Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

UNLV FOOTBALL:

Take Five: Getting to know Air Force

Falcons are bowl eligible and tough yet again under Troy Calhoun

Kevin Fogler

AP PHOTO

Air Force receiver Kevin Fogler stretches for a first down against Utah in the Falcons’ 23-16 overtime loss to the Utes on Oct. 24. Fogler, who averages 23.4 yards per catch for Troy Calhoun’s 6-4 club, could be an x-factor when they meet 4-6 UNLV this weekend in Colorado Springs in what is a do-or-die contest for the Rebels.

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The Rebel Room

One season begins, will another continue?

Ryan Greene, Rob Miech and Ray Brewer discuss both UNLV's ugly exhibition — which, remember, was just an exhibition — against Washburn this week on the hardwood. Plus, the guys look at what kind of shot the 4-6 UNLV football team actually has to keep its dream alive at Air Force this weekend.

What others are saying

Read what other writers are saying about this weekend's Air Force-UNLV game:

Next game

  • Opponent: Air Force (6-3)
  • Date: Nov. 14, 3 p.m.
  • Where: Colorado Springs, Colo.
  • TV: The Mtn. (Cox Ch. 334)
  • Radio: ESPN 1100 AM
  • All-time series: Air Force leads, 10-4

The Air Force football program is quickly turning into one of college football's best-kept secrets west of the Mississippi.

With a 35-7 victory at home over Army last weekend, the Falcons improved to 6-4, now making them bowl eligible for the third time in three seasons under Troy Calhoun.

Some thought the program had slipped a bit before then, as Fisher DeBerry's 23-year tenure concluded with a trio of losing seasons and four straight years without a trip to a bowl game.

With Calhoun at the helm, the program is back on solid ground, as the Falcons simply win games. They're not flashy in doing so, relying heavily on two things — stout, consistent defense and a powerful run game which milks the clock, neutralizes the opponent's offense and moves the chains.

This weekend, the 4-6 Rebels have to find a way to crack this code if they want to make their Nov. 28 regular season finale against San Diego State relevant. A victory in Colorado Springs would not only keep UNLV's bowl hopes alive, but would give them a nice, signature win to highlight in a potential postseason resumé.

Now, a closer look at the Falcons.

1) Chop, run, keep moving

Stopping — or at least slowing down – Air Force's run game is basically 70 percent physical and 30 percent mental.

The Falcons employ a lot of option offense and multi-tailback formations. Plus, their quarterbacks are always mobile. Sophomore starter Tim Jefferson fits that mold.

But the big guys up front have a tendency to get into opponents' heads with the way they block.

Air Force is known for blocking low and even teetering on the fine line between what is a legal block and what can be flagged as a chop block, which is where one blocker goes low on a defender while the defender is engaged up top with another. They'll try to cut linemen and linebackers down low, and can quickly get opposing defenses frustrated.

Say what you will, but it works, as Air Force ranks fourth out of 120 FBS programs in rushing offense, averaging 264 yards per game the old-fashioned way.

UNLV did a respectable job against Air Force's run game last season in a narrow 29-28 loss at Sam Boyd Stadium, but this season ranks 111th in the country against the rush.

If the Rebels don't play stout again up front, their opportunities on offense could be limited.

At least seven different ball carriers have 134 yards on the ground this season for Air Force, led by tailbacks Jared Tew (654, six TDs) and Asher Clark (579, 5.1 per carry).

2) If you do get the ball ...

When opposing defense have been able to get the Falcons' offense off of the field, producing against them hasn't been easy.

Air Force is seventh in the nation in total defense. But if UNLV wants to find success in moving the ball, it might need to go to the ground a little more than it already does. While Calhoun's club possesses the country's top pass defense, it ranks 59th against the run.

What makes Air Force so good against the pass is the combination of its tricky 3-4 scheme, with three down linemen and four linebackers, as opposed to a traditional 4-3. But on top of that, the linebacking trio of John Falgout (80 tackles, one sack, three pass break-ups), Justin Moore (64 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss) and Andre Morris (44 tackles, three sacks). The three are versatile, and can both apply pressure in the backfield and drop back into coverage with ease.

Also worth a mention is senior nose guard Ben Garland, who plays his final home game as a Falcon this weekend. It all starts with him up front, as he's registered 38 tackles, nine stops for loss and 4.5 sacks this season.

UNLV averages 31.9 rushing attempts per game, but is averaging a respectable 3.9 yards per carry as a team. This could be a game where junior Channing Trotter (105 carries, 479 yards, eight TDs) is leaned on a bit more than he has been as the season's progressed.

All told, Air Force has only allowed one opponent to score more than 20 points this season. That was Utah, who needed overtime to get to 23. Those four losses Air Force has suffered have come by a combined 20 points.

That defense also forces miscues, as its 24 turnovers gained are tied for the fourth-most in the FBS.

3) Tricky, tricky ...

In last season's clash in Las Vegas, it wasn't the run which did UNLV in. Instead, it was the pass.

Then a freshman, Tim Jefferson completed six of his seven pass attempts and threw the first two touchdown passes of his career.

This season, Jefferson lost his job early on to fellow sophomore Connor Dietz, but Dietz suffered a broken hand on Oct. 24 at Utah and is out for the season. Now, instead of sharing playing time, Jefferson appears to be playing pressure-free football.

In Air Force's last two games — both wins — he's completed 11 of 19 passes for 242 yards, three touchdowns and no picks. He's also rushed for 60 yards on 19 carries with another score.

Air Force ranks 118th in passing offense, and only averages 10.4 attempts per game. But last year's trip to Sam Boyd Stadium was proof that it's still a weapon for the Falcons.

4) Cracks in the armor are tough to find

Air Force wins by grinding out opponents, obviously.

Well, that and by taking care of the ball.

Its efficient offense is tied for second in the nation in terms of fewest turnovers lost. The Falcons have lost five fumbles on 616 rushing attempts this season. If you're keeping count at home, that's one fumble lost per 123.2 attempts.

The one area where Air Force has been a bit sketchy is in the red zone, where it is tied for 60th in the FBS by scoring 82 percent of the time. On 14 of those 39 trips, the Falcons have been forced to settle for a field goal.

5) The x-factor

If Air Force does go with the trickery yet again on UNLV, 6-foot-5 junior receiver Kevin Fogler will need to be accounted for.

He only has 17 receptions in 10 games this season — a team best — but has made all of them count. His 297 yards give him an average of 23.4 yards per grab, including having caught five of Air Force's seven TDs through the air.

Tall and reliable, he could be a difference-maker.

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