2021 Air Force Falcons football team

American college football season

2021 Air Force Falcons football
MW Mountain Division co-champion
First Responder Bowl champion
First Responder Bowl, W 31–28 vs. Louisville
ConferenceMountain West Conference
Record10–3 (6–2 MW)
Head coach
  • Troy Calhoun (15th season)
Offensive coordinatorMike Thiessen (11th season)
Offensive schemeTriple option
Defensive coordinatorJohn Rudzinski (4th season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumFalcon Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Mountain West Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
  • e
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Mountain Division
No. 24 Utah State xy$   6 2     11 3  
Air Force x   6 2     10 3  
Boise State   5 3     7 5  
Wyoming   2 6     7 6  
Colorado State   2 6     3 9  
New Mexico   1 7     3 9  
West Division
No. 25 San Diego State xy   7 1     12 2  
Fresno State   6 2     10 3  
Nevada   5 3     8 5  
Hawaii   3 5     6 7  
San Jose State   3 5     5 7  
UNLV   2 6     2 10  
Championship: Utah State 46, San Diego State 13
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Falcons were led by 15th–year head coach Troy Calhoun and played their home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They competed as members of the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference.

Preseason

Media poll

The preseason poll was released on July 21, 2021. The Falcons were predicted to finish in third place in the MW Mountain Division.[1]

Mountain
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Boise State 148 (23)
2 Wyoming 115 (2)
3 Air Force 104
4 Colorado State 72
5 Utah State 47
6 New Mexico 39
West
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Nevada 141 (19)
2 San Jose State 121 (5)
3 San Diego State 96
4 Fresno State 85 (1)
5 Hawaii 56
6 UNLV 26

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 412:00 p.m.Lafayette*StadiumW 35–1430,012
September 113:30 p.m.at Navy*CBSW 23–336,997
September 185:30 p.m.Utah State
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
FS2L 45–4920,264
September 256:00 p.m.Florida Atlantic*
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
FS2W 31–719,763
October 25:30 p.m.at New Mexico
FS2W 38–1013,158
October 95:00 p.m.Wyoming
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSNW 24–1424,832
October 167:00 p.m.at Boise StateFS1W 24–1734,446
October 235:00 p.m.No. 22 San Diego State
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSNL 14–2023,887
November 69:30 a.m.vs. Army*
CBSL 14–21 OT32,537
November 135:00 p.m.at Colorado StateCBSSNW 35–2125,550
November 197:00 p.m.at NevadaFS1W 41–39 3OT15,206
November 261:30 p.m.UNLV
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSNW 48–1418,226
December 281:15 p.m.vs. Louisville*ESPNW 31–2815,251

[2]

Personnel

2021 Air Force Falcons football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: September 17, 2021

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRV
CoachesRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV
CFPNot releasedNot released

Game summaries

Lafayette

Lafayette at Air Force
1 234Total
Leopards 0 770 14
Falcons 14 1407 35
  • Date: September 4, 2021
  • Location: Falcon Stadium
    Colorado Springs, CO
  • Game start: 12:06 p.m. MDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 12 minutes
  • Game attendance: 30,012
  • Game weather: Temperature: N/A • Weather: Sunny • Wind: N/A
  • Referee: Christian Walker
  • TV announcers (Stadium): Chris Hassel (play–by–play) and Sherdrick Bonner (analyst)
   
