Game 1: Air Force (0-0, 0-0 MW) vs. Merrimack (0-0, 0-0 MAAC)
8/26/2024 2:42:00 PM | Football
THE GAME
• Air Force opens the 2024 season by hosting Merrimack on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 1:30 p.m. MT in Falcon Stadium. The game is one of the highlights of Parent's Weekend, which is a campus-wide celebration. Parent's Weekend is the first time families get to see their freshman cadets since the began Basic Cadet Training in June.
• Air Force is 47-19-2 in season openers, including a 41-8 mark in season openers at home.
• Air Force has won 17 straight and 18 of the last 20 season openers with the only losses
coming at No. 11 Tennessee in 2006 and vs. No. 13 California in 2004.
THE MATCHUP
Category Air Force Merrimack
Current Streak: W 1 L 1
Rankings (Coaches/AP): RV/-- NA
Last week: NA NA
Next week: vs. San Jose State (9/7) at UConn (9/7)
THE COACHES
Category Air Force Merrimack
Head Coach: Troy Calhoun Mike Gennetti
Alma Mater (Year): Air Force (1989) Worcester State, 2003
School Record (Years): 130-78 (18 years) First Season
Career Record (Years): Same Same
Record vs. Opponent: First Meeting NA
THE SERIES
This is the first meeting between the schools.
LOOKING AT MERRIMACK
Merrimack finished 5-6 last season, including a 4-3 mark in conference play. Merrimack averaged 26.8 points per game last season while allowing 21.4. The Warriors averaged 304.4 yards of total offense, including 186.0 rushing and 118.4 passing. Quarterback Malakai Anthony returns after passing for 795 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023. Leading tackler DJ Frazier returns to lead the defense. He recorded 52 total tackles with 5.5 for loss last season. Merrimack plays at Connecticut next week.
AIR FORCE VS. FCS TEAMS
Air Force is 27-0 all-time against teams from the Football Championship Subdivision with all 27 meetings coming in Falcon Stadium. Head Coach Troy Calhoun is 17-0, including a 42-7 win over Robert Morris to open the 2023 season.
Calhoun vs. FCS Teams
Date.......... Opponent.......................... Result
9-2-23....... Robert Morris.................... W 42-7
9-3-22....... Northern Iowa................... W 48-17
9-4-21....... Lafayette............................ W 35-14
8-31-19..... Colgate.............................. W 48-7
9-1-18....... Stony Brook....................... W 38-0
9-3-17....... VMI................................... W 62-0
9-3-16....... Abilene Christian................ W 37-21
9-5-15....... Morgan State..................... W 63-7
8-30-14..... Nicholls State..................... W 44-16
8-31-13..... Colgate.............................. W 38-13
9-1-12....... Idaho State........................ W 49-21
9-24-11..... Tennessee State................. W 63-24
9-3-11....... South Dakota..................... W 37-20
9-4-10....... Northwestern State............ W 65-21
9-5-09....... Nicholls State..................... W 72-0
8-30-08..... Southern Utah................... W 41-7
9-1-07....... South Carolina State........... W 34-3
SEASON OPENERS
• Air Force is 47-19-2 in season openers, including a 41-8 mark in season openers at home.
• Air Force has won 17 straight and 18 of the last 20 season openers with the only losses
coming at No. 11 Tennessee in 2006 and vs. No. 13 California in 2004.
• The Falcons have won 19 of the last 20 season openers at home with the only loss coming vs. No. 13 California in 2004.
• Air Force has won 26 straight season openers vs. unranked teams dating back to a 34-21
setback vs. Colorado State in 1994.
