Senior safety Aaron Kirchoff has a way with long returns of fumbles for touchdowns.
Two years ago when the Falcons last played at Army, safety Adam Zanotti returned a fumble 98 yards for an Air Force touchdown. Kirchoff was Zanotti’s backup and the play produced the only fumble return for a touchdown in the Air Force record book.
Last Thursday, Kirchoff registered the second-longest return of a fumble for a touchdown, running 96 yards against New Mexico and reducing the Lobos lead to 10-7. The Falcons went on to beat New Mexico 23-10 for their sixth victory in eight games and fourth in five Mountain West Conference games.
Kirchoff’s fumble return and three field goals by kicker Ryan Harrison earned the two Air Force players each an honor this week in the conference’s awards for players of the week.
Kirchoff gained the defensive award and Harrison was the special teams player for the second week in a row.
“That was the first player of the week award for me,” Kirchoff said. “The play itself was fun, but the award makes it double the excitement. Now we have to look ahead to playing Army and its triple option offense.”
Kirchoff knows the triple option offense well, as he played fullback as a freshman in former coach Fisher DeBerry’s option offense.
Harrison kicked three field goals for the second week in a row and earned the conference’s award for the second straight week.
He connected on kicks of 30 yards, 43 yards and 32 yards, the later with 2:30 left in the game. The 43-yard kick opened a 10-point lead for the Falcons with 12:51 to play in the game.
