The dreaded five-game gantlet is just ahead, and Troy Calhoun is looking for ways to ensure his first team as Air Force’s football coach doesn’t slip into the pattern.
Over the past six seasons, starting with 2001, the Falcons haven’t won more than two games in the last five in any one of the campaigns. After Saturday’s 45-21 victory over Colorado State, the Falcons are 5-2 overall and 4-1 in the Mountain West Conference and within grasp of some stated goals.
A possible conference championship, a bowl game and a winning season would make Calhoun’s debut as Air Force’s coach a success. The Falcons’ last five games are quite a mix: Wyoming on Saturday at Falcon Stadium; at New Mexico the following Thursday, Oct. 25; playing host to Army on Nov. 3; at Notre Dame on Nov. 10; and the finale Nov. 17 at home against San Diego State.
Calhoun is looking to fill the roster over the final weeks with the best players, regardless of their class in school.
“We’re at the point where we don’t owe any favors to our seniors,” Calhoun said. “We’re going to play the best players we have.”
Freshman defensive end Rick Ricketts played against CSU and Calhoun said he was in the game not just because of necessity. The Falcons played the Rams with starting defensive end Jake Paulson sidelined because of a knee injury.
Calhoun believes he will see what the Falcons are made of and if they’re capable of beating the late-season swoon in the next two weeks. Wyoming presents the opponent that has provided the closest rivalry on the AFA schedule – the Falcons lead the series 22-20-3. Then it’s off to Albuquerque to play the Lobos five days later.
“Defensively we were a yielding group and we missed too many opportunities offensively,” Calhoun said in analyzing the victory over CSU in Fort Collins. “We have to lead the league in fewest turnovers and we aren’t leading now.”
Calhoun zeroed in on handoffs between quarterback Shaun Carney and fullback Ryan Williams and tailback Kip McCarthy. He noted a poor pitch by Carney and a fumble by Chad Hall, who set an Air Force single-game rushing record with 256 yards.
Irv Moss: 303 954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
Eye on … The Cowboys
Wyoming at Air Force,
Saturday, noon, The Mtn.
For the record: Wyoming is 4-2, 1-1 in the Mountain West Conference.
Streaking: Wyoming hasn’t allowed an opposing running back to gain 100 yards rushing in any of the team’s six games this year.
Who’s hot: Senior cornerback Julius Stinson is tied for the team lead in tackles (43) and leads in interceptions (three). A year ago, Stinson had 57 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games.
Who’s not: Special teams have struggled. The Cowboys are last in the country in kickoff coverage, giving up 30.5 yards per return.
Key stat: The Cowboys have been ranked in the top 10 in the country the past two seasons in total defense. They currently rank 10th.
FYI: Junior running backs Devin Moore (100) and Wynel Seldon (63) combine to average 163 yards rushing per game.
Coachspeak: “They did a really nice job of scheming us, and we weren’t able to make any big plays. We didn’t force any turnovers, they protected the ball and we never had any field position because of it.” – Wyoming coach Joe Glenn, pointing out factors that led to the Cowboys’ 20-3 loss to visiting New Mexico on Saturday
Irv Moss
