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2023 Air Force Falcons football
Armed Forces Bowl champion
Conference Mountain West Conference
Record9–4 (5–3 MW)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Mike Thiessen (14th season)
Offensive scheme Triple option
Defensive coordinator Brian Knorr (2nd season)
Base defense 3–4
Home stadium Falcon Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
←  2022
2024 →
2023 Mountain West Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
UNLV y   6 – 2     9 – 5  
Boise State y$   6 – 2     8 – 6  
San Jose State   6 – 2     7 – 6  
Air Force   5 – 3     9 – 4  
Wyoming   5 – 3     9 – 4  
Fresno State   4 – 4     9 – 4  
Utah State   4 – 4     6 – 7  
Hawaii   3 – 5     5 – 8  
Colorado State   3 – 5     5 – 7  
Nevada   2 – 6     2 – 10  
New Mexico   2 – 6     4 – 8  
San Diego State   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Championship: Boise State 44, UNLV 20
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant

The 2023 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season was the team's 69th overall, 25th as a member of the Mountain West Conference, and 10th in the Mountain West's Mountain Division. The team played their home games at Falcon Stadium and were led by 17th-year head coach Troy Calhoun. [1]

Preseason

Mountain West media poll

The 2023 Mountain West preseason media poll was released on July 19. The Falcons were predicted to finish second in the conference. [2]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 211:00 a.m. Robert Morris*
 AltitudeW 42–730,142
September 96:00 p.m.vs. Sam Houston*
 CBSSNW 13–325,121
September 156:00 p.m. Utah State
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSNW 39–2118,400
September 228:30 p.m.at San Jose State
 FS1W 45–2016,124
September 306:00 p.m. San Diego State
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSNW 49–1024,869
October 145:00 p.m. Wyoming
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSNW 34–2728,311
October 2110:00 a.m.at Navy*No. 22
 CBSW 17–638,803
October 285:00 p.m.at Colorado StateNo. 19
CBSSNW 30–1322,570
November 412:30 p.m.vs. Army*No. 25
CBSSNL 3–2352,401
November 119:00 p.m.at Hawaii
 SPEC PPV, MW NetworkL 13–2712,742
November 181:30 p.m. UNLV
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSNL 27–3123,574
November 242:00 p.m.at Boise State
FS1L 19–2736,390
December 231:30 p.m.vs. James Madison
 ABCW 31–2130,828

[3]

Personnel

Coaching staff

2023 Air Force Football Coaching Staff
Name Position Season College
Troy Calhoun Head Coach 17th Air Force (1989)
Marc Bacote Tight Ends 2nd James Madison (2000)
Jake Campbell Slot Backs 12th Air Force (1996)
Tim Horton Running Backs, Special Teams Coordinator 3rd Arkansas (1989)
Charlie Jackson Asst. head coach/defensive backs coach 2nd Air Force (2000)
Brian Knorr Defensive Coordinator 1st Air Force (1986)
Ken Lamendola Inside Linebackers 2nd Air Force (2011)
Steed Lobotzke Offensive Line 9th Air Force (1992)
Matt McGettigan Director of Speed - Strength & Conditioning 17th Luther College (1987)
Alex Means Defensive Line 2nd Air Force (2013)
Brett Skene Specialists/Assistant Offensive Line 2nd Air Force (2011)
Taylor Stubblefield Wide Receivers Coach 1st Purdue (2005)
Mike Thiessen Off. Coordinator, Quarterbacks 17th Air Force (2001)
Nick Toth Safeties 2nd Ohio (1999)
E.J. Whitlow Defensive Ends 2nd Findlay (2010)
Kale Pearson Director of Recruiting 2nd Air Force (2015)
Chuck Petersen Football Executive/Assistant Recruiting Director 1st Air Force (1985)
Anthony Wright Defensive Assistant 2nd Air Force (2012)

Coaching Staff Source: [4]

Roster

(Please note that the Air Force football team rarely lists freshman players on their official roster)

