Air Force, Hawaii looking to end bad stretches
HONOLULU — Either Air Force or Hawaii will end an unwanted streak when they face off in Honolulu on Saturday.
The Falcons (4-3, 3-1 Mountain West) have yet to win a game on the road this season while the Rainbow Warriors (2-6, 0-4) have lost five consecutive games.
The Falcons rank third nationally with 333 yards rushing per game. In a win over Fresno State last week, they ran 79 times — the most attempts in the conference this season — for a season-high 428 yards, including 178 in the fourth quarter. The 90 offensive plays they ran against the Bulldogs were the most in a game in the conference this year.
The Rainbow Warriors are allowing an average of 229 yards rushing per game, second-worst in the league and 115th in the country.
“We just have to do the best we can,” Hawaii coach Norm Chow said. “It’s assignment football and you can’t miss. If one guy misses it’s a long gain, so it’s hard.”
Hawaii, the lone Mountain West team without a league win, has struggled on both sides of the ball. Its offense averages just under 18 points and 294 yards of total offense. Defensively, it allows nearly 32 points and 422 yards per game.
“They’re physical and they’re fast,” said Air Force coach Troy Calhoun. “They’re really, really, really good on defense.”
All four of Air Force’s victories have come at home. It has yet to hold a lead on the road this year in losses at Michigan State, Navy and Colorado State.
Around the Mountain West
Boise State at UNLV: After getting shellacked by Utah State two weeks ago, the Boise State Broncos bounced back last week with a comfortable 34-14 win over Wyoming. The Broncos hope to make it two in a row and at the top of the Mountain division as they head to Nevada to take on UNLV. The Rebels look to bounce back and end a two-game skid in which they’ve lost by a combined nine points.
San Diego State at Colorado
State: San Diego State hopes to remain perfect in conference play and stay atop the West division as they ride a four-game win streak into their matchup with Colorado State. The Rams look to build on a 38-23 home win over Air Force last week, with a win allowing the Rams to get back into the thick of the Mountain division race.