The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Air Force – INSIDE SLANT
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun is the first to admit that his young and injury-riddled team is hard “a work of art.” But the Falcons (4-3, 2-1) somehow find a way to keep winning.
Take Saturday night’s 28-23 victory over New Mexico for example.
The Falcons lost the turnover battle, 2-0, and allowed 409 yards rushing, including a Mountain West record 338 yards on 39 carries by Kasey Carrier, yet still found a way to pull out the win.
Linebacker Alex Means, who earlier returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown, combined with Alexander Hansen to drop wide receiver Lamaar Thomas for a 4-yard loss on fourth-and-4 at the Air Force 12 late in the fourth quarter and Air Force held on for the victory.
“It’s ugly, but we’ll take it,” Means told the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Added head coach Troy Calhoun: “You can’t confuse us with being a gorgeous team or a work of art. ? But it is good to win.”
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NCAAF Team Report – Air Force – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: The Falcons have a quick turnaround with a nationally televised contest against Nevada (6-2, 3-1) on Friday night at Falcon Stadium. It’s a big game for both teams as far as staying in the conference race and also positioning for possible bowl berths. The Wolf Pack figure to be smarting after dropping a 39-38 overtime decision to San Diego State at home on Saturday night.
–Air Force has now won five in a row and eight of the last nine meetings against New Mexico.
–Air Force remains the only team in the FBS not to give up a quarterback sack this season. The Falcons have attempted 74 passes. Air Force has not allowed a sack in nine of its last 10 games dating back to a Nov. 12, 2011 contest against Wyoming.
–Air Force extended its streak of consecutive games with at least one rushing touchdown to 41 straight games dating back to an Oct. 3, 2009 game against Navy.
KEEP AN EYE ON: DB Christian Spears — The sophomore recorded a career-high 20 tackles, the second time this season he finished in double digits in tackles. He also had 12 tackles against Navy. The 20 tackles were the most in a game this season by a Falcon.
LOOKING GOOD: LB Alex Means — The senior scored the first touchdown of his career on a 65-yard interception return in the second quarter that gave Air Force a 14-10 lead. It was the third interception of his career. Means is the first Falcon to score a non-offensive touchdown since Jordan Waiwaiole scored on a 52-yard fumble return against Army in 2010.
STILL NEEDS WORK: Air Force’s defense, which came into the game ranked No. 82 nationally allowing 420.7 yards per game, gave up 409 yards rushing to a New Mexico team that was playing its third team quarterback in the second half and had to resort to running the Wildcat and using direct snaps for much of its offense after intermission.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “You can’t confuse us with being gorgeous or a work of art.” — Air Force coach Troy Calhoun after the 4-3 Falcons hung on to defeat New Mexico, 28-23, despite a Mountain West record 338 yards rushing by Kasey Carrier.
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NCAAF Team Report – Air Force – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–QB Connor Dietz was a perfect 4-for-4 for 61 yards and still hasn’t thrown an interception in 69 attempts this season. The fifth-year senior has thrown just one pick in 129 career attempts.
–FB Wes Cobb scored a career-high three touchdowns in the win over New Mexico, his first three TDs of the season. He also finished with a season-high 82 yards rushing.
–WR Ty MacAuthur tied his career high with four catches.
ROSTER REPORT
–RB Cody Getz, who entered the weekend as the nation’s No. 2 rusher, sat out the game with a sprained left ankle suffered in the Oct. 13 game at Wyoming.
–QB Connor Dietz left the New Mexico game with a laceration to his hand but later returned.
–FB Broam Hart (broken hand) is out indefinitely.
–C Austin Hayes left the New Mexico game with an undisclosed injury.
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