Air Force Season Openers Under Calhoun
Year........ Opponent............................. Result
2023...... Robert Morris....................... W 42-7
2022...... Northern Iowa...................... W 48-17
2021...... Lafayette............................... W 35-14
2020...... Navy..................................... W 40-7
2019...... Colgate................................. W 48-7
2018...... Stony Brook.......................... W 38-0
2017...... VMI...................................... W 62-0
2016...... Abilene Christian................... W 37-21
2015...... Morgan State........................ W 63-7
2014...... Nicholls State........................ W 44-16
2013...... Colgate................................. W 38-13
2012...... Idaho State........................... W 49-21
2011...... South Dakota........................ W 37-20
2010...... Northwestern State............... W 65-21
2009...... Nicholls State........................ W 72-0
2008...... Southern Utah...................... W 41-7
2007...... South Carolina State.............. W 34-3
LAST SEASON'S OPENER
Air Force defeated Robert Morris, 42-7, to open the 2023 season. The Falcons used first-quarter touchdown runs by Cade Harris and Zac Larrier to build a 14-0 lead. Larrier hit Jared Roznos on an 84-yard touchdown and Owen Burk added a 27-yard touchdown run to give the Falcons a 28-0 halftime lead. Larrier added a second touchdown run in the third quarter to extend the lead to 35-0 and backup quarterback Jensen Jones added a seven-yard TD run to make it 42-0 in the fourth before Robert Morris got on the board with a late touchdown pass. The Falcons had 469 total yards, including 374 rushing. Larrier led the way with a career-high 99 yards rushing, while hitting 2-3 passes for a career-best 95 yards. The defense held RMU to just 156 total yards. PJ Ramsey led the way with five tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Johnathan Youngblood had a team-best seven tackles and Trey Taylor added six.
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 last 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 last season and finished tied for fourth. The team was 5-3 and finished second in the Mountain Division in 2022. Air Force shared the Mountain Division title with a 6-2 mark in 2021 and finished second with a 7-1 mark in 2019.
AIR FORCE VS. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
• Air Force is 52-28 against non-conference opponents under head coach Troy Calhoun.
o The Falcons are 31-4 at home, 11-17 on the road and 10-7 in neutral site games.
• Air Force finished 4-1 last season and is 13-2 over the last three seasons vs. non-conferences foes.
2021-23 Non-Conference Results
2023
Dec. 23...... vs. James Madison (N)...... W 31-21
Nov. 4........ vs. Army (N)....................... L 3-23
Oct. 21...... at Navy.............................. W 17-6
Sept. 9....... at Sam Houston................. W 13-3
Sept. 2....... vs. Robert Morris................ W 42-7
2022
Dec. 22...... vs. Baylor (N)..................... W 30-15
Nov. 5........ vs. Army (N)....................... W 13-7
Oct. 1........ vs. Navy............................. W 13-10
Sept. 10..... vs. Colorado....................... W 41-10
Sept. 3....... vs. Northern Iowa.............. W 48-17
2021
Dec. 28...... vs. Louisville (N)................. W 31-28
Nov. 6........ vs. Army (N)....................... L 14-21 OT
Sept. 25..... vs. Florida Atlantic.............. W 31-7
Sept. 11..... at Navy.............................. W 23-3
Sept. 4....... vs. Lafayette....................... W 35-14
AIR FORCE AT HOME
• Air Force is 76-25 (.752) 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.
• 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
2023...... 4-1......... Air Force is 10-2 the last two seasons
2022...... 6-1......... Matched program record for wins with six, fifth time with six under Calhoun
2021...... 4-2......... Air Force .500 or better for 14th time 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 76-25
NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Air Force is receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches preseason poll. The Falcons received one point to tie for 51st overall.
• Air Force finished the 2023 season among others receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches poll. The Falcons were 34th with seven points.
MORE AUGUST GAMES, PLEASE
• Air Force is 11-0 all-time in the month of August.
• All 11 games have been played in Falcon Stadium.
• The Falcons are 3-0 in conference play in August.
• Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun is 4-0 in August.
• This week is the first game in August since a 48-7 win over Colgate Aug. 31, 2019.
Date Opponent Result
8-31-85..... UTEP*.................... W 48-6
8-30-86..... Hawaii*.................. W 24-17
8-31-91..... Weber State........... W 48-31
8-31-96..... San Jose State*...... W 45-0
8-30-97..... Idaho..................... W 14-10
8-31-02..... Northwestern........ W 52-3
8-30-03..... Wofford................. W 49-0
8-30-08..... Southern Utah....... W 41-7
8-31-13..... Colgate.................. W 38-13
8-30-14..... Nicholls State......... W 44-16
8-31-19..... Colgate.................. W 48-7
* - Conference game
AIR FORCE PICKED FOURTH IN MOUNTAIN WEST
Air Force was picked fourth in the 2024 Mountain West football preseason poll. Boise State was selected as the preseason favorite to claim the 2024 Mountain West football regular-season title, as selected by a media panel.
The Broncos, who claimed a share of the 2023 regular-season MW title and won last year's Mountain West Football Championship game, earned 38 of 46 first-place votes and 543 total points to lead the preseason poll for the 14th straight season.
2024 Mountain West Predicted Order of Finish
#....... Team (first-place votes).. Points
1. ..... Boise State (38)............... 543
2. ..... UNLV (4)......................... 471
3. ..... Fresno State (4) ..............460
4. ..... Air Force ........................ 384
5. ..... Colorado State ................337
6. ..... Wyoming........................ 296
7. ..... Utah State ...................... 285
8. ..... San Diego State ..............251
9. ..... Hawai'i ........................... 214
10.... San José State.................185
11.... New Mexico ................... 85
12.... Nevada .......................... 77
NEW-LOOK FALCONS IN 2024
• Air Force returns just four starters on offense and defense in 2024. The Falcons return one starter on offense and three on defense. The Falcons lost all five starting offensive linemen, plus the tight end, along with its starting backfield (QB, FB, RB).
• Air Force returns only 20.5 percent of its rushing output in 2024, losing its top three and five of its top seven leading rushers.
• Air Force returns only 14.8 percent of its passing output, losing its leading passer and three of its top four overall.
• Air Force returns just 27.8 percent of its total tackles output, losing 520 of its 720 total tackles, including its top six tacklers.
Category Lost Returning Pct. Ret. Total in 2023
Rushing 2,910 750 20.5% 3,660
Passing 949 164 14.8% 1,105
Tackles 520 200 27.8% 720
• Air Force opens the 2024 season by hosting Merrimack on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 1:30 p.m. MT in Falcon Stadium. The game is one of the highlights of Parent's Weekend, which is a campus-wide celebration. Parent's Weekend is the first time families get to see their freshman cadets since the began Basic Cadet Training in June.
• Air Force is 47-19-2 in season openers, including a 41-8 mark in season openers at home.
• Air Force has won 17 straight and 18 of the last 20 season openers with the only losses
coming at No. 11 Tennessee in 2006 and vs. No. 13 California in 2004.
THE MATCHUP
Category Air Force Merrimack
Current Streak: W 1 L 1
Rankings (Coaches/AP): RV/-- NA
Last week: NA NA
Next week: vs. San Jose State (9/7) at UConn (9/7)
THE COACHES
Category Air Force Merrimack
Head Coach: Troy Calhoun Mike Gennetti
Alma Mater (Year): Air Force (1989) Worcester State, 2003
School Record (Years): 130-78 (18 years) First Season
Career Record (Years): Same Same
Record vs. Opponent: First Meeting NA
THE SERIES
This is the first meeting between the schools.
LOOKING AT MERRIMACK
Merrimack finished 5-6 last season, including a 4-3 mark in conference play. Merrimack averaged 26.8 points per game last season while allowing 21.4. The Warriors averaged 304.4 yards of total offense, including 186.0 rushing and 118.4 passing. Quarterback Malakai Anthony returns after passing for 795 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023. Leading tackler DJ Frazier returns to lead the defense. He recorded 52 total tackles with 5.5 for loss last season. Merrimack plays at Connecticut next week.
AIR FORCE VS. FCS TEAMS
Air Force is 27-0 all-time against teams from the Football Championship Subdivision with all 27 meetings coming in Falcon Stadium. Head Coach Troy Calhoun is 17-0, including a 42-7 win over Robert Morris to open the 2023 season.