2023 Air Force Falcons Football Roster

Quarterback

  •   5 – Jensen Jones, Senior (6'2, 215)
  •   9 – Zac Larrier, Senior (6'0, 195)
  • 12 – John Busha, Sophomore (6'2, 205)
  • 15 – Ben Brittain, Senior (6'1, 190)
  • 17 – Cannon Turner, Senior (6'0, 215)

Running back

  •   8 – Christopher Frew, Sophomore (5'9, 190)
  • 10 – Jalen Johnson, Senior (5'8, 185)
  • 20 – Dylan Carson, Sophomore (6'0, 210)
  • 24 – John Lee Eldridge III, Senior (5'9, 200)
  • 25 – Tylor Latham, Sophomore (5'8, 180)
  • 26 – Owen Burk, Senior (5'11, 200)
  • 27 – Kaden Cloud, Sophomore (5'9, 185)
  • 28 – Aiden Calvert, Junior (5'10, 205)
  • 30 – Kale Gibbs, Junior (5'8, 175)
  • 33 – Jet Harris, Senior (6'1, 225)
  • 34 – Darius Stone, Sophomore (5'11, 205)

Wide receiver

  •   2 – Brandon Engel, Junior (6'2, 210)
  •   6 – Cameron Breier, Junior (6'2, 195)
  • 11 – Wyatt Wilson, Senior (6'3, 195)
  • 13 – Jared Roznos, Junior (6'0, 190)
  • 16 – Dylan Evans, Sophomore (5'11, 185)
  • 18 – Kendin Alexander, Junior (5'10, 165)
  • 21 – Cade Harris, Junior (5'8, 180)
  • 23 – Dane Kinamon, Senior (6'0, 205)
  • 29 – Evan Rau, Sophomore (5'9, 170)
  • 32 – Jordan Scarbrough, Sophomore (5'8, 185)
  • 80 – Tre Roberson, Sophomore (6'2, 205)
  • 87 – Quin Smith, Sophomore (6'1, 190)
  • 89 – Parker St. John, Junior (6'2, 190)

Tight end

  • 81 – James Bryant, Senior (6'4, 230)
  • 82 – Connor McIntee, Senior (6'3, 235)
  • 83 – Chances Carter-Hill, Sophomore (6'2, 230)
  • 84 – Caleb Rillos, Senior (6'5, 255)
  • 85 – Parker Menefee, Sophomore (6'6, 240)
  • 88 – Bruin Fleischmann, Sophomore (6'3, 220)

Specialist

  • 43 – Matthew Dapore, Junior (6'0, 195)
  • 95 – Carson Bay, Junior (5'11, 165)
  • 96 – Reagan Tubbs, Sophomore (6'0, 175)
  • 97 – Luke Freer, Sophomore (6'4, 220)
  

Fullback

  •   4 – Emmanuel Michel, Senior (5'10, 210)

Offensive Lineman

  • 51 – Kaleb Holcomb, Senior (6'4, 270)
  • 53 – Steven Iles, Senior (6'2, 285)
  • 54 – Jackson Kohal, Junior (6'4, 305)
  • 55 – Nick Blessing, Sophomore (6'4, 250)
  • 56 – Mark Hiestand, Senior (6'5, 285)
  • 57 – Gabriel Averitt, Sophomore (6'3, 270)
  • 59 – Adam Karas, Senior (6'4, 285)
  • 60 – John Gordon, Jr., Junior (6'2, 205)
  • 61 – Costen Cooley, Sophomore (6'4, 279)
  • 62 – Matthew Heitmann, Junior (6'4, 290)
  • 64 – Luke Hallstrom, Senior (6'2, 270)
  • 65 – Samuel Floysand, Sophomore (6'3, 275)
  • 66 – Jace Sutulovich, Sophomore (6'3, 285)
  • 68 – Thor Paglialong, Senior (6'4, 300)
  • 69 – Wesley Ndago, Senior (6'2, 300)
  • 71 – Michael McAninch, Junior (6'3, 300)
  • 72 – Christien Hawks, Sophomore (6'3, 290)
  • 73 – Luke Vonderhaar, Sophomore (6'4, 270)
  • 74 – Mason Carlan, Senior (6'3, 290)
  • 75 – Ethan Jackman, Senior (6'4, 310)
  • 76 – Alex Moore, Junior (6'3, 270)
  • 77 – Cameron Collins, Sophomore (6'3, 260)
  • 78 – Trevor Tate, Sophomore (6'2, 270)