Scoring summary
108:01AFMicah Davis 10–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(10 plays, 59 yards, 4:53)
AF 7–0
00:25AFHaaziq Daniels 7–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(10 plays, 65 yards, 4:49)
AF 14–0
209:05LAFJulius Young 23–yard pass from Rent Montie (Micah Pettit kick)
(13 plays, 83 yards, 6:16)
AF 14–7
03:09AFMicah Davis 16–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick failed)
(12 plays, 75 yards, 5:56)
AF 20–7
00:18AFHaaziq Daniels 2–yard run (DeAndre Hughes rush)
(7 plays, 40 yards, 1:20)
AF 28–7
307:50LAFSelwyn Simpson 3–yard run (Micah Pettit kick)
(10 plays, 68 yards, 5:11)
AF 28–14
406:10AFHaaziq Daniels 19–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(8 plays, 68 yards, 4:02)
AF 35–14
Pregame line Over/under
AF –40.5 49.5[3]
Statistics Lafayette Air Force
First downs 12 24
Total yards 287 420
Rushing yards 43 370
Passing yards 244 50
Turnovers 2 0
Time of possession 25:39 34:21
Team Category Player Statistics
Lafayette Passing Aaron Angelos 10/16, 158 yards
Rushing Jaden Sutton 7 carries, 38 yards
Receiving Julius Young 8 receptions, 147 yards, 1 TD
Air Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 3/5, 50 yards
Rushing Brad Roberts 25 carries, 111 yards
Receiving Micah Davis 2 receptions, 27 yards

At Navy

Air Force at Navy
(Commander-in-Chief's Trophy)
1 234Total
Falcons 0 779 23
Midshipmen 0 300 3
  
Scoring summary
210:36NAVYBijan Nichols 23–yard field goal
(7 plays, 32 yards, 3:32)
NAVY 3–0
01:09AFBrad Roberts 3–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(9 plays, 43 yards, 3:26)
AF 7–3
300:32AFHaaziq Daniels 28–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(9 plays, 54 yards, 4:09)
AF 14–3
413:33AFTeam 23–yard safetyAF 16–3
09:13AFBrad Roberts 2–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(7 plays, 58 yards, 4:20)
AF 23–3
Pregame line Over/under
AF –6 39.5[4]
Statistics Air Force Navy
First downs 14 6
Total yards 225 68
Rushing yards 176 36
Passing yards 49 32
Turnovers 1 3
Time of possession 36:48 23:12
Team Category Player Statistics
Air Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 3/10, 49 yards
Rushing Brad Roberts 29 carries, 97 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Micah Davis 1 reception, 27 yards
Navy Passing Maasai Maynor 3/5, 32 yards
Rushing Xavier Arline 16 carries, 31 yards
Receiving Mychal Cooper 1 reception, 15 yards

Utah State

Utah State at Air Force
1 234Total
Aggies 7 62115 49
Falcons 10 14147 45
          
Scoring summary
111:46AFMicah Davis 5–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(6 plays, 75 yards, 3:14)
AF 7–0
05:34AFMatthew Dapore 15–yard field goal
(9 plays, 75 yards, 4:11)
AF 10–0
01:17USUCalvin Tyler Jr. 1–yard run (Connor Coles kick)
(13 plays, 71 yards, 4:12)
AF 10–7
210:16USUBrandon Bowling 6–yard pass from Logan Bonner (Connor Coles kick blocked)
(11 plays, 92 yards, 3:45)
USU 13–10
08:19AFMicah Davis 56–yard pass from Haaziq Daniels (Matthew Dapore kick)
(5 plays, 71 yards, 1:55)
AF 17–13
00:56AFDane Kinamon 3–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(16 plays, 75 yards, 6:52)
AF 24–13
313:26USUJustin McGriff 24–yard pass from Logan Bonner (Connor Coles kick)
(7 plays, 69 yards, 1:28)
AF 24–20
11:17AFEmmanuel Michel 51–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(5 plays, 75 yards, 2:09)
AF 31–20
07:48USUCarson Terrell 5–yard pass from Andrew Peasley (Connor Coles kick)
(10 plays, 75 yards, 3:29)
AF 31–27
03:18USUBrandon Bowling 37–yard pass from Andrew Peasley (Connor Coles kick)
(6 plays, 56 yards, 1:39)
USU 34–31
00:52AFEmmanuel Michel 55–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(5 plays, 75 yards, 2:26)
AF 38–34
410:37AFHaaziq Daniels 39–yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(4 plays, 50 yards, 1:49)
AF 45–34
09:51USUDeven Thompkins 72–yard pass from Andrew Peasley (rush)
(3 plays, 75 yards, 0:38)
AF 45–42
03:54USUCalvin Tyler Jr. 61–yard run (Connor Coles kick)
(6 plays, 85 yards, 2:02)
USU 49–45
Pregame line Over/under
AF –9 54[5]
Statistics Utah State Air Force
First downs 26 23
Total yards 628 619
Rushing yards 180 437
Passing yards 448 182
Turnovers 0 2
Time of possession 26:01 33:59
Team Category Player Statistics
Utah State Passing Logan Bonner 21/34, 253 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Calvin Tyler Jr. 19 carries, 132 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Deven Thompkins 9 receptions, 188 yards, 1 TD
Air Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 6/12, 182 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Emmanuel Michel 11 carries, 133 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Micah Davis 4 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD

Florida Atlantic

Florida Atlantic at Air Force
1 234Total
Owls 0 700 7
Falcons 14 1070 31
   
Scoring summary
18:47AFHaaziq Daniels 4–yard run (Anthony Rodriguez kick)
(8 plays, 68 yards, 4:20)
AF 7–0
5:35AFHaaziq Daniels 94–yard run (Anthony Rodriguez kick)
(1 play, 94 yards, 0:13)
AF 14–0
211:48AFBrad Roberts 3–yard run (Anthony Rodriguez kick)
(14 plays, 82 yards, 7:26)
AF 21–0
5:10AFAnthony Rodriguez 23–yard field goal
(9 plays, 50 yards, 5:00)
AF 24–0
3:42FAUN'Kosi Perry 34–yard run (Aaron Shahriari kick)
(4 plays, 74 yards, 1:23)
AF 24–7
33:30AFMicah Davis 6–yard run (Anthony Rodriguez kick)
(12 plays, 97 yards, 6:39)
AF 31–7
Pregame line Over/under
AF –3.5 54[6]
Statistics Florida Atlantic Air Force
First downs 10 24
Total yards 219 516
Rushing yards 141 446
Passing yards 78 70
Turnovers 1 0
Time of possession 19:03 40:57
Team Category Player Statistics
Florida Atlantic Passing N'Kosi Perry 11/33, 78 yds, 1 INT
Rushing Johnny Ford 8 car, 66 yds
Receiving Jequan Burton 2 rec, 28 yds
Air Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 2/4, 70 yds
Rushing Haaziq Daniels 17 car, 164 yds, 2 TD
Receiving Brandon Lewis 1 rec, 46 yds

At New Mexico

Air Force at New Mexico
1 234Total
Falcons 7 1777 38
Lobos 0 073 10
  • Date: October 2, 2021
  • Location: University Stadium
    Albuquerque, NM
  • Game start: 5:30 p.m. MDT
  • Game attendance: 13,158
  • TV announcers (FS2): Dan Hellie (play-by-play) and Robert Smith (analyst)
Pregame line Over/under
AF –11.5 45.5[7]
Statistics Air Force New Mexico
First downs 24 14
Total yards 441 226
Rushing yards 408 47
Passing yards 33 179
Turnovers 0 3
Time of possession 41:53 18:07
Team Category Player Statistics
Air Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 1/2, 33 yards
Rushing Brad Roberts 28 carries, 142 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Brandon Lewis 1 Reception, 33 yards
New Mexico Passing Terry Wilson 14/23, 179 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Aaron Dumas 3 carries, 15 yards
Receiving Luke Wysong 3 receptions, 70 yards