Calhoun vs. FCS Teams
Date.......... Opponent.......................... Result
9-2-23....... Robert Morris.................... W 42-7
9-3-22....... Northern Iowa................... W 48-17
9-4-21....... Lafayette............................ W 35-14
8-31-19..... Colgate.............................. W 48-7
9-1-18....... Stony Brook....................... W 38-0
9-3-17....... VMI................................... W 62-0
9-3-16....... Abilene Christian................ W 37-21
9-5-15....... Morgan State..................... W 63-7
8-30-14..... Nicholls State..................... W 44-16
8-31-13..... Colgate.............................. W 38-13
9-1-12....... Idaho State........................ W 49-21
9-24-11..... Tennessee State................. W 63-24
9-3-11....... South Dakota..................... W 37-20
9-4-10....... Northwestern State............ W 65-21
9-5-09....... Nicholls State..................... W 72-0
8-30-08..... Southern Utah................... W 41-7
9-1-07....... South Carolina State........... W 34-3
SEASON OPENERS
• Air Force is 47-19-2 in season openers, including a 41-8 mark in season openers at home.
• Air Force has won 17 straight and 18 of the last 20 season openers with the only losses
coming at No. 11 Tennessee in 2006 and vs. No. 13 California in 2004.
• The Falcons have won 19 of the last 20 season openers at home with the only loss coming vs. No. 13 California in 2004.
• Air Force has won 26 straight season openers vs. unranked teams dating back to a 34-21
setback vs. Colorado State in 1994.
Air Force Season Openers Under Calhoun
Year........ Opponent............................. Result
2023...... Robert Morris....................... W 42-7
2022...... Northern Iowa...................... W 48-17
2021...... Lafayette............................... W 35-14
2020...... Navy..................................... W 40-7
2019...... Colgate................................. W 48-7
2018...... Stony Brook.......................... W 38-0
2017...... VMI...................................... W 62-0
2016...... Abilene Christian................... W 37-21
2015...... Morgan State........................ W 63-7
2014...... Nicholls State........................ W 44-16
2013...... Colgate................................. W 38-13
2012...... Idaho State........................... W 49-21
2011...... South Dakota........................ W 37-20
2010...... Northwestern State............... W 65-21
2009...... Nicholls State........................ W 72-0
2008...... Southern Utah...................... W 41-7
2007...... South Carolina State.............. W 34-3
LAST SEASON'S OPENER
Air Force defeated Robert Morris, 42-7, to open the 2023 season. The Falcons used first-quarter touchdown runs by Cade Harris and Zac Larrier to build a 14-0 lead. Larrier hit Jared Roznos on an 84-yard touchdown and Owen Burk added a 27-yard touchdown run to give the Falcons a 28-0 halftime lead. Larrier added a second touchdown run in the third quarter to extend the lead to 35-0 and backup quarterback Jensen Jones added a seven-yard TD run to make it 42-0 in the fourth before Robert Morris got on the board with a late touchdown pass. The Falcons had 469 total yards, including 374 rushing. Larrier led the way with a career-high 99 yards rushing, while hitting 2-3 passes for a career-best 95 yards. The defense held RMU to just 156 total yards. PJ Ramsey led the way with five tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Johnathan Youngblood had a team-best seven tackles and Trey Taylor added six.
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 last 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 last season and finished tied for fourth. The team was 5-3 and finished second in the Mountain Division in 2022. Air Force shared the Mountain Division title with a 6-2 mark in 2021 and finished second with a 7-1 mark in 2019.
AIR FORCE VS. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
• Air Force is 52-28 against non-conference opponents under head coach Troy Calhoun.
o The Falcons are 31-4 at home, 11-17 on the road and 10-7 in neutral site games.
• Air Force finished 4-1 last season and is 13-2 over the last three seasons vs. non-conferences foes.