Defensive Lineman

  •   8 – Bo Richter, Senior (6'2, 250)
  • 13 – PJ Ramsey, Senior (6'2, 260)
  • 48 – Jayden Thiergood, Senior (6'3, 250)
  • 55 – Kupono Blake, Senior (6'2, 270)
  • 57 – Colin Stewart, Sophomore (6'2, 240)
  • 62 – James Tomasi, Junior (6'0, 310)
  • 87 – Caden Blum, Senior (6'5, 265)
  • 90 – Brian Bradley, Sophomore (6'2, 230)
  • 92 – Jackson Garrett, Sophomore (6'3, 270)
  • 93 – Andrew BoisD'Enghien, Senior (6'3, 280)
  • 94 – Kaleb Tompkins, Junior (6'4, 260)
  • 95 – Daniel Grobe, Sophomore (6'7, 270)
  • 96 – Payton Zdroik, Junior (6'0, 275)
  • 97 – Brent Winfree, Sophomore (6'4, 275)
  • 99 – Aidan Swartz, Sophomore (6'4, 270)
  

Linebacker

  •   6 – Matthew Malloy, Senior (6'3, 215)
  • 18 – Elijah Sanders, Junior (6'3, 240)
  • 24 – Robert Mbroh, Junior (6'3, 220)
  • 27 – Julian Williams, Junior (6'2, 230)
  • 35 – Jack Curtis, Sophomore (6'5, 245)
  • 32 – Osaro Aihie, Junior (6'1, 225)
  • 38 – Ty Hubert, Sophomore (5'11, 200)
  • 40 – Alec Mock, Senior (6'3, 240)
  • 41 – Jackson Adams, Sophomore (6'4, 240)
  • 44 – Johnathan Youngblood, Senior (5'11, 225)
  • 45 – Matt Devine, Junior (6'0, 225)
  • 46 – Zach Juckel, Sophomore (6'2, 210)
  • 47 – Kyler Orr, Sophomore (6'1, 210)
  • 50 – Grant Uyl, Junior (5'11, 225)
  • 51 – Victor Dubuclet, Sophomore (6'0, 210)
  • 52 – Matthew Reddick, Sophomore (6'2, 230)
  • 54 – Are'an Burr, Sophomore (6'3, 220)
  • 56 – Cole Palmer, Junior (6'4, 235)

Defensive back

  •   0 – Trey Williams, Junior (5'10, 175)
  •   3 – Jamari Bellamy, Junior (6'2, 185)
  •   5 – Corey Collins, Senior (5'11, 185)
  •   7 – Trey Taylor, Senior (6'0, 210)
  •   9 – Levi Brown, Sophomore (6'1, 175)
  • 10 – Jalen Mergerson, Senior (5'11, 210)
  • 11 – Camby Goff, Senior (6'1, 215)
  • 12 – Patrick Dahlen, Senior (6'3, 210)
  • 14 – K.C. Beard, Junior (6'1, 200)
  • 15 – Jake Martin, Junior (6'2, 200)
  • 16 – Jayden Goodwin, Senior (6'1, 195)
  • 17 – Zion Kelly, Senior (5'10, 190)
  • 19 – C.J. Boyd, Junior (6'1, 200)
  • 20 – Jake Smith, Senior (6'1, 210)
  • 21 – Aidan Plate, Junior (6'2, 200)
  • 22 – Jerome Gaillard, Jr., Junior (6'4, 200)
  • 28 – Terrance Cullivan, Sophomore (5'10, 185)
  • 30 – Tyme Collins, Junior (6'0, 210)
  • 42 – Jakobi McGowan, Junior (6'1, 205)

