By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor wraps up the 2022 season with its inaugural appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl Thursday at TCU’s Amon Carter Stadium (6:30 p.m., ESPN).
The Bears face the United States Air Force Academy out of the Mountain West Conference. This is AFA’s sixth appearance in the game.
Riding a 4-game winning streak, the Falcons have been one of the hotter teams in the country.
Air Force is 30-8 the last three full seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Air Force is 9-3 this season, finished 10-3 last season and 11-2 in 2019. The Falcons have won three straight and four out of their last five bowl appearances. They also possess the 2022 Commander in Chief’s Trophy after beating both Navy and Army.
Air Force is the only academy team playing in the college football bowl season.
A look at the Falcons.
Opponent: Air Force Falcons
Head Coach: Troy Calhoun (120-78, 16th season)
2022 Record: 9-3, 5-3
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 3-0
Key Players: QB Haaziq Daniels, FB Brad Roberts, RB, John Lee Eldridge III, SS Camby Goff, LB TD Blackmon, LB Vince Sanford
Common Denominator: This is the first bowl meeting between the two programs
Offensive Formation: Triple option
Defensive Formation: 3-3-5
Aout Air Force on Offense: The secret sauce to any option attack is the trigger man. That’s Daniels. The nation’s leading rushing attack is averaging 330.9 yards per game and time of possession with an incredible 36:16 minutes per game. In 735 rushing attempts, the Falcons have lost only 197 yards. They do have 20 fumbles and lost 11 of them. Daniels’ (733 yards rushing, 614 passing) decision making has been key to that. Roberts (1,612 yards, 15 TD) has been the top rusher in the fullback dive. Eldridge (701, 7.9 ypc) is the pitch man with game-breaking ability. Of course, with any option, the Falcons don’t throw it much. AFA has attempted just 80 passes all season. Yet it’s done with big plays in mind. David Cormier (13-384) is that averaging 29.4 yard per reception.
About Air Force on Defense: This team can play a little defense. The 3-3-5 allows them to spread the field and cut off plays to the perimeter. But they also have enough speed to regroup and help in run support. Opponents are averaging just 13.3 points per game and 256 total yards per game. The yards are the fewest in the country. Only two opponents have scored 20 or more against the Falcons, Utah State and Nevada. Blackmon and free safety Trey Taylor are the leading tacklers at 67 and 66 stops. Sanford has had a huge season with 9.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. Air Force has created 16 turnovers. Of course, the weakness is going to be the overall size because of the academy height and weight barriers. Across the 3-man front, they are 265, 265 and 250.
About Air Force on Special Teams: Carson Bay is the No. 1 punter but isn’t having a particular strong season averaging 38.8 yards per effort. Only two of his 29 efforts have carried 50 yards or better. PK Matthew Dapore is enjoying a solid season he hasn’t missed a PAT (34-34) Anthony Rodriguez converted all seven of his PATs. Dapore is also 15-20 on field goals. He’s 4-6 on 40-49 and 3-6 on 50+. Amari Terry is the No. 1 punt and kick returner but really hasn’t done anything significant. Air Force has not allowed a punt or kickoff returned for a score.
Bottom Line: The drill facing this team is to play assignment football against the option and making sure everybody understands their jobs. Who has the dive? Who has the pitch? Who has the QB? Air Force wants to choke the life out of the game. It’s played six of its 12 games in three hours or less. Option teams are not good come-from-behind teams. Getting a three-score lead would be ideal. But through the regular season, the Falcons have not been in that position. They lost their three games by a total of 15 points.
Publisher
Baylor wraps up the 2022 season with its inaugural appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl Thursday at TCU’s Amon Carter Stadium (6:30 p.m., ESPN).
The Bears face the United States Air Force Academy out of the Mountain West Conference. This is AFA’s sixth appearance in the game.
Riding a 4-game winning streak, the Falcons have been one of the hotter teams in the country.
Air Force is 30-8 the last three full seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Air Force is 9-3 this season, finished 10-3 last season and 11-2 in 2019. The Falcons have won three straight and four out of their last five bowl appearances. They also possess the 2022 Commander in Chief’s Trophy after beating both Navy and Army.
Air Force is the only academy team playing in the college football bowl season.
A look at the Falcons.
Opponent: Air Force Falcons
Head Coach: Troy Calhoun (120-78, 16th season)
2022 Record: 9-3, 5-3
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 3-0
Key Players: QB Haaziq Daniels, FB Brad Roberts, RB, John Lee Eldridge III, SS Camby Goff, LB TD Blackmon, LB Vince Sanford
Common Denominator: This is the first bowl meeting between the two programs
Offensive Formation: Triple option
Defensive Formation: 3-3-5
Aout Air Force on Offense: The secret sauce to any option attack is the trigger man. That’s Daniels. The nation’s leading rushing attack is averaging 330.9 yards per game and time of possession with an incredible 36:16 minutes per game. In 735 rushing attempts, the Falcons have lost only 197 yards. They do have 20 fumbles and lost 11 of them. Daniels’ (733 yards rushing, 614 passing) decision making has been key to that. Roberts (1,612 yards, 15 TD) has been the top rusher in the fullback dive. Eldridge (701, 7.9 ypc) is the pitch man with game-breaking ability. Of course, with any option, the Falcons don’t throw it much. AFA has attempted just 80 passes all season. Yet it’s done with big plays in mind. David Cormier (13-384) is that averaging 29.4 yard per reception.
About Air Force on Defense: This team can play a little defense. The 3-3-5 allows them to spread the field and cut off plays to the perimeter. But they also have enough speed to regroup and help in run support. Opponents are averaging just 13.3 points per game and 256 total yards per game. The yards are the fewest in the country. Only two opponents have scored 20 or more against the Falcons, Utah State and Nevada. Blackmon and free safety Trey Taylor are the leading tacklers at 67 and 66 stops. Sanford has had a huge season with 9.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. Air Force has created 16 turnovers. Of course, the weakness is going to be the overall size because of the academy height and weight barriers. Across the 3-man front, they are 265, 265 and 250.
About Air Force on Special Teams: Carson Bay is the No. 1 punter but isn’t having a particular strong season averaging 38.8 yards per effort. Only two of his 29 efforts have carried 50 yards or better. PK Matthew Dapore is enjoying a solid season he hasn’t missed a PAT (34-34) Anthony Rodriguez converted all seven of his PATs. Dapore is also 15-20 on field goals. He’s 4-6 on 40-49 and 3-6 on 50+. Amari Terry is the No. 1 punt and kick returner but really hasn’t done anything significant. Air Force has not allowed a punt or kickoff returned for a score.
Bottom Line: The drill facing this team is to play assignment football against the option and making sure everybody understands their jobs. Who has the dive? Who has the pitch? Who has the QB? Air Force wants to choke the life out of the game. It’s played six of its 12 games in three hours or less. Option teams are not good come-from-behind teams. Getting a three-score lead would be ideal. But through the regular season, the Falcons have not been in that position. They lost their three games by a total of 15 points.
