AZTECS SCOUTING REPORT
The last two meetings between San Diego State and Air Force featured thunder, lightning and rain.
It was not unusual to experience those conditions in the mountains of Colorado Springs, Colo., during a late-September game in 2017.
It was something else altogether a year later during a mid-October game in San Diego.
The forecast for Saturday’s late-afternoon kickoff at the Air Force Academy is for a pleasant 68 degrees in a potential preview of the Mountain West championship game that will be played Dec. 4.
The Falcons’ triple-option offense is said to be very difficult to prepare for with just a week’s worth of practice. SDSU has found success against the Falcons, however, winning eight straight games between the teams since 2010.
Air Force (6-1, 3-1 MW) leads the series with SDSU 19-17.
About the Falcons
Air Force is poised to have its best season under Troy Calhoun, who in his 15th year with the Falcons is the longest-tenured head coach in the Mountain West.
Saturday night’s 24-17 victory over Boise State on the Blue Turf made the Falcons the winningest team in the Mountain Division, where Colorado State (3-3, 2-0) and Utah State (4-2, 2-1) are the only other teams with winning conference records.
The Aggies provided the only blemish on Air Force’s record, winning a Week 3 shootout 49-45 at Falcon Stadium.
The 2019 season ended with a 31-21 win over Washington State in the Cheez-It Bowl. The Falcons were ranked No. 22 in the final
AP poll, the only time they have been ranked to end a season under Calhoun and the first time since finishing the 1998 season 12-1 and ranked No. 13 under legendary coach Fisher DeBerry. Air Force was 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the MW during last year’s COVID-truncated season.
The off-again, on-again nature of the season resulted in 40 Air Force players taking “turnbacks,” which allows cadets to separate from the Academy for at least a semester when faced with a hardship.
It significantly negatively impacted the 2020 team — especially on defense — after the Mountain West reinstated the fall season. The Falcons are benefiting from it this year, however, by having seniors available who otherwise would have graduated in May.
The offense
The Falcons are running rampant — as is their way — while leading the nation in rushing offense. Air Force has rushed 462 times in seven games (an average of 66 carries a game) for a total of 2,355 yards (336.4 ypg). Those averages were even higher before Boise State “limited” the
Falcons to 304 yards on 63 carries last week.
The ground game is led by junior running back Brad Roberts (178 carries, 818 yards, 8 TDs), who ranks fifth in the nation in rushing yards.
Air Force junior quarterback Haaziq Daniels (101 carries, 525 yards, 9 TDs rushing/23-for-48, 553 yards, 2 TDs/1 INT passing) is the team’s second-leading rusher.
The ground game enables Air Force to play keep away from opponents. The Falcons are averaging 37 minutes in time of possession, second only to Army (38). Air Force seemingly only puts the ball in the air to get a gasp from the crowd. The Falcons were 1-for-2 passing in a win at New Mexico. They attempted only five passes against both Lafayette and Boise State. They aired it out
in a win over FAU, going 6-for-12. The offense benefits from discipline. Air Force is the least penalized team (29 penalties for 231 yards) in the Mountain West. The Falcons also lead the conference in third-down (49-for-105, 46.7 percent) and fourth-down (17-for-21, 80.9 percent) conversion rates.
The defense
SDSU’s defense is regarded as the best in the Mountain West. Air Force’s defense is right behind SDSU, however, ranking second to the Aztecs in both scoring (16.3 to 16.0 points per game) and rushing (91.3 to 61.2 yards per game).
Among the Falcons players to watch are junior linebacker Vince Sanford, who leads the team with 51⁄2 sacks, and senior strong safety Corvan Taylor, who leads the team with three interceptions and four pass breakups. Air Force is tied for 10th in the nation with a plus-7 turnover margin. The Falcons have intercepted five passes and recovered five fumbles while losing only two fumbles and making but one interception.