Boise State vs Air Force Week 4
Date:
Friday, September 20, 2019
Time:
7:00pm MT
Stadium:
Bronco “Albertsons” Stadium
TV:
ESPN2
Know Thy Enemy
Off
they come to the wild blue yonder, climbing high into the sun. Here they come
zooming to meet Boise State’s thunder as Aurora and the Falcons of the Air
Force Academy (2-0) come into town to battle the Broncos on Friday night.
Coming
off of a huge overtime victory against the University of Colorado last week,
the Falcons are hungry for more. Starting Quarterback Donald Hammond III has
high expectations for this year’s squad saying, “We believe no one in this
nation can stop us except for ourselves.” Falcons’ running back Kadin Remsberg
added, “We have so much talent. People, I think, discredit us because we’re an
academy, but we have guys that can ball. We’re going to show the Mountain West
this year.”
There’s
no doubt that the airmen are excited for this season as they should be. The
Falcons bring back two seasoned quarterbacks, plus five of last year’s top six
running backs and six linemen with starting experience. On defense, despite
having to replace some starters, Air Force brings back five of last year’s top
havoc creators (tackles for loss, passes defended, forced fumbles).
Despite
being the nation’s aerial warfare service branch, the Falcons ironically will
attack their opponent on the ground via the triple-option. The triple-option is
a run-dominate style offense that on any given play will have at least three
options of where the football could go. Quarterback Donald Hammond III will
spearhead the offense and acts similar to a point guard in basketball.
Hammond’s key objective is to read the defense and determine if he should hand
the ball to the fullback on the dive, pitch the ball to the outside, or keep it
himself. Air Force is second in the nation with its rushing attack, which is
averaging 356 yards per game.
Air
Force is coached by Troy Calhoun, who is in his 12th season as head
coach of the Flacons and has an overall record of 89-67. Calhoun is the first
coach in the history of Air Force football to lead teams to a bowl game in six
consecutive season.
Boise
State and Air Force have met seven other times in school history. The Broncos
have a 4-3 advantage in the series and have won the last two meetings.
What Happened Last
Year
Boise
State traveled to Colorado Springs, CO to hopefully avenge the 27-20 loss the
last time they were in town. In fact, the Broncos had never won at the academy
in school history.
Boise
State wasted no time throwing the first punch as Brett Rypien connected with
John Hightower for a 44-yard touchdown pass on their first drive of the game.
Air Force would answer right back with a touchdown of their own on a 17-yard
run by Cole Fagan. Down 28-21 with 1:06 left in the half, Boise State started
the drive at their own 21 yard line. Rypien would lead the Broncos down the
field to the Falcons 35-yard line with just 12 seconds to play. On 4th
and 10, Rypien would go back to pass and find a streaking CT Thomas down the
sideline for a 35-yard touchdown and would tie the game on the ensuing extra
point.
After
Halftime the Broncos would take a 31-28 lead after forcing the Falcons to punt
on their opening drive of the second half. Boise State would extend their lead
to 10 on a 1-yard run by Alexander Mattison with just over six minutes to play
in the third quarter. Air Force would add a field goal at the end of the third to
bring the score to 38-31.
In
the fourth quarter, after seeing their lead dwindle to 41-38, Boise State would
put the final nail in the coffin with a 61-yard bomb to John Hightower for his
third touchdown on the evening.
Rypien
would throw for 399 yards and 5 touchdowns as the Broncos took down the Falcons
48-38.
Players to Watch
Air
Force Academy
JR., Kadin Remsberg, RB #24
Kadin
Remsberg a junior English major from Newton, KS, is the Falcons biggest
offensive producer in 2019. Through two games, Remsberg has 208 yards on the
ground with three touchdowns. Last week against Colorado Remsberg rushed for a
career best 146 yards on 23 carries. Remsberg possesses big play ability with
five of his rushing attempts going for over 10 yards, including a 25-yard
touchdown on the first play of overtime. Remsberg was named
CollegeSportsMadness.com offensive player of the week for the Mountain West.
JR., Donald Hammond III, QB #5
Donald,
“DJ” Hammond III, is a junior Aeronautical Engineering major from Hampton, GA
where he was a first-team all-state player in both football and baseball. Last
season as a sophomore, Hammond split time with Isaiah Sanders, but this year
has taken that next step and has become the full-time starter for the Falcons.
Boise State defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding had high praise for the
quarterback saying, “He’s a smooth operator out there. He gets back there and
it looks like he’s relaxed and you get a little pressure on him and he takes
off. He’s a very good athlete. We got our hands full.” Hammond is the king pin
to this offense. The Broncos will need to mix up their defensive looks to keep
Hammond from carving up the Boise State defense.
SR., Jeremy Fejedelem, S #2
All
Senior Jeremy Fejedelem (FEDGE-uh-lemm) does is make plays for Air Force.
Fejedelem, a management major from Lemont, IL led the team in tackles (104) and
interceptions (3) in 2018 and currently leads the team in tackles this season
with 16. Fejeldelem also leads the Falcons in sacks with 1.5. Last week against
Colorado Fejedelem had a career high 14 tackles which tells you he is always
around the football and isn’t afraid of some contact. Boise State will need to
make sure they have tabs on #2 all game long.