Long snapper

  • 41 – J. Frank Melgarejo III, Senior (6'0, 225)
  • 48 – Anthony DeBerardino, Junior (6'1, 210)
  • 49 – Kurt Chesney, Sophomore (6'0, 195)

Roster Source: [5]

Game summaries

vs Robert Morris

See also: 2023 Robert Morris Colonials football team
Robert Morris Colonials (0–0) vs Air Force Falcons (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Colonials 0 0 077
Falcons 14 14 7742

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

Game information
Statistics RMU AF
First downs 9 24
3rd down efficiency 3–11 6–10
4th down efficiency 0–1 1–3
Plays–yards 50–156 59–469
Rushes–yards 26–43 56–374
Passing yards 113 95
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–24–0 2–3–0
Penalties–yards 9–61 2–10
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 27:49 32:11

vs Sam Houston

See also: 2023 Sam Houston Bearkats football team
Air Force Falcons (1–0) vs Sam Houston Bearkats (0–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 3 01013
Bearkats 0 0 303

at NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

Game information
Statistics AF SAM
First downs 18 6
3rd down efficiency 5–13 3–13
4th down efficiency 0–1 1–1
Plays–yards 62–258 44–80
Rushes–yards 59–244 30–36
Passing yards 14 44
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 1–3–0 8–14–0
Penalties–yards 2–20 2–25
Turnovers 1 0
Time of possession 36:38 23:22

vs Utah State

See also: 2023 Utah State Aggies football team
Utah State Aggies (1–1) vs Air Force Falcons (2–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Aggies 0 7 7721
Falcons 22 10 7039

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

Game information
Statistics USU AF
First downs 20 24
3rd down efficiency 3–11 9–13
4th down efficiency 2–3 1–1
Plays–yards 61–302 68–428
Rushes–yards 26–54 64–344
Passing yards 248 84
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–35–1 3–4–0
Penalties–yards 4–17 6–60
Turnovers 2 0
Time of possession 21:20 38:40

at San Jose State

See also: 2023 San Jose State Spartans football team
Air Force Falcons (3–0) at San Jose State Spartans (1–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 14 72145
Spartans 6 14 0020

at CEFCU Stadium, San Jose, CA

Game information
Statistics AF SJS
First downs 25 18
3rd down efficiency 10–15 3–8
4th down efficiency 3–3 0–2
Plays–yards 75–428 52–354
Rushes–yards 73–400 17–115
Passing yards 28 239
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 2–2–0 24–35–1
Penalties–yards 4–43 6–48
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 39:05 20:55

vs San Diego State

See also: 2023 San Diego State Aztecs football team
San Diego State Aztecs (2–3) vs Air Force Falcons (4–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Aztecs 0 10 0010
Falcons 0 21 21749

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

Game information
Statistics SDSU AF
First downs 14 24
3rd down efficiency 4–13 4–8
4th down efficiency 3–4 2–2
Plays–yards 55–227 59–476
Rushes–yards 30–105 52–287
Passing yards 122 189
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–25–1 6–7–0
Penalties–yards 5–34 1–5
Turnovers 1 0
Time of possession 27:55 32:05

vs Wyoming

See also: 2023 Wyoming Cowboys football team
Wyoming Cowboys (5–1) vs Air Force Falcons (5–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 14 7 0627
Falcons 7 10 71034

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

Game information
Statistics WYO AF
First downs 18 22
3rd down efficiency 9–15 7–10
4th down efficiency 1–2 1–1
Plays–yards 60–321 62–414
Rushes–yards 35–109 53–356
Passing yards 212 58
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–25–0 6–9–0
Penalties–yards 3–25 1–9
Turnovers 0 2
Time of possession 30:13 29:49

at Navy

See also: 2023 Navy Midshipmen football team and Commander-in-Chief's Trophy
No. 22 Air Force Falcons (6–0) at Navy Midshipmen (3–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 22 Falcons 0 7 3717
Midshipmen 0 0 066

at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD

Game information
Statistics AF NAV
First downs 8 10
3rd down efficiency 1–13 3–17
4th down efficiency 2–2 2–2
Plays–yards 53–288 64–124
Rushes–yards 48–137 35–22
Passing yards 151 102
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 4–5–0 15–29–2
Penalties–yards 5–30 4–50
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 31:44 28:16

For the game against Navy, Air Force commemorated the Doolittle Raiders with the 2023 edition of the Air Power Legacy Series uniforms.

The Doolittle Raiders were the 80 crew members of 16 B-25B Mitchell bombers who launched the first raid on mainland Japan during World War II on April 18, 1942, led by United States Army Air Force Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle.

The uniform featured a chrome helmet with an image of a B-25 aircraft on the right side, while the left bore the Raiders squadron patch designed by the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association. The jersey featured letters and numbers resembling the riveted aluminum used in the B-25's construction. The left sleeve featured another Raiders squadron patch. The pants featured the roundel logo on the left front, which includes the roundel that appeared on the aircraft. The Raiders mantra, "Ever into Peril", appeared down the right side of the pants, while the French translation "Toujours au Danger" is on the left leg. [20]

at Colorado State

See also: 2023 Colorado State Rams football team and Air Force–Colorado State football rivalry
No. 19 Air Force Falcons (7–0) at Colorado State Rams (3–4)
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 19 Falcons 7 6 10730
Rams 0 13 0013

at Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins, CO

Game information
Statistics AF CSU
First downs 18 17
3rd down efficiency 8–15 5–13
4th down efficiency 1–1 0–3
Plays–yards 64–293 64–339
Rushes–yards 57–261 19–42
Passing yards 32 297
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 4–7–0 28–45–0
Penalties–yards 2–15 5–54
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 35:58 24:02

vs Army

See also: 2023 Army Black Knights football team and Commander-in-Chief's Trophy
Army Black Knights (2–6) vs No. 25 Air Force Falcons (8–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Black Knights 17 6 0023
No. 25 Falcons 0 3 003

at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

Game information
Statistics ARMY AF
First downs 11 19
3rd down efficiency 4–14 5–14
4th down efficiency 1–2 0–2
Plays–yards 60–253 64–259
Rushes–yards 51–213 40–155
Passing yards 40 104
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 4–9–0 10–24–2
Penalties–yards 11–119 6–55
Turnovers 0 6
Time of possession 32:09 27:51

Rankings

Further information: 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP————RVRVRV221917RV—————
CoachesRVRVRVRVRVRVRV221917RVRVRV——RV
CFPNot released25—————Not released

References

  1. ^ "2023 Air Force Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "Mountain West Football Media Predicts 2023 Order Of Finish". July 19, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  3. ^ "Air Force Falcons 2023 Regular Season NCAAF Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  4. ^ "2023 Football Coaches". Air Force Academy Athletics. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  5. ^ "2023 Football Roster". Air Force Academy Athletics. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  6. ^ " https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401532570". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  7. ^ " https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2023/robert-morris/boxscore/15278". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  8. ^ " https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/293652005". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  9. ^ " https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2023/sam-houston/boxscore/15279". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  10. ^ " https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401532581". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  11. ^ " https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2023/utah-state/boxscore/15280". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  12. ^ " https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401532584". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  13. ^ " https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2023/san-jose-state/boxscore/15281". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  14. ^ " https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401532589". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  15. ^ " https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2023/san-diego-state/boxscore/15282". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  16. ^ " https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401532598". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  17. ^ " https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2023/wyoming/boxscore/15283". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  18. ^ " https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401531434". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  19. ^ " https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2023/navy/boxscore/15284". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  20. ^ "Air Force to honor Doolittle Raiders with Air Power Legacy Series in 2023". Air Force Academy Athletics. August 15, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  21. ^ " https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401532603". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  22. ^ " https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2023/colorado-state/boxscore/15285". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  23. ^ " https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401520361". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  24. ^ " https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2023/army/boxscore/15286". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
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