Daily Weather Report Powered By:
The Air Force mascot, The Bird, and the Navy mascot, Bill the Goat, square up during an Oct. 1 game at Falcon Stadium. Tube Bending
Brent Briggeman, Gazette Sports Editor
The Air Force mascot, The Bird, and the Navy mascot, Bill the Goat, square up during an Oct. 1 game at Falcon Stadium.
Kickoff: 10 a.m. MT Saturday
TV/Stream: CBS – channel 11.1 in Colorado Springs via antenna and Channel 11 on DirecTV, Dish and Xfinity. The game will also be streamed through CBS Sports and the CBS Sports app.
Broadcast crew: Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), Amanda Guerra (sidelines)
Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, 104.3 the Fan in Denver, SIRIUS XM 382
Air Force broadcast crew: Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
Brent Briggeman, Gazette Sports Editor
The Gazette’s Brent Briggeman breaks down three specific areas he’ll be monitoring during the game.
Air Force is expected to be without Zac Larrier, who is 6-0 as a starter but injured a knee in the fourth quarter of last week’s 34-27 victory over Wyoming. Jensen Jones is the probable replacement, bringing his power-running style with a 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame. Navy’s situation is even more up in the air, with the possibility that Braxton Woodson will become the team’s first freshman to draw a start at quarterback in 11 years. Tai Lavatai and Xavier Arline could also see time. The Midshipmen have played three quarterbacks over the past three games, contributing to the 21 penalties during that stretch as many have come on false starts.
Navy uncharacteristically ranks among the nation’s leaders with six scoring drives of less than one minute. Half of those have come from long runs from sophomore fullback Alex Tecza, who leads the nation with 8.1 yards per carry (Air Force’s John Lee Eldridge III averages 10.1 but does not meet the threshold of attempts needed to qualify). The Falcons rank ninth nationally in points allowed, third in total defense and have given up the fourth-fewest first downs in the country, so slow-slog drives against them present major challenges. But big plays would bypass that difficulty.
If recent history repeats itself and this game features numerous stops and punts, Navy could gain an advantage. Air Force is averaging 41.9 yards per punt and has -1 punt return yard this season. By contrast, Navy punter Riley Riethman is averaging 45.2 yards per punt. And Midshipmen returner Amin Hassan has gained 88 yards on eight punt returns. Considering the past two meetings between these teams saw a combined 25 punts, this could add up and impact field position.
Penalties for Air Force in the past two games after committing 10 in its previous two games.
Teams in the country that haven’t thrown an interception – Air Force, Navy and Penn State.
Average points scored by Navy during its three-game losing streak to Air Force. The Falcons have outscored the Midshipmen 76-20 during that run.
Offensive categories in which Air Force leads the nation – rushing yards per game (334.2), passing efficiency (258.97), passing yards per completion (23.4), third-down percentage (.594), time of possession (34:44).
First-year coaches this season in FBS football, Navy’s Brian Newberry (who previously served as the team’s defensive coordinator starting in 2019) is the only one scheduled to face Air Force.
Consecutive wins for Navy at home when leading after three quarters, the nation’s longest streak under those circumstances.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. • We interrupt No. 22 Air Force’s race for a conference championship to bring you the start of yet another push for a trophy.
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Metal Stamping Manufacturer China Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: