2020 Air Force Falcons football team
2020 Air Force Falcons football | |
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Conference | Mountain West Conference |
Record | 3–3 (2–2 MW) |
Head coach |
|
Offensive coordinator | Mike Thiessen (10th season) |
Offensive scheme | Triple option |
Defensive coordinator | John Rudzinski (3rd season) |
Base defense | Multiple |
Home stadium | Falcon Stadium |
Uniform | |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 24 San Jose State y$ | 7 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boise State y | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nevada | 6 | – | 2 | 7 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
San Diego State | 4 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hawaii | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fresno State | 3 | – | 3 | 3 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Air Force | 2 | – | 2 | 3 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wyoming | 2 | – | 4 | 2 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Mexico | 2 | – | 5 | 2 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colorado State | 1 | – | 3 | 1 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Utah State | 1 | – | 5 | 1 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UNLV | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: San Jose State 34, Boise State 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rankings from AP Poll |
The 2020 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Falcons were led by 14th-year head coach Troy Calhoun and played their home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They competed as members of the Mountain West Conference.
Preseason
[edit]Award watch lists
[edit]Listed in the order that they were released
Award | Player | Position | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Lott IMPACT Trophy[2] | Demonte Meeks | LB | SR |
Davey O'Brien Award[3] | Donald Hammond III | QB | SR |
Outland Trophy[4] | Parker Ferguson | OL | SR |
Nolan Laufenberg | OL | SR | |
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[5] | Donald Hammond III | QB | SR |
Mountain West media days
[edit]The Mountain West media days were originally scheduled to take place from July 27–29, 2020, virtually, but were canceled.[6]
Media poll
[edit]The preseason poll was released on July 21, 2020. The Falcons were predicted to finish in third place in the MW Mountain Division.[7] The divisions were later suspended for the 2020 season.
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
---|---|---|
1 | Boise State | 125 (20) |
2 | Wyoming | 90 (1) |
3 | Air Force | 86 |
4 | Utah State | 60 |
5 | Colorado State | 59 |
6 | New Mexico | 21 |
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
---|---|---|
1 | San Diego State | 122 (19) |
2 | Nevada | 100 (2) |
3 | Hawaii | 74 |
4 | Fresno State | 73 |
5 | San Jose State | 43 |
6 | UNLV | 29 |
Preseason All−Mountain West Team
[edit]The Falcons had three players selected to the preseason All−Mountain West Team; two from the offense and one from the defense.[8]
Offense Parker Ferguson – OL Nolan Laufenberg – OL | Defense Demonte Meeks – LB |
Schedule
[edit]Air Force announced its 2020 football schedule on February 27, 2020.[9] The original 2020 schedule consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. On August 10, 2020, the Mountain West Conference announced the suspension of the football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10][11] Due to the nature of their institutions and rivalries, Air Force kept scheduled games with Army and Navy in order to play for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy in the fall.[12] Scheduled games against Duquesne and Purdue from the original schedule were canceled and Mountain West Conference play was suspended. On September 25, the Mountain West announced that their Board of Directors had met and approved plans to resume the football season.[13] The revised schedule was announced on October 1, with conference play beginning on October 24.[14] The Falcons had six conference games scheduled, two less than their MW counterparts to account for their service academy match-ups. The Army game, originally scheduled for November 7, was postponed indefinitely on November 5 with both schools saying they would reschedule the game if possible.[15][16] The Wyoming game, originally scheduled for November 14, was canceled on November 8.[17] The Colorado State game, originally scheduled for November 26, was canceled on November 25.[18] On that same day, the Air Force-Army game was rescheduled for December 19 at Michie Stadium.[19]
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 3 | 4:00 p.m. | Navy* | CBSSN | W 40–7 | 5,000 | ||
October 24 | 8:30 p.m. | at San Jose State | FS1 | L 6–17 | 0 | ||
October 31 | 4:00 p.m. | No. 25 Boise State |
| CBSSN | L 30–49 | 500 | |
at | No Contest | ||||||
November 20 | 7:30 p.m. | New Mexico |
| FS1 | W 28–0 | 100 | |
| No Contest | ||||||
December 3 | 7:30 p.m. | at Utah State | CBSSN | W 35–7 | 3,025 | ||
December 19 | 1:00 p.m. | at Army* |
| CBSSN | L 7–10 | 1,306 | |
|
- Source:[20]
Personnel
[edit]2020 Air Force Falcons football team roster | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||
Offense
| Defense
| Special teams
|
|
Game summaries
[edit]Navy
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Midshipmen | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Falcons | 3 | 13 | 3 | 21 | 40 |
at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO
- Date: October 3, 2020
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. MDT
- Game weather: Temperature: 64 °F (18 °C) • Wind: SSE 8 mph • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 5,000
- Referee: Luke Richmond
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst) & Jenny Dell (sideline)
- ESPN – Air Force kicker, defense pave way to 40–7 win over Navy[21] /// Box Score, Navy at Air Force[22] /// Pregame Notes[23] /// Postgame Notes[24]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Statistics | NAVY | AF |
---|---|---|
First downs | 10 | 25 |
3rd down efficiency | 5–13 | 2–9 |
4th down efficiency | 1–3 | 0–0 |
Plays–yards | 54–241 | 62–410 |
Rushes–yards | 36–90 | 53–369 |
Passing yards | 151 | 41 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 8–18–1 | 4–9–0 |
Penalties–yards | 4–30 | 3–23 |
Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
Time of possession | 25:52 | 34:08 |
At San Jose State
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
Spartans | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 17 |
at CEFCU Stadium, San Jose, CA
- Date: October 24, 2020
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Temperature: 62 °F (17 °C) • Wind: NNW 7 mph • Weather: Clear
- Game attendance: 0
- Referee: Scott Campbell
- TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust (play-by-play) & Petros Papadakis (analyst)
- ESPN – Air Force Falcons at San Jose State Spartans[25] /// Box Score, Air Force at San Jose State[26] /// Pregame Notes[27] /// Postgame Notes[28]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Statistics | AF | SJSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 17 | 19 |
3rd down efficiency | 9–16 | 5–12 |
4th down efficiency | 1–2 | 0–1 |
Plays–yards | 66–298 | 59–294 |
Rushes–yards | 49–206 | 30–68 |
Passing yards | 92 | 226 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–17–0 | 22–29–1 |
Penalties–yards | 4–55 | 6–45 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 29:24 | 30:36 |
Boise State
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 25 Broncos | 7 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 49 |
Falcons | 14 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 30 |
at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO
- Date: October 31, 2020
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. MDT
- Game weather: Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind: N 17 mph • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 500
- Referee: Brandon Cruse
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst) & Jenny Dell (sideline)
- ESPN – No. 25 Boise State Broncos at Air Force Falcons[29] /// Box Score, No. 25 Boise State at Air Force[30] /// Pregame Notes[31] /// Postgame Notes[32]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Statistics | BSU | AF |
---|---|---|
First downs | 23 | 28 |
3rd down efficiency | 2–4 | 4–12 |
4th down efficiency | 0–0 | 3–3 |
Plays–yards | 49–459 | 73–484 |
Rushes–yards | 29–179 | 66–415 |
Passing yards | 280 | 69 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–20–0 | 4–7–0 |
Penalties–yards | 3–40 | 6–43 |
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Time of possession | 22:29 | 37:31 |
At Wyoming
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
---|---|---|---|
0 | |||
0 |
at War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, WY
- Date:
November 14, 2020 - Game time:
8:00 p.m. MST - TV:
CBSSN ESPN – Air Force Falcons at Wyoming Cowboys[33]
New Mexico
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lobos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Falcons | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO
- Date: November 20, 2020
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Temperature: 37 °F (3 °C) • Wind: S 6 mph • Weather: Mostly Cloudy
- Game attendance: 100
- Referee: C. Watson
- TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust (play-by-play) & Petros Papadakis (analyst)
- ESPN – New Mexico Lobos at Air Force Falcons[34] /// Box Score, New Mexico at Air Force[35] /// Pregame Notes[36] /// Postgame Notes[37]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Statistics | NM | AF |
---|---|---|
First downs | 19 | 23 |
3rd down efficiency | 4–13 | 9–13 |
4th down efficiency | 0–1 | 1–2 |
Plays–yards | 67–304 | 68–422 |
Rushes–yards | 25–83 | 63–356 |
Passing yards | 221 | 66 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–42–1 | 4–5–0 |
Penalties–yards | 8–70 | 5–42 |
Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
Time of possession | 23:31 | 36:29 |
Colorado State
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
---|---|---|---|
0 | |||
0 |
at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO
- Date:
November 26, 2020 - Game time:
12:00 p.m. MST - TV:
CBSSN ESPN – Colorado State Rams at Air Force Falcons Preview[38]
At Utah State
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
Aggies | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: December 3, 2020
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Temperature: 25 °F (−4 °C) • Weather: Clear and Chilly
- Game attendance: 3,025
- Referee: Mike Cuttone
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Ed Cohen (play-by-play) & Ross Tucker (analyst)
- ESPN – Air Force runs over Utah State 35–7 behind Daniels[39] /// Box Score, Air Force at Utah State[40] /// Pregame Notes[41] /// Postgame Notes[42]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Statistics | AF | USU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 24 | 14 |
3rd down efficiency | 5–10 | 9–14 |
4th down efficiency | 3–4 | 0–2 |
Plays–yards | 64–461 | 58–232 |
Rushes–yards | 55–334 | 26–109 |
Passing yards | 127 | 123 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 7–9–0 | 17–32–2 |
Penalties–yards | 6–67 | 6–65 |
Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
Time of possession | 34:54 | 25:06 |
At Army
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Black Knights | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
at Michie Stadium, West Point, NY
- Date: December 19, 2020
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 1,306
- Referee: Brad Van Vark
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Dave Ryan (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst) & Tina Cervasio (sideline)
- ESPN – Army beats Air Force 10–7, wins Commander-in-Chief's Trophy[43] /// Box Score, Air Force at Army[44] /// Pregame Notes[45] /// Postgame Notes[46]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Statistics | AF | ARMY |
---|---|---|
First downs | 11 | 21 |
3rd down efficiency | 4–8 | 9–17 |
4th down efficiency | 0–0 | 2–3 |
Plays–yards | 40–261 | 73–290 |
Rushes–yards | 26–154 | 71–290 |
Passing yards | 107 | 0 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 6–14–3 | 1–2–0 |
Penalties–yards | 3–15 | 2–15 |
Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
Time of possession | 22:34 | 37:26 |
Source for Match-up Records:[47]
References
[edit]- ^ "WE'RE BACK". twitter.com/MountainWest. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Lott Impact Trophy Watch List Candidates". June 5, 2020. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ "Davey O'Brien Award Announces Preseason Watch List". July 14, 2020. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Outland Trophy Watch List Unveiled". July 21, 2020. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ "The Golden Arm Award Announces 2020 Class of Candidates". August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- ^ "Mountain West Postpones 2020 Football Virtual Media Days". TheMW.com. July 20, 2020. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ "Boise State, San Diego State Picked to Win 2020 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles". TheMW.com. July 21, 2020. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Mountain West Football Preseason All−Conference Team". July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Air Force football schedule announced". United States Air Force Academy. February 27, 2020. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ "Mountain West Conference postpones fall sports, ending football for CSU, Air Force". The Denver Channel. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ "Mountain West postpones football, fall sports". ESPN.com. August 10, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ Northam, Mitchell (August 10, 2020). "Mountain West cancels fall sports; Air Force will 'explore' playing Army, Navy". againstallenemies.com. SB Nation. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Mountain West Football Season to Begin on October 24". theMW.com. Mountain West Conference. September 25, 2020. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Mountain West Announces 2020 Football Schedule". theMW.com. Mountain West Conference. October 1, 2020. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force at Army football game postponed". USAFA Athletic Department. November 5, 2020. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- ^ "Football vs. Air Force Postponed". USMA Athletic Department. November 5, 2020. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force at Wyoming football game canceled". USAFA Athletic Department. November 8, 2020. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ "Colorado State at Air Force Football Game Cancelled". USAFA Athletic Department. November 25, 2020. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force-Army rescheduled to Dec. 19". USAFA Athletic Department. November 25, 2020. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Air Force Football Schedule". USAFA Athletic Department. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "Navy at Air Force – Game Summary – October 3, 2020". ESPN. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
- ^ "Scoring Summary (Final) Navy at Air Force (Oct 3, 2020 at USAF Academy, Colo.)". USAFA Athletic Department. October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
- ^ "Navy at Air Force – Game Notes" (PDF). USAFA Athletic Department. September 28, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force Sinks Navy 40–7". USAFA Athletic Department. October 3, 2020. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force at San Jose State – Game Summary – October 24, 2020". ESPN. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ "Scoring Summary (Final) Air Force at San Jose State (Oct 24, 2020 at San Jose, CA)". USAFA Athletic Department. October 24, 2020. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force at San Jose State – Game Notes" (PDF). USAFA Athletic Department. October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force Drops MW-Opener at San Jose State". USAFA Athletic Department. October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ "No. 25 Boise State at Air Force – Game Summary – October 31, 2020". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ "Scoring Summary (Final) No. 25 Boise State at Air Force (Oct 31, 2020 at USAF Academy, Colo.)". USAFA Athletic Department. October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ "No. 25 Boise State at Air Force – Game Notes" (PDF). USAFA Athletic Department. October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force Falls to No. 25 Boise State". USAFA Athletic Department. October 31, 2020. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force at Wyoming – Game Summary – November 14, 2020". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ "New Mexico at Air Force – Game Summary – November 21, 2020". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ "Scoring Summary (Final) New Mexico at Air Force (Nov 20, 2020 at USAF Academy, Colo.)". USAFA Athletic Department. November 20, 2020. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ "New Mexico at Air Force – Game Notes" (PDF). USAFA Athletic Department. November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ "Falcons Blank the Lobos, 28–0". USAFA Athletic Department. November 20, 2020. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ "Colorado State at Air Force – Game Summary – November 28, 2020". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force at Utah State – Game Summary – December 5, 2020". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ "Scoring Summary (Final) Air Force at Utah State (Dec 3, 2020 at Logan, Utah)". USAFA Athletic Department. December 3, 2020. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force at Utah State – Game Notes" (PDF). USAFA Athletic Department. November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force Rolls to 35–7 Win at Utah State". USAFA Athletic Department. December 3, 2020. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force at Army – Game Summary – December 19, 2020". ESPN. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ "Scoring Summary (Final) Air Force at Army West Point (Dec 19, 2020 at West Point, N.Y.)". USAFA Athletic Department. December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force at Army – Game Notes" (PDF). USAFA Athletic Department. December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ "Air Force falls to Army in CIC Game, 10–7". USAFA Athletic Department. December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ "Profile of the Air Force Falcons". Winsipedia. Retrieved October 3, 2020.