2021 Air Force Falcons football team

Last updated

2021 Air Force Falcons football
Air Force Falcons logo.svg
MW Mountain Division co-champion
First Responder Bowl champion
Conference Mountain West Conference
DivisionMountain Division
Record10–3 (6–2 MW)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Mike Thiessen (11th season)
Offensive scheme Triple option
Defensive coordinator John Rudzinski (4th season)
Base defenseMultiple
Captains
Home stadium Falcon Stadium
Uniform
Air force falcons football unif.png
Seasons
  2020
2022  
2021 Mountain West Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Mountain Division
No. 24 Utah State xy$  6 2   11 3  
Air Force x  6 2   10 3  
Boise State  5 3   7 5  
Wyoming  2 6   7 6  
Colorado State  2 6   3 9  
New Mexico  1 7   3 9  
West Division
No. 25 San Diego State xy  7 1   12 2  
Fresno State  6 2   10 3  
Nevada  5 3   8 5  
Hawaii  3 5   6 7  
San Jose State  3 5   5 7  
UNLV  2 6   2 10  
Championship: Utah State 46, San Diego State 13
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy as a member of the Mountain Division in the Mountain West Conference (MW) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by 15th-year head coach Troy Calhoun, the Falcons compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, sharing the MW's Mountain Division title with Utah State. By virtue of a head-to-head loss to the Aggie, Air Force was left out of the Mountain West Championship Game. The Falcons were invited to the First Responder Bowl, where they defeated Louisville. The team played home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Contents

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 412:00 p.m. Lafayette * Stadium W 35–1430,012
September 113:30 p.m.at Navy * CBS W 23–336,997
September 185:30 p.m. Utah State
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
FS2 L 45–4920,264
September 256:00 p.m. Florida Atlantic *
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
FS2W 31–719,763
October 25:30 p.m.at New Mexico FS2W 38–1013,158
October 95:00 p.m. Wyoming
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSN W 24–1424,832
October 167:00 p.m.at Boise State FS1W 24–1734,446
October 235:00 p.m.No. 22 San Diego State
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSNL 14–2023,887
November 69:30 a.m.vs. Army *
CBSL 14–21 OT32,537
November 135:00 p.m.at Colorado State CBSSNW 35–2125,550
November 197:00 p.m.at Nevada FS1W 41–39 3OT15,206
November 261:30 p.m. UNLV
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSNW 48–1418,226
December 281:15 p.m.vs. Louisville * ESPN W 31–2815,251

[1]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP RVRVRV
Coaches RVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV
CFP Not releasedNot released

Preseason

Media poll

The preseason poll was released on July 21, 2021. The Falcons were predicted to finish in third place in the MW Mountain Division. [2]

Mountain
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Boise State148 (23)
2Wyoming115 (2)
3Air Force104
4Colorado State72
5Utah State47
6New Mexico39
West
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Nevada141 (19)
2San Jose State121 (5)
3San Diego State96
4Fresno State85 (1)
5Hawaii56
6UNLV26

Game summaries

Lafayette

Lafayette at Air Force
1234Total
Leopards077014
Falcons14140735
  • Date: September 4, 2021
  • Location: Falcon Stadium
    Colorado Springs, CO
  • Game start: 12:06 p.m. MDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 12 minutes
  • Game attendance: 30,012
  • Game weather: Temperature: N/A • Weather: Sunny • Wind: N/A
  • Referee: Christian Walker
  • TV announcers (Stadium): Chris Hassel (play–by–play) and Sherdrick Bonner (analyst)
   
Pregame lineOver/under
AF –40.549.5 [3]
StatisticsLafayetteAir Force
First downs1224
Total yards287420
Rushing yards43370
Passing yards24450
Turnovers20
Time of possession25:3934:21
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LafayettePassingAaron Angelos10/16, 158 yards
RushingJaden Sutton7 carries, 38 yards
ReceivingJulius Young8 receptions, 147 yards, 1 TD
Air ForcePassingHaaziq Daniels3/5, 50 yards
Rushing Brad Roberts 25 carries, 111 yards
Receiving Micah Davis 2 receptions, 27 yards

