevada, 41-39, in triple overtime in 2021 in the last meeting in Reno.
• Air Force enters the game on a two-game winning streak, its best since opening the 2023 season with an eight-game winning streak.
• Air Force has averaged 32.0 points per game while allowing 14.0 the last two games. The Falcons averaged 13.8 points while allowing 26.5 the first eight games of the season.

THE MATCHUP
Category                                      Air Force                                          Nevada
Current Streak: W 2 L 4
Rankings (Coaches/AP): --/-- --/--
Last week: W 28-0 vs. Oregon State Open
Next week: at San Diego State at UNLV

Head Coach:                               Troy Calhoun Jeff Choate
Alma Mater (Year): Air Force (1989) Montana Western (1993)
School Record (Years): 133-89 (18th year) 3-8 (1st year)
Career Record (Years): Same                                                 Same
Record vs. Opponent: 5-2 First Meeting

THE SERIES
• Air Force and Nevada are playing for the eighth time, all as conference foes
• The Falcons lead the series, 5-2
• Air Force is 3-1 at home and 2-1 at Nevada
• Air Force has won four of the last five in the series dating back to 2014
• Five of the seven meetings have been decided by seven points or less
• Air Force defeated Nevada, 48-20, in the last meeting in 2022 in Falcon Stadium
• Air Force defeated Nevada, 41-39, in triple overtime in 2021 in the last meeting in Nevada
• The team's first played in 2012 in Falcon Stadium, resulting in a 48-31 Air Force win

Year by Year
2012 - AF 48-31 (H)
2013 - Nevada 45-42 (A)
2014 - AF 45-38 (H) OT
2017 - AF 45-42 (A)
2018 - Nevada 28-25 (H)
2021 - AF 41-39 3OT (A)
2022 - AF 48-20 (H)
(H/A) is for AF

LAST SEASON
(Sept. 23, 2022) Air Force defeated Nevada, 48-20, in Falcon Stadium. Air Force jumped to a 10-0 first-quarter lead behind a field goal from Matthew Dapore and an 80-yard touchdown connection from Ben Brittain to David Cormier. Following a Nevada touchdown, Brad Roberts added the first two of his three touchdown runs to give the Falcons a 24-7 halftime lead. Roberts added his third touchdown run to open the third quarter to push the lead to 31-7. Dapore added a 51-yard field goal and Emmanual Michel scored a 26-yard rushing touchdown to give Air Force a commanding 41-7 lead late in the third quarter. Nevada scored two late touchdowns and Air Force added another to make up the final margin. The Falcons finished with 541 total yards, including 461 rushing. Roberts led the way with 123 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. John Lee Eldridge III added 102 yards rushing. Air Force had 30 first downs, held the ball for 43:41 and was 10-15 on third down conversions. The defense held Nevada to 242 total yards and 11 first downs. Alec Mock led the defense with eight tackles. Toa Taua led the Wolf Pack with 73 yards rushing and two touchdowns on seven carries.

LAST TIME AT NEVADA
(Nov. 19, 2021) Air Force defeated Nevada, 41-39, in triple overtime in Reno. Junior tailback DeAndre Hughes powered the Falcons with a career-high 208 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcon rolled up 499 total yards, including 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 Vince Sanford, who had six tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss, and Jordan Jackson, who had five tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss.

LAST WEEK
Air Force defeated Oregon State, 28-0, to win back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Falcons opened the scoring on a Quentin Hayes four-yard run to cap the opening drive of the game and take a 7-0 lead. Hayes added his second touchdown of the game on a one yard run in the second quarter to give the Falcons a 14-0 halftime lead. Following a scoreless third period, Dylan Carson scored a one-yard run to make it 21-0 early in the fourth. Owen Allen capped the day with a two-yard run with 3:05 remaining to make up the final margin. Air Force rushed for 270 yards while hitting all six passes for 139 yards to gain 409 total yards. The Falcons held the ball for 41:56 to mark the second straight game over 40 minutes in time of possession. Carson led the way with 97 yards on 26 carries while Hayes added 84 yards on 17 carries. He hit 5-5 passes for 110 yards. The defense held Oregon State to just 175 total yards, including just 69 rushing. The Falcons posted their first shutout since a 28-0 win over New Mexico in 2020. David Santiago led the way with six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

LAST WEEK'S NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force improved to 3-7 overall. The two-game winning streak is the longest since opening the 2023 season with eight straight wins.
• Air Force improved to 1-0 all-time vs. Oregon State.
• Air Force improved to 79-28 in Falcon Stadium under head coach Troy Calhoun. The Falcons improved to 3-3 this season at home to post the 17th season at .500 or better in Calhoun's 18 seasons.
• Air Force improved to 2-3 this season in non-conference games, including a 2-1 mark at home. The Falcons improved to 54-31 under head coach Troy Calhoun in non-conference games, including a 33-5 mark at home. Air Force has won 15 of the last 20 non-conference games.
• Air Force scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the second straight game and third time this season. The Falcons also scored TDs against Fresno State last week and Merrimack in the season opener.
• Air Force held the halftime lead, 14-0, marking just the third time this season the team has led at the half. The Falcons also led Merrimack, 14-0, and Wyoming, 13-7.
• Air Force posted its first shutout win since a 28-0 win over New Mexico in 2020.
• Air Force held Oregon State scoreless in the first half, marking the second time holding an opponent scoreless in the first half this season. The other came vs. Merrimack in the season opener (14-0).
• The Air Force defense had five sacks, six tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and an interception.
• Air Force was a perfect 6-for-6 passing for 139 yards. The 1.000 completion percentage does not qualify for the Academy top 10 list which requires 10 attempts. The school record 11-for-11 was set against Northwestern in 1989.
• Air Force's average yards per completion of 23.2 is a season high. The previous was 13.5 vs. New Mexico
• Air Force game captains for the Oregon State game were senior DB Camby Goff and senior OL Alex Moore.

Individual Notes
• Senior DB Camby Goff recorded his first interception of the season. The interception is the fourth of his career and first since recording three in 2022. His four interceptions are the most among active Falcons.
• Sophomore QB Quentin Hayes rushed for 84 yards and matched his career high with two touchdowns. Hayes also had two touchdowns against Fresno State last week.
• Junior RB Kade Frew rushed for 47 yards on a career high 10 carries. He had a long run of 29 yards, his second best this season.
• Sophomore LB David Santiago matched his career high with six tackles and recorded a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss. He has had a TFL in three straight games.
• Senior WR Brandon Engel completed the first pass of his career and sophomore QB Quentin Hayes had the first reception of his career.
• Junior Dylan Carson, after a season-high 120 rushing yards last week, rushed for 97 and a touchdown vs. Oregon State. He has a rushing touchdown in two straight games.

Game 11: Air Force (3-7, 1-4 MW) vs. Nevada (3-8, 0-5 MW)

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Owen Allen

Ben Brittain

Dylan Carson

Matthew Dapore

John Lee Eldridge III

Brandon Engel

Kade Frew

Camby Goff

Quentin Hayes

Dane Kinamon

Alec Mock

Alex Moore

David Santiago

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