Three things to watch:
1 Who is going to rebound?
CSU has lost three straight games and has not led for 11 consecutive quarters. The Rams have lost 12 of their last 14 games and arrive at Falcon Stadium in desperate need of victory. But Air Force has troubles of its own. The Falcons lost, 38-35, to a UNLV team that had dropped 50 of its previous 62 Mountain West Conference games. Air Force led 28-17 and looked on its way to a breezy win as late as the third quarter.
2 Air Force’s pass defense.
Opposing quarterbacks have found repeated, consistent success when challenging the Falcons’ pass defense, which is No. 100 in national rankings. Air Force must put pressure on CSU quarterback Garett Grayson.
3 Cody Getz’s durability
Getz is enjoying a superb season, scoring seven touchdowns and consistently leaving defenders grasping for air with his elusiveness. Yet he watched chunks of Saturday’s loss to UNLV from the sidelines. CSU defenders will be looking to put big hits on Getz, who is 5-foot-7, 170 pounds.
KEY MATCHUP
Air Force defensive line vs. CSU running back Chris Nwoke.
Last season, Nwoke rushed for 1,130 yards, aided greatly by the 269 yards he collected against Air Force. Air Force coach Troy Calhoun believes the Rams will try a power approach against the Falcons. This approach worked last week in the second half for UNLV’s Rebels. Nwoke is returning to the starting lineup after missing two games with an ankle injury suffered against Colorado.
BY THE NUMBERS
0 Number of sacks by Air Force’s defense in the past two games. The Falcons have not recorded a sack since the opening game against Idaho State.
2 Air Force’s rank in national rushing statistics. The Falcons average 375 yards per game on the ground, second to Army’s 399 yards. CSU’s defense is 69th in the nation in rushing defense.
6 Number of consecutive wins by Air Force over CSU.
21.8 Air Force’s average margin of victory in the Falcons’ past five wins over CSU.
Quote to note:
“Once the first guy gets there, it’s got to stop there,” Air Force defensive back Brian Lindsay on needed improvement in Air Force tackling technique.
- David Ramsey, The Gazette
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