At Navy

Air Force at Navy
(Commander-in-Chief's Trophy)
1234Total
Falcons077923
Midshipmen03003
  
Pregame lineOver/under
AF –639.5 [4]
StatisticsAir ForceNavy
First downs146
Total yards22568
Rushing yards17636
Passing yards4932
Turnovers13
Time of possession36:4823:12
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Air ForcePassingHaaziq Daniels3/10, 49 yards
RushingBrad Roberts29 carries, 97 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingMicah Davis1 reception, 27 yards
NavyPassingMaasai Maynor3/5, 32 yards
RushingXavier Arline16 carries, 31 yards
ReceivingMychal Cooper1 reception, 15 yards

Utah State

Utah State at Air Force
1234Total
Aggies76211549
Falcons101414745
          
Pregame lineOver/under
AF –954 [5]
StatisticsUtah StateAir Force
First downs2623
Total yards628619
Rushing yards180437
Passing yards448182
Turnovers02
Time of possession26:0133:59
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Utah StatePassing Logan Bonner 21/34, 253 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
RushingCalvin Tyler Jr.19 carries, 132 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingDeven Thompkins9 receptions, 188 yards, 1 TD
Air ForcePassingHaaziq Daniels6/12, 182 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingEmmanuel Michel11 carries, 133 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingMicah Davis4 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD

Florida Atlantic

Florida Atlantic at Air Force
1234Total
Owls07007
Falcons14107031
   
Pregame lineOver/under
AF –3.554 [6]
StatisticsFlorida AtlanticAir Force
First downs1024
Total yards219516
Rushing yards141446
Passing yards7870
Turnovers10
Time of possession19:0340:57
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Florida AtlanticPassing N'Kosi Perry 11/33, 78 yds, 1 INT
RushingJohnny Ford8 car, 66 yds
ReceivingJequan Burton2 rec, 28 yds
Air ForcePassingHaaziq Daniels2/4, 70 yds
RushingHaaziq Daniels17 car, 164 yds, 2 TD
ReceivingBrandon Lewis1 rec, 46 yds

At New Mexico

Air Force at New Mexico
1234Total
Falcons7177738
Lobos007310
Pregame lineOver/under
AF –11.545.5 [7]
StatisticsAir ForceNew Mexico
First downs2414
Total yards441226
Rushing yards40847
Passing yards33179
Turnovers03
Time of possession41:5318:07
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Air ForcePassingHaaziq Daniels1/2, 33 yards
RushingBrad Roberts28 carries, 142 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingBrandon Lewis1 Reception, 33 yards
New MexicoPassing Terry Wilson 14/23, 179 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingAaron Dumas3 carries, 15 yards
ReceivingLuke Wysong3 receptions, 70 yards

Wyoming

Wyoming at Air Force
1234Total
Cowboys0140014
Falcons777324
  
Pregame lineOver/under
AF –647 [8]
StatisticsWyomingAir Force
First downs1520
Total yards257321
Rushing yards114211
Passing yards143110
Turnovers21
Time of possession21:1238:48
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
WyomingPassingSean Chambers11/28, 143 yards, TD
Rushing Xazavian Valladay 8 carries, 96 yards
Receiving Isaiah Neyor 3 receptions, 55 yards, TD
Air ForcePassingHaaziq Daniels7/10, 110 yards, TD
RushingBrad Roberts33 carries, 140 yards, TD
ReceivingBrandon Lewis5 receptions, 77 yards

At Boise State

Air Force at Boise State
1234Total
Falcons7140324
Broncos770317
  • Date: October 16, 2021
  • Location: Albertsons Stadium
    Boise, ID
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. (Kicked at 7:10 p.m.) MDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
  • Game attendance: 34,446
  • Game weather: Temperature: 67 °F (19 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SE 15 MPH
  • Referee: Kevin Hassell
  • TV announcers (Fox/FS1/FS2): Cory Provus (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst)
    
