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Air Force-San Diego St. Preview

Oct 12, 2010 - 4:58 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Air Force (5-1) at San Diego State (3-2), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Air Force's offense showed last weekend it doesn't have to solely rely on its top-ranked running attack, but the ground game - and that of its opponent - figure to be prominently displayed Saturday.

Beginning a tough stretch and trying to avoid looking ahead to a big game next weekend, the 23rd-ranked Falcons seek their best start in conference play in 13 years as they visit San Diego State.

Air Force (5-1, 3-0 Mountain West) moved up two spots in the latest AP poll, making it back-to-back weeks in the rankings for the first time since 2002. The Falcons, off to their best start since 2003, defeated Colorado State 49-27 last Saturday.

Air Force ranks first in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 352.7 rushing yards per game but had a season-low 248 against the Rams. However, that total came on a season-low 47 attempts and the Falcons did run for three touchdowns.

Junior Asher Clark ran for one of those scores and 125 yards, surpassing 2,000 for his career. He ranks third in the Mountain West in rushing and teammate Jared Tew ranks fourth, combining for 178.6 yards per game.

However, the big surprise last week was the success Tim Jefferson had throwing. Although he attempted only nine passes, five were completed for 160 yards including touchdowns of 51 and 39 yards.

"It helps out the whole backfield when T.J. has that deep threat and he's able to open up that secondary like that," Tew said.

Air Force finished with 185 yards passing, its most since throwing for 237 in a loss at Navy in 2007. The Falcons had failed to reach 100 yards passing in three of their previous four games.

Looking to improve to 4-0 in league play for the first time since winning its first four games as a WAC member in 1997, Air Force faces a much tougher schedule beginning Saturday against San Diego State (3-2, 0-1). The Aztecs' two losses were each by three points and on the road - one to 21st-ranked Missouri - and they won their two home games by a combined 88-7 score.

The Falcons' first three conference games were against teams which currently have losing records, and they needed a late touchdown run by Jefferson to win the only one on the road at Wyoming. Air Force now heads to the road for three of its next four, including a visit to No. 4 TCU next week before returning home to face No. 11 Utah.

"I think (the players) realize that for what we're about to go through on the horizon, that this might be the strongest stretch the service academy has ever played when you look at these next few weeks," coach and former Falcons quarterback Troy Calhoun said.

Before its showdown with the Horned Frogs, Air Force must avoid overlooking the Aztecs, whose running game is trying to bounce back after finishing with a season-low 53 yards in a 24-21 loss to BYU last Saturday.

San Diego State entered that game among the top 25 in the FBS in rushing yards per game (213.5) but was held to minus-2 in the first half. Freshman Ronnie Hillman, the conference's leading rusher with 118.8 yards per game, ran for to a season-low 62.

However, quarterback Ryan Lindley played well again, going 20 of 34 for 220 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The junior has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of the Aztecs' wins.

"He's done a great job," coach Brady Hoke said. "He's learned a lot, being patient. Earlier he rushed things a bit. He has done a great job and really shown progress."

Hoke's team didn't do a great job defensively, allowing 413 total yards and a season-worst 271 rushing. San Diego State still ranks third in the Mountain West in total defense, allowing 319.4 yards per game.

The Aztecs have lost 23 straight against ranked opponents since beating No. 16 Wyoming at home in 1996.

They've dropped three in a row to Air Force, including a 26-14 road loss last year as the Falcons had a 243-39 edge in rushing yards.