Wyoming

Wyoming at Air Force
1 234Total
Cowboys 0 1400 14
Falcons 7 773 24
  
Scoring summary
16:42AFBrad Roberts 1–yard run (Anthony Rodriguez kick)
(15 plays, 75 yards, 8:18)
AF 7–0
210:43AFDane Kinamon 2–yard run (Anthony Rodriguez kick)
(11 plays, 38 yards, 6:08)
AF 14–0
2:39WYOSean Chambers 1–yard run (John Hoyland kick)
(6 plays, 97 yards, 1:59)
AF 14–7
0:15WYOIsaiah Neyor 10–yard reception from Sean Chambers (John Hoyland kick)
(5 plays, 73 yards, 0:52)
TIED 14–14
35:46AFMicah Davis 13–yard reception from Haaziq Daniels (Anthony Rodriguez kick)
(8 plays, 85 yards, 4:09)
AF 21–14
47:18AFAnthony Rodriguez 26–yard field goal
(15 plays, 67 yards, 7:11)
AF 24–14
Pregame line Over/under
AF –6 47[8]
Statistics Wyoming Air Force
First downs 15 20
Total yards 257 321
Rushing yards 114 211
Passing yards 143 110
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 21:12 38:48
Team Category Player Statistics
Wyoming Passing Sean Chambers 11/28, 143 yards, TD
Rushing Xazavian Valladay 8 carries, 96 yards
Receiving Isaiah Neyor 3 receptions, 55 yards, TD
Air Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 7/10, 110 yards, TD
Rushing Brad Roberts 33 carries, 140 yards, TD
Receiving Brandon Lewis 5 receptions, 77 yards

At Boise State

Air Force at Boise State
1 234Total
Falcons 7 1403 24
Broncos 7 703 17
  • Date: October 16, 2021
  • Location: Albertsons Stadium
    Boise, ID
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. (Kicked at 7:10 p.m.) MDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
  • Game attendance: 34,446
  • Game weather: Temperature: 67 °F (19 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SE 15 MPH
  • Referee: Kevin Hassell
  • TV announcers (Fox/FS1/FS2): Cory Provus (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst)
    
Scoring summary
111:15BSUStefan Cobbs 8–yard pass from Hank Bachmeier (Jonah Dalmas kick)
(11 plays, 75 yards, 3:45)
BSU 7–0
4:29AFBrad Roberts 4–yard run (Anthony Rodriguez kick)
(14 plays, 75 yards, 6:46)
TIED 7–7
213:53AFHaaziq Daniels 25–yard run (Anthony Rodriguez kick)
(10 plays, 76 yards, 4:19)
AF 14–7
10:04BSUAndrew Van Buren 11–yard run (Jonah Dalmas kick)
(10 plays, 80 yards, 3:41)
TIED 14–14
6:12AFBrad Roberts 1–yard run (Anthony Rodriguez kick)
(8 plays, 75 yards, 3:52)
AF 21–14
42:49AFMatthew Dapore 28–yard field goal
(4 plays, 6 yards, 2:06)
AF 24–14
0:49BSUJonah Dalmas 37–yard field goal
(11 plays, 53 yards, 1:56)
AF 24–17
Pregame line Over/under
N/A N/A
Statistics Air Force Boise State
First downs 19 18
Total yards 366 337
Rushing yards 307 78
Passing yards 59 259
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 37:01 22:59
Team Category Player Statistics
Air Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 1/5, 59 yards
Rushing Brad Roberts 28 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Brandon Lewis 1 reception, 59 yards
Boise State Passing Hank Bachmeier 23/36, 259 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Andrew Van Buren 15 carries, 58 yards, TD
Receiving Stefan Cobbs 6 receptions, 83 yards, TD

No. 22 San Diego State

San Diego State at Air Force
1 234Total
No. 22 Aztecs 3 1070 20
Falcons 0 077 14
  
Scoring summary
112:26SDSUMatt Araiza 22-yard field goal
(4 plays, 4 yards, 1:42)
SDSU 3–0
28:42SDSUKaegun Williams 1–yard run (Matt Araiza kick)
(12 plays, 42 yards, 5:45)
SDSU 10–0
1:54SDSUMatt Araiza 51–yard field goal
(7 plays, 12 yards, 4:27)
SDSU 13–0
311:05SDSUChance Bell 3–yard run (Matt Araiza kick)
(7 plays, 75 yards, 3:48)
SDSU 20–0
1:07AFDalton King 13–yard pass from Warren Bryan (Matthew Dapore kick)
(11 plays, 57 yards, 4:57)
SDSU 20–7
43:59AFDane Kinamon 3-yard run (Matthew Dapore kick)
(15 plays, 89 yards, 6:33)
SDSU 20–14
Pregame line Over/under
AF –3 39
Statistics San Diego State Air Force
First downs 10 15
Total yards 229 259
Rushing yards 157 192
Passing yards 72 67
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 31:15 28:45
Team Category Player Statistics
San Diego State Passing Lucas Johnson 11/13, 72 yards
Rushing Chance Bell 8 carries, 50 yards, TD
Receiving Elijah Kothe 3 receptions, 25 yards
Air Force Passing Warren Bryan 3/7, 58 yards, TD
Rushing Haaziq Daniels 9 carries, 50 yards
Receiving Jake Spiewak 1 reception, 31 yards

