College football breakdown: How Air Force got to the Arizona Bowl
See how Air Force reached the Dec. 30 Arizona Bowl in Tucson.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Sept. 3
• Where: Colorado Springs, Colorado
• What went down: Ronald Cleveland caught a 62-yard touchdown pass and rushed for a score as Air Force won its 13th straight home game. Cleveland, a hybrid running back/receiver, entered the game with just 1 career carry.
• The big number: 21. Air Force scored 21 consecutive points in the second quarter to pull away.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Sept. 10
• Where: Colorado Springs
• What went down: Tim McVey returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, setting the tone for a walkover win.
• The big number: 6. McVey’s return was Air Force’s first for a touchdown since Oct. 9, 2010 — a nearly six-year stretch.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Sept. 24
• Where: Logan, Utah
• What went down: Ironwood Ridge High School product Tyler Williams rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown and the Falcons opened Mountain West Conference play with a win.
• The big number: 213. Air Force won despite rushing for just 213 yards, 219 yards fewer than its per-game average entering the conference opener.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Oct. 1
• Where: Colorado Springs
• What went down: Jalen Robinette caught five passes for 163 yards and Air Force beat its service academy rival by two scores.
• The big number: 257. Air Force threw for 257 yards in a battle of traditionally running teams.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Oct. 8
• Where: Laramie, Wyoming
• What went down: Nate Romine threw for 188 yards and two scores but was intercepted three times, and Wyoming ended Air Force’s hopes of starting 5-0 for the first time since 2003.
• The big number: 11. Falcons safety Weston Steelhammer finished with a game-high 11 tackles.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Oct. 15
• Where: Dallas
• What went down: Teriyon Gipson rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown and New Mexico beat Air Force 45-40 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
• The big number: 51. The neutral-site game featured 51 players born in Texas.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Oct. 22
• Where: Colorado Springs
• What went down: The Rainbow Warriors capitalized on a missed Air Force field goal, then scored two touchdowns in overtime to snap the Falcons’ 15-game home winning streak. Jalen Rogers’ interception of a Romine pass sealed the win.
• The big number: 22. Air Force kicker Luke Strebel had hit 22 consecutive field goals when he lined up for a game-winner on the final play of regulation. He missed.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Oct. 28
• Where: Fresno, California
• What went down: Arion Worthman came off the bench for an injured Romine and helped Air Force avoid a four-game losing streak. The backup quarterback rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
• The big number: 9. The Falcons’ two quarterbacks combined to attempt just nine passes.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Nov. 5
• Where: West Point, New York
• What went down: Worthman threw for 195 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 63 yards and a score in his first career start, and the Falcons secured the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy with its second win over a service academy.
• The big number: 57. Air Force held Army to just 57 rushing yards, 259 below its season average.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Nov. 12
• Where: Colorado Springs
• What went down: Linebacker Nate Ross forced a fourth-quarter fumble and the Falcons held on for a three-point win over their in-state rival.
• The big number: 485. Air Force rushed for a season-high 485 yards.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Nov. 19
• Where: San Jose, California
• What went down: Worthman found Robinette for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining and the Falcons rallied for their eighth win of the season.
• The big number: 2. San Jose State threw twice on its final possession while leading by four points in the final two minutes when running could have possibly ended the game.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Nov. 25
• Where: Boise
• What went down: The Falcons’ defense made a goal-line stand with less than two minutes remaining, denying Boise State a chance for a Mountain Division championship.
• The big number: 3. Air Force’s win over Boise State was its third in a row.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Sept. 3
• Where: Colorado Springs, Colorado
• What went down: Ronald Cleveland caught a 62-yard touchdown pass and rushed for a score as Air Force won its 13th straight home game. Cleveland, a hybrid running back/receiver, entered the game with just 1 career carry.
• The big number: 21. Air Force scored 21 consecutive points in the second quarter to pull away.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Sept. 10
• Where: Colorado Springs
• What went down: Tim McVey returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, setting the tone for a walkover win.
• The big number: 6. McVey’s return was Air Force’s first for a touchdown since Oct. 9, 2010 — a nearly six-year stretch.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Sept. 24
• Where: Logan, Utah
• What went down: Ironwood Ridge High School product Tyler Williams rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown and the Falcons opened Mountain West Conference play with a win.
• The big number: 213. Air Force won despite rushing for just 213 yards, 219 yards fewer than its per-game average entering the conference opener.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Oct. 1
• Where: Colorado Springs
• What went down: Jalen Robinette caught five passes for 163 yards and Air Force beat its service academy rival by two scores.
• The big number: 257. Air Force threw for 257 yards in a battle of traditionally running teams.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Oct. 8
• Where: Laramie, Wyoming
• What went down: Nate Romine threw for 188 yards and two scores but was intercepted three times, and Wyoming ended Air Force’s hopes of starting 5-0 for the first time since 2003.
• The big number: 11. Falcons safety Weston Steelhammer finished with a game-high 11 tackles.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Oct. 15
• Where: Dallas
• What went down: Teriyon Gipson rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown and New Mexico beat Air Force 45-40 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
• The big number: 51. The neutral-site game featured 51 players born in Texas.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Oct. 22
• Where: Colorado Springs
• What went down: The Rainbow Warriors capitalized on a missed Air Force field goal, then scored two touchdowns in overtime to snap the Falcons’ 15-game home winning streak. Jalen Rogers’ interception of a Romine pass sealed the win.
• The big number: 22. Air Force kicker Luke Strebel had hit 22 consecutive field goals when he lined up for a game-winner on the final play of regulation. He missed.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Oct. 28
• Where: Fresno, California
• What went down: Arion Worthman came off the bench for an injured Romine and helped Air Force avoid a four-game losing streak. The backup quarterback rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
• The big number: 9. The Falcons’ two quarterbacks combined to attempt just nine passes.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Nov. 5
• Where: West Point, New York
• What went down: Worthman threw for 195 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 63 yards and a score in his first career start, and the Falcons secured the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy with its second win over a service academy.
• The big number: 57. Air Force held Army to just 57 rushing yards, 259 below its season average.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Nov. 12
• Where: Colorado Springs
• What went down: Linebacker Nate Ross forced a fourth-quarter fumble and the Falcons held on for a three-point win over their in-state rival.
• The big number: 485. Air Force rushed for a season-high 485 yards.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Nov. 19
• Where: San Jose, California
• What went down: Worthman found Robinette for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining and the Falcons rallied for their eighth win of the season.
• The big number: 2. San Jose State threw twice on its final possession while leading by four points in the final two minutes when running could have possibly ended the game.
- Staff and Wire Reports
• Date: Nov. 25
• Where: Boise
• What went down: The Falcons’ defense made a goal-line stand with less than two minutes remaining, denying Boise State a chance for a Mountain Division championship.
• The big number: 3. Air Force’s win over Boise State was its third in a row.
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