Army at Air Force: Three things to watch, and more

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Air Force quarterback Tim Jefferson

Last Saturday at Colorado State, the sophomore, who has been hampered by an ankle injury, looked as healthy as he has since early in the season. Not coincidentally, he had his best game, completing 7-of-12 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns and running the option smoothly. Jefferson will need to have another good performance today against a Black Knights defense that last season limited the Falcons to 174 yards and 10 first downs. Air Force, as always, primarily will rely on its rushing attack. But if Jefferson can make a few big plays in the passing game — as he did Saturday in the victory over the Rams — the offense will be far more dangerous.

2. Army wide receiver Alejandro Villanueva

The senior is 6-foot-10 and 283 pounds. Villanueva started 12 games at left tackle last season before first-year Army coach Rich Ellerson shifted him to receiver. Villanueva ranks second on the team with 16 catches for a team-high 253 yards and a team-high four touchdowns. Thirteen of his receptions have gone for first downs or touchdowns. Air Force coach Troy Calhoun noted that late in the first half of Army’s game at Iowa State, the Black Knights threw three straight fade routes into the left corner of the end zone. Villanueva came down with the third for a touchdown. One thing to keep in mind — Air Force cornerbacks Reggie Rembert and Anthony Wright Jr. are 5-8 and 5-10, respectively. “When you consider body and arm length and the whole bit, that’s probably a good, at least 20 inches, maybe 2 feet difference,” Calhoun said.

3. Mistakes and turnovers

Both Army and Air Force run ball-control offenses — the Black Knights rank sixth in the country in time of possession (33:10 per game), while the Falcons rank 11th (32:17). Those styles should reduce the number of possessions in the game and magnify big mistakes and turnovers. In last season’s hard-fought 16-7 victory over the Black Knights, Air Force was outgained 250-174. But the Falcons came up with two interceptions and recovered a fumble while turning the ball over just once.

KEY MATCHUP

Air Force’s offensive line vs. Army’s defensive front

The Falcons struggled to move the ball against the Black Knights last season, picking up just 142 rushing yards on 49 carries (2.9 yards per rush). The Black Knights’ defensive line impresses Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, especially junior end Josh McNary, whom Calhoun called “the most productive player maybe in all of college football right now.” McNary has made 16.5 tackles for losses, including 10.5 sacks. “Those are freaky numbers,” Calhoun said.

QUOTE TO NOTE

“It’s going to be a hard-fought game. It’s a rivalry game; there’s going to be contact, like the hardest of the season. It’s going to be physical. It’s going to be gritty, down to the wire.” - John Falgout, Air Force senior inside linebacker

NOTE TO QUOTE

An Air Force back has rushed for 100 or more yards once this season — against Wyoming, when junior fullback Jared Tew gained 105 yards. Last season backs broke the century mark five times, and in 2007 there were 13 100-plus-yard performances, including three in the same game.

NUMERICALLY SPEAKING

4: Turnovers Air Force has forced in its last three games. In its first six contests, Air Force forced 20 turnovers.

18-2: Air Force’s record in its past 20 games with Army. The Falcons have won three straight and 11 of the last 12 meetings.

3-24: Combined record of the three teams Army has beaten this year — Eastern Michigan, Ball State and Vanderbilt.

SPOTLIGHT PLAYER: JON DAVIS, FREE SAFETY

Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 190 • Class: Soph. • No.: 6

Hometown: Cincinnati • High school: Winton Woods

Nickname: JD or Jon Jon

2009 stats: 37 tackles (26 unassisted — 2nd-most on team); 1 sack; 2 interceptions, 1 returned for touchdown; 1 forced fumble; 1 fumble recovery.

Notable: One of the Falcons’ best athletes, Davis played five games for the Air Force prep school’s basketball team during its 2007-08 season. He helped the team to a pair of victories over Trinidad State and one over Brown Mackie Junior College and scored 20 points against Buckley Air Force Base. While recruiting Davis, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun watched him during a basketball practice at Winton Woods High and was impressed with his athleticism. Calhoun said Davis would make “the absolute perfect X (receiver),” but Davis will stay on defense. He might, however, get a chance to return more punts. The lone punt he has fielded — at Utah, after Reggie Rembert left the game with an injury — he returned 35 yards.

Why to watch him: Combines good instincts, the hands of a receiver and the ability to deliver hard hits. Davis turned in arguably the season’s top highlight to date in the game against New Mexico, picking off a pass and then weaving through defenders on his way to the end zone. At the end of his 38-yard touchdown return, he hurdled a player, absorbed a big hit as he landed but still kept his feet and got into the end zone.

Coach’s quote: “I love how physical he’s been. I think sometimes when you get a guy that moves well and he’s got good ball skills and he’s rangy, he does the center field part of it. But what he’s done is he’s used his pads and gotten involved that way.” — Calhoun