Vs. Army

Air Force vs. Army
(Commander-in-Chief's Trophy)
1 234Total
Black Knights 0 0140 14
Falcons 0 0311 14
  • Date: November 6, 2021
  • Location: Globe Life Field
    Arlington, TX
  • Game start: 10:30 a.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 32,537
  • Game weather: Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Indoor • Wind: None
  • Referee: Brandon Cruse
  • TV announcers (CBS): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst) & Sherree Burruss (sideline)
   
Scoring summary
311:06ARMYTyhier Tyler 9-yard rush (Cole Talley)
(7 plays, 64 yards, 3:48)
ARMY 7–0
6:07AFMatthew Dapore 39-yard field goal
(9 plays, 49 yards, 4:54)
ARMY 7–3
5:07ARMYTyrell Robinson 79-yard pass from Christian Anderson (Cole Talley kick)
(2 plays, 79 yards, 0:55)
ARMY 14–3
410:23AFDane Kinamon 4–yard pass from Haaziq Daniels (DeAndre Hughes rush)
(7 plays, 66 yards, 3:09)
ARMY 14–11
0:23AFMatthew Dapore 30-yard field goal
(15 plays, 78 yards, 4:40)
TIED 14–14
OTARMYJordyn Law 0-yard rush (Cole Talley kick)
(6 plays, 19 yards, 0:00)
ARMY 21–14


Air Force on offense against Army
Pregame line Over/under
N/A N/A
Statistics Army Air Force
First downs 13 22
Total yards 322 401
Rushing yards 108 175
Passing yards 214 226
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 29:03 30:57
Team Category Player Statistics
Army Passing Christian Anderson 7/12, 175 yards, TD
Rushing Tyhier Tyler 15 carries, 39 yards, TD
Receiving Tyrell Robinson 2 receptions, 118 yards, TD
Air Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 13/22, 226 carries, TD
Rushing Brad Roberts 18 carries, 68 yards
Receiving Brandon Lewis 5 receptions, 106 yards

At Colorado State

Air Force at Colorado State
(Rivalry)
1 234Total
Falcons 21 0140 35
Rams 7 770 21
Pregame line Over/under
N/A N/A
Statistics Air Force Colorado State
First downs 26 17
Total yards 509 308
Rushing yards 388 135
Passing yards 121 173
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 38:36 21:24
Team Category Player Statistics
Air Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 4/11, 121 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Brad Roberts 32 carries, 151 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Brandon Lewis 1 receptions, 92 yards, TD
Colorado State Passing Todd Centeio 13/22, 173 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Todd Centeio 12 carries, 55 yards, TD
Receiving Trey McBride 4 receptions, 81 yards

At Nevada

Air Force at Nevada
1 234Total
Falcons 0 1770 24
Wolf Pack 3 0714 24
Pregame line Over/under
N/A N/A
Statistics Air Force Nevada
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Air Force Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Nevada Passing
Rushing
Receiving

UNLV

UNLV at Air Force
1 234Total
Rebels 0 077 14
Falcons 14 10177 48
Pregame line Over/under
N/A N/A
Statistics UNLV Air Force
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
UNLV Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Air Force Passing
Rushing
Receiving

References

  1. ^ "Boise State, Nevada Picked to Win 2021 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles". Mountain West Conference. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "2021 Air Force Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  3. ^ "Lafayette Leopards vs Air Force Falcons". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "Air Force Falcons vs Navy Midshipmen". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Utah State Aggies vs Air Force Falcons". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "Florida Atlantic Owls vs Air Force Falcons". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "Air Force Falcons vs New Mexico Lobos". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "Wyoming Cowboys vs Air Force Falcons". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 5, 2021.