Pregame lineOver/under
N/AN/A
StatisticsAir ForceBoise State
First downs1918
Total yards366337
Rushing yards30778
Passing yards59259
Turnovers12
Time of possession37:0122:59
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Air ForcePassingHaaziq Daniels1/5, 59 yards
RushingBrad Roberts28 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingBrandon Lewis1 reception, 59 yards
Boise StatePassing Hank Bachmeier 23/36, 259 yards, TD, INT
RushingAndrew Van Buren15 carries, 58 yards, TD
ReceivingStefan Cobbs6 receptions, 83 yards, TD

No. 22 San Diego State

San Diego State at Air Force
1234Total
No. 22 Aztecs3107020
Falcons007714
  
Pregame lineOver/under
AF –339
StatisticsSan Diego StateAir Force
First downs1015
Total yards229259
Rushing yards157192
Passing yards7267
Turnovers01
Time of possession31:1528:45
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
San Diego StatePassingLucas Johnson11/13, 72 yards
RushingChance Bell8 carries, 50 yards, TD
ReceivingElijah Kothe3 receptions, 25 yards
Air ForcePassingWarren Bryan3/7, 58 yards, TD
RushingHaaziq Daniels9 carries, 50 yards
ReceivingJake Spiewak1 reception, 31 yards

Vs. Army

Air Force vs. Army
(Commander-in-Chief's Trophy)
1234Total
Black Knights0014014
Falcons0031114
  • Date: November 6, 2021
  • Location: Globe Life Field
    Arlington, TX
  • Game start: 10:30 a.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 32,537
  • Game weather: Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Indoor • Wind: None
  • Referee: Brandon Cruse
  • TV announcers (CBS): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst) & Sherree Burruss (sideline)
   
Air Force on offense against Army Army vs. Air Force football 2021 52 (Air Force on offense).jpg
Air Force on offense against Army
Pregame lineOver/under
N/AN/A
StatisticsArmyAir Force
First downs1322
Total yards322401
Rushing yards108175
Passing yards214226
Turnovers01
Time of possession29:0330:57
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ArmyPassingChristian Anderson7/12, 175 yards, TD
RushingTyhier Tyler15 carries, 39 yards, TD
ReceivingTyrell Robinson2 receptions, 118 yards, TD
Air ForcePassingHaaziq Daniels13/22, 226 carries, TD
RushingBrad Roberts18 carries, 68 yards
ReceivingBrandon Lewis5 receptions, 106 yards

At Colorado State

Air Force at Colorado State
(Rivalry)
1234Total
Falcons21014035
Rams777021
Pregame lineOver/under
N/AN/A
StatisticsAir ForceColorado State
First downs2617
Total yards509308
Rushing yards388135
Passing yards121173
Turnovers12
Time of possession38:3621:24
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Air ForcePassingHaaziq Daniels4/11, 121 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingBrad Roberts32 carries, 151 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingBrandon Lewis1 receptions, 92 yards, TD
Colorado StatePassing Todd Centeio 13/22, 173 yards, 2 INT
RushingTodd Centeio12 carries, 55 yards, TD
Receiving Trey McBride 4 receptions, 81 yards

At Nevada

Air Force at Nevada
1234Total
Falcons0177024
Wolf Pack3071424
Pregame lineOver/under
N/AN/A
StatisticsAir ForceNevada
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Air ForcePassing
Rushing
Receiving
NevadaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

UNLV

UNLV at Air Force
1234Total
Rebels007714
Falcons141017748
Pregame lineOver/under
N/AN/A
StatisticsUNLVAir Force
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UNLVPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Air ForcePassing
Rushing
Receiving

Roster

2021 Air Force Falcons football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
FS 7 Trey Taylor So
ILB 31 Bo Richter So
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster
Last update: September 17, 2021

References

  1. "2021 Air Force Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  2. "Boise State, Nevada Picked to Win 2021 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles". Mountain West Conference. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  3. "Lafayette Leopards vs Air Force Falcons". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  4. "Air Force Falcons vs Navy Midshipmen". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  5. "Utah State Aggies vs Air Force Falcons". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  6. "Florida Atlantic Owls vs Air Force Falcons". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  7. "Air Force Falcons vs New Mexico Lobos". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  8. "Wyoming Cowboys vs Air Force Falcons". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 5, 2021.