Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun and players discuss New Mexico game
Soccer
Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun, along with junior tight end Caleb Rillos and junior defensive lineman Jayden Thiergood spoke to the media today about the New Mexico game. The Falcons host New Mexico on Saturday, November 12 at 1:30 p.m. at Falcon Stadium.
Air Force leads New Mexico’s series, 25-14, and has a 20-12 advantage in conference play. The Air Force is 14-3 at home, 11-10 in New Mexico and 0-1 in neutral-site games. The Falcons have won four straight overall and nine in a row at Falcon Stadium since 2000.
The Air Force beat New Mexico, 38-10, last season in Albuquerque to earn its fourth straight win in the series. The Falcons took a 24-0 halftime lead behind touchdown passes from three different players and a field goal from Anthony Rodriguez. The defense held the Lobos to 46 total yards and a first down. DeAndre Hughes scored his first career touchdown in the third quarter on a 53-yard dash to extend the lead to 31-0 before New Mexico came on the board with a touchdown pass from Terry Wilson. Brad Roberts added the final score for the Falcons with his second touchdown to cap a day of 29 carries and 142 rushing yards. New Mexico added a late field goaltender to close the final margin. The Falcons finished with 441 total yards, including 408 rushing. Hughes added 89 yards while Omar Fattah added 60. The defense was led by Vince Sanford, who had eight tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. New Mexico finished with 226 total yards. Wilson led the way, going 14-23 for 179 yards and a touchdown.
The Air Force beat New Mexico, 28-0, in 2020, the last time the two played at Falcon Stadium. The shutout was the first for the Air Force since 2018 and the first against a conference opponent since 2011. The Falcons scored in their first three drives with Haaziq Daniels capping the opener with a four-yard run . Brad Roberts added a pair of touchdown points in the second quarter to give the Air Force a 21-0 halftime lead. After an error-filled third quarter in which the Air Force fumbled three times and New Mexico missed three field goals, Roberts sealed the game with a 44-yard run in the fourth quarter to close the margin. final. The Air Force totaled 422 yards, including 356 rushing while converting 9-13 third downs. Roberts led the Falcons with a career-high 177 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries. New Mexico had 304 yards, including 221 passing. Johnathan Youngblood led the Air Force defense with eight tackles.