Air Force Falcons @ Navy Midshipmen Football Preview

It had been a while since Air Force won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, given to the winner of the three-way rivalry among Army, Navy, and Air Force—since 2002 to be exact. However, quarterback Tim Jefferson and company should be hungry for another: Jefferson was one of the many underclassmen not invited to the White House for congratulations from President Obama. That’s because coach Troy Calhoun adhered to the Air Force tradition that only seniors get to meet the president upon winning the trophy. The Falcons take their first and most important step in defense of the C.I.C. Trophy this week as they travel to play Navy.

Both teams have started with almost identical schedules. Air Force beat South Dakota and Tennessee State quite easily, while Navy beat up on Delaware and Western Kentucky. Both teams also lost to their only tough opponents, with Navy faring better. Air Force was beaten soundly by TCU, while Navy battled South Carolina and eventually lost by just three points. This matchup will be the first for both teams against a similar opponent.

Of course, the string of similarities continues for both teams. The Falcons and Midshipmen run some form of the triple option, a well-known fact throughout the college football community. Navy’s option is a bit more traditional, averaging 358 rushing yards with Kriss Proctor at the helm, good for fourth in the nation. Proctor at quarterback (55 carries) and Alexander Teich at fullback (44 carries) get the most action in the Navy attack, with Proctor accounting for 34 percent of the team’s carries. Air Force, on the other hand, is a bit more diverse. Tailback Asher Clark is the key cog within the larger framework of the Falcons’ option game, while Jefferson accounts for only 18 percent of the team’s carries. Air Force also mixes in the fly-sweep running game to its receivers: Mikel Hunter and Jonathan Warzeka have combined to carry 10 times for a very effective 126 yards. All that adds up to give Air Force the nation’s best rushing attack.

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The key difference in the offenses is Air Force’s ability to throw the ball, with Jefferson completing 65 percent of his passes for 119 passing yards per game. Last week, Jefferson was 11-of-13 for 178 yards and three touchdowns, making Air Force’s offense very difficult for which to prepare. Navy throws half as many passes as 13 in a normal game – it will try to spring the big pass on an unsuspecting defense, but Jefferson will throw a little more often as a matter of course. Hunter, one of Jefferson’s prime targets, has been a big-play threat through the air with 119 receiving yards on just four receptions.

Defensively, Navy holds a clear edge, giving up 30 fewer yards per game, but more importantly, eight fewer points per game. Since Air Force appears to have a better offense, this definitely points toward a great matchup of equals. Air Force will also have to overcome the start time, as the game kicks off at noon Eastern time—10 a.m. for the body clocks of the boys from Colorado Springs.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer