AIR FORCE ACADEMY — For those who think defense wins football games, it may be time to give some props to the Air Force defensive unit.
The Falcons are 6-2 after Thursday’s 23-10 victory against New Mexico, and the unit has allowed 149 points this season — third fewest for an Air Force defense in the last six seasons.
The defense allowed 141 points through eight games on the way to a 9-4 finish last season. In 2003, the Falcons allowed 146 points through eight games, but that total included a 49-0 triumph over badly outmatched Wofford in the season opener.
Coach Troy Calhoun acknowledges some good performances by his defenders, with a caveat.
“Whenever we’ve played quarterbacks who haven’t started a whole lot of games, we’ve had some really productive games on that side of the ball,” Calhoun said.
AFA’s defense was key to Thursday’s win. The Lobos took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but their next nine possessions went for naught.
AFA’s special teams contributed two fumble recoveries while the turning point came on defense, when safety Aaron Kirchoff returned a fumble 96 yards for a touchdown, cutting New Mexico’s lead to 10-7.
AFA defenders forced four punts, intercepted a pass and stopped two fourth-down tries in AFA territory.
“It’s nice to know that we can win a game on defense too, rather than just offense,” senior outside linebacker Hunter Altman said. “You have to be able to hold the other team when it counts, and it shows in the number of victories we have.”
Altman compared this season’s efforts in close games to those of two years ago, when the Falcons went 4-8 and allowed 166 points through eight games.
“It seemed as if our defense always was on the field last and the opposition would kick a field goal to win it two years ago,” he said.
Air Force defenders are sprinkled among the leaders in defensive categories in the Mountain West Conference. Sophomore linebacker Ken Lamendola was tied for fourth with 60 tackles before the game against New Mexico. Altman was 12th with 52. Defensive end Jake Paulson was second in sacks with 8½ and third in tackles for losses. Nose tackle Ben Garland, safety Chris Thomas and cornerback Anthony Wright were tied for fifth in forced fumbles. Defensive end Ryan Kemp and Thomas were tied for third in fumbles recovered with two.
Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter isn’t ready to compare individual players on his 2008 defense with some of the players of the past such as Chad Hennings, Terry Maki, Chris Gizzi and Carlton McDonald.
“It’s hard to judge historically,” said DeRuyter, who played defensive end for Air Force from 1982-84. “We have a bunch of guys who believe in each other. They play soundly, and they play fast. We’re pretty good up front, and we’ve been able to get some pressure on the quarterback. We’re one of those blue-collar defenses that plays well as a unit.”
The Falcons face Army, Colorado State, BYU and TCU in their final four games of the season.
And Calhoun still wants more.
“We have to play better,” he said. “The other night, we didn’t play very well in the first quarter. We’re going to have to play these next 16 quarters against some very good offenses. Army is going to be a bear. We’re going to have to play at a very high pitch.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