2021-23 Non-Conference Results
2023
Dec. 23...... vs. James Madison (N)...... W 31-21
Nov. 4........ vs. Army (N)....................... L 3-23
Oct. 21...... at Navy.............................. W 17-6
Sept. 9....... at Sam Houston................. W 13-3
Sept. 2....... vs. Robert Morris................ W 42-7
2022
Dec. 22...... vs. Baylor (N)..................... W 30-15
Nov. 5........ vs. Army (N)....................... W 13-7
Oct. 1........ vs. Navy............................. W 13-10
Sept. 10..... vs. Colorado....................... W 41-10
Sept. 3....... vs. Northern Iowa.............. W 48-17
2021
Dec. 28...... vs. Louisville (N)................. W 31-28
Nov. 6........ vs. Army (N)....................... L 14-21 OT
Sept. 25..... vs. Florida Atlantic.............. W 31-7
Sept. 11..... at Navy.............................. W 23-3
Sept. 4....... vs. Lafayette....................... W 35-14
AIR FORCE AT HOME
• Air Force is 76-25 (.752) 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.
• 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
2023...... 4-1......... Air Force is 10-2 the last two seasons
2022...... 6-1......... Matched program record for wins with six, fifth time with six under Calhoun
2021...... 4-2......... Air Force .500 or better for 14th time 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 76-25
NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Air Force is receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches preseason poll. The Falcons received one point to tie for 51st overall.
• Air Force finished the 2023 season among others receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches poll. The Falcons were 34th with seven points.
MORE AUGUST GAMES, PLEASE
• Air Force is 11-0 all-time in the month of August.
• All 11 games have been played in Falcon Stadium.
• The Falcons are 3-0 in conference play in August.
• Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun is 4-0 in August.
• This week is the first game in August since a 48-7 win over Colgate Aug. 31, 2019.
Date Opponent Result
8-31-85..... UTEP*.................... W 48-6
8-30-86..... Hawaii*.................. W 24-17
8-31-91..... Weber State........... W 48-31
8-31-96..... San Jose State*...... W 45-0
8-30-97..... Idaho..................... W 14-10
8-31-02..... Northwestern........ W 52-3
8-30-03..... Wofford................. W 49-0
8-30-08..... Southern Utah....... W 41-7
8-31-13..... Colgate.................. W 38-13
8-30-14..... Nicholls State......... W 44-16
8-31-19..... Colgate.................. W 48-7
* - Conference game
AIR FORCE PICKED FOURTH IN MOUNTAIN WEST
Air Force was picked fourth in the 2024 Mountain West football preseason poll. Boise State was selected as the preseason favorite to claim the 2024 Mountain West football regular-season title, as selected by a media panel.
The Broncos, who claimed a share of the 2023 regular-season MW title and won last year's Mountain West Football Championship game, earned 38 of 46 first-place votes and 543 total points to lead the preseason poll for the 14th straight season.
2024 Mountain West Predicted Order of Finish
#....... Team (first-place votes).. Points
1. ..... Boise State (38)............... 543
2. ..... UNLV (4)......................... 471
3. ..... Fresno State (4) ..............460
4. ..... Air Force ........................ 384
5. ..... Colorado State ................337
6. ..... Wyoming........................ 296
7. ..... Utah State ...................... 285
8. ..... San Diego State ..............251
9. ..... Hawai'i ........................... 214
10.... San José State.................185
11.... New Mexico ................... 85
12.... Nevada .......................... 77
NEW-LOOK FALCONS IN 2024
• Air Force returns just four starters on offense and defense in 2024. The Falcons return one starter on offense and three on defense. The Falcons lost all five starting offensive linemen, plus the tight end, along with its starting backfield (QB, FB, RB).
• Air Force returns only 20.5 percent of its rushing output in 2024, losing its top three and five of its top seven leading rushers.
• Air Force returns only 14.8 percent of its passing output, losing its leading passer and three of its top four overall.
• Air Force returns just 27.8 percent of its total tackles output, losing 520 of its 720 total tackles, including its top six tacklers.
Category Lost Returning Pct. Ret. Total in 2023
Rushing 2,910 750 20.5% 3,660
Passing 949 164 14.8% 1,105
Tackles 520 200 27.8% 720
Players Mentioned
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ILB
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