Air Force defense pitches a shutout to break slump

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Air Force’s defense gave up 171 points in its first four October games, but didn’t allow any in the final game of the month.

The Falcons’ 42-0 win at New Mexico marked the first time since 1997 that Air Force shut out a conference opponent on the road. That dates back to Air Force’s days in the WAC, when it shut out Colorado State.

“It’s great, because the games we went through, we’ve had a couple rough games, but we got a shutout today,” safety Jon Davis said. “We were doing everything right that we needed to do.”

The Falcons had a favorable matchup against New Mexico, which had scored seven points in its last two games, but the Air Force defense also knew it could play better.

Before the fourth quarter, when Air Force put in its backups, New Mexico’s longest drive was 31 yards. The Lobos’ deepest penetration against Air Force’s starters was to the Falcons’ 38-yard line.

“Assignment wise, we were really, really good,” coach Troy Calhoun said. “I did think we disengaged from blocks well.”  

The Falcons had a couple threats to the shutout late, but New Mexico missed a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter. Air Force’s last shutout was against Wyoming at home in 2009.

Davis said there were a couple of missed assignments, but they were rare. He said he felt all week that the defense was primed for a good performance.

“It just felt good, because I knew today everyone was going to be in the right spot,” Davis said. “It just felt better, better than it has all this year.”

Air Force needs to win three of its final four games to be bowl eligible, and it will need the defense to play well in November to accomplish that.

“I think our mentality is different, I think our swagger is back up, and we’re a lot more relaxed back there as a defense and as a team,” Davis said.