Boise State
SR., John Hightower, WR #16
John
Hightower is a human highlight reel. With the combinations of speed and
athleticism, Hightower can either out jump you for a ball or just simply outrun
the defender. Hightower, a 6’2” senior, came to Boise State as a community
college transfer and immediately made his impact for the Broncos last season as
the team’s biggest deep threat. Last season against this very Air Force team,
Hightower set career highs in catches (8), receiving yards (182), and
touchdowns (3). Two of his touchdown receptions were over 40 yards each. This
season Hightower is off to a solid start with eight catches for 150 yards and
two touchdowns.
SR., Sonatane Lui, NT #98
Sonatane
Lui won’t blow you away with his stat line, but he plays a major role for the
Broncos on the defensive line. Coming into this week Lui will need to have a
big game if the Broncos want to beat Air Force. Lui’s job this week as the Nose
Tackle is take away the fullback dive and be an anchor for the defensive line
to allow other defenders to rally to the football. Co-defensive coordinator
Spencer Danielson said, “[Lui] can go finesse and aggressive. He is powerful
enough were he can set and edge and take on a double team…but can also go right
through someone.”
Rs-SO., Zeke Noa, MLB #7
After
redshirting in 2017, Noa made his Bronco debut last season. Noa played in ten
games and started three a season ago at the weak-side linebacker. With the
departure of Tyson Maeva, Noa moved to middle linebacker this season and coach
Schmedding had high praise for Noa saying, “He’s a natural football player.
Zeke has a knack for finding the football wherever it is. There’s a lot to
[middle linebacker] and he’s done a good job…If he can take the next couple
steps and keep going in his progression, look out, he’s more than talented to
do good things.” Noa has earned that praise with his production the first three
games. Zeke leads the team in both total tackles (18) and solo tackles (12).
Focus Position Group: Defensive Line
This
week’s game has been known to be a “meat-grinder” type of game. Air Force wants
to run the ball and wear you down both physically and mentally. Their offensive
is quick off the ball and attacks with cut blocks. The Broncos will have a
tough test this week and the success of the team will start with the defensive
line. When facing the triple option, the defensive line has two main
responsibilities; stuff the middle and set the edge. Guys like David Moa and
Sonatane Lui in the interior of the defensive line need to win the line of
scrimmage and stop the dive from the fullback. Guys like Chase Hatada and
Curtis Weaver on the outside need to set the edge and not let the ball get to
the edge. It won’t a glamour week for the defensive line, there won’t be a ton
of sacks to get or big hits to make, but if they just hold fast to ‘do your
job’ the Broncos will be just fine. It all starts with the defensive line.
Rev's Route to a
Bronco Win
1.
Extend Drives
Boise State has been doing a great job at converting third
downs this season. The Broncos are top 10 in the country, converting 55% of
their third down attempts. What is even more amazing is how well Hank Bachmeier
has performed on that money down. On third down, Bachmeier is 21-for-29 with
356 yards, three touchdowns, and has converted 17 first downs. Bachmeier has
also rushed six times for three first downs. The opposing defenses have only
forced three “three-and-outs” this season. Boise State is also scoring on about
47% of their possessions. This week each Bronco possession will be precious and
it will be important for the offense to stay on the field and score points.
2.
Force negative yardage
plays
Air Force will want to run the ball on first down, second
down, AND third down. When you play a team that runs the football upwards of 60
times a game, keeping them from gaining positive yards is extremely important.
That has been a tall order for opposing defenses this year as the Falcons,
outside of penalties, have only committed five negative yardage plays. Even Air
Force’s penalties have been few and far between. However, Boise State’s defense
ranks 9th in the nations in tackles for loss and has averaged over 9
tackles for loss in each of the last three games. Last season against the
Falcons the Broncos had six tackles for loss. Look for the Broncos to attack
the ball and force the Falcons to convert third and long situations.
3.
Stop the Pass?
In the past two seasons, the Broncos have done a pretty good
job at stopping the rushing attack of the Falcons. Boise State held Air Force
to 201 rushing yards last season and 181 yards in 2017. Both of those numbers
are well below the Falcons season average for each of those years. However, it’s
usually the pass that kills the Broncos. Last season, the Falcons scored 38
points, and 21 of those points came on passing plays. The Bronco secondary can’t
get lulled to sleep and let a streaking Air Force receiver run by them this
week if they want to beat the Falcons.
Editorial Note:
“Do you job” is
probably echoing in each of the Boise State’s defensive players minds this week
as they play Air Force. This week the Broncos will have to be mentally strong
on defense if they want to beat the Falcons. It will take each player just
doing their 1/11 each and every play to succeed. On offense, the Broncos need
to get a lead and stay ahead. The Falcons aren’t a team that’s built on playing
from behind, so if the defense can get a quick stop and let the offense score
first it may pay dividends for the home team. This is a big game in terms of
position in the West division standings, because the winner of this game is in
the driver seat for first place.
The Broncos will be
wearing their new black uniforms at the Falcons funeral this week.
Boise State wins by 10
Boise State 31, Air Force 21
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