Is the Falcons' star on the rise?

Air Force spent much of the season playing well above expectations and far beyond its years.

The Falcons, who were picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West Conference after losing a senior class that included 14 offensive and defensive starters, won eight of their first 10 games with a lineup that relied heavily on freshmen and sophomores.

Reality crashed the Falcons' coming-out party the last two weeks of the season, however.

In 14- and 34-point losses to nationally ranked BYU and TCU, the team's youth and inexperience were exposed - along with a talent gap that Air Force needs to continue to attempt to close through recruiting.

"It just makes it even more (clear) that what you have to do is you've got to play with third- and fourth-year guys," coach Troy Calhoun said after Saturday's 44-10 loss at TCU. "And then you just realize how imperative the aspect of finding guys that have a little more size and some more acceleration is."

While the final two games put a damper on the season, a look at the 2008 campaign with a wide-angle lens reveals a rebuilding project that is well ahead of schedule. The Falcons finished fourth in the league, and an eight-win regular season was probably more than all but the most optimistic fans expected.

"I don't want to say surprised - right now you don't feel it because you want to stand toe-to-toe and slug with everyone you play, as a fighter," Calhoun said. "But there absolutely were some good things that happened this season."

On offense, there was the emergence of freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson and freshman tailback Asher Clark. Both broke into the starting lineup before the Oct. 11 game at San Diego State and helped spark a five-game winning streak.

In addition, sophomores Kyle Halderman and Jared Tew made big plays at Z receiver and fullback, respectively. Add in promising freshman receivers Jonathan Warzeka and Jaquon Robinson, and the Falcons seem to have plenty of young talent at the skill positions.

Defensively - up until the past two weeks when BYU and TCU, two of the league's top offenses, combined for 82 points - the Falcons were an opportunistic and stingy bunch.

Air Force forced two or more turnovers in 10 games and held five opponents scoreless in second halves of games.

And, like the offense, the defense is filled with young players, as a freshman and three sophomores started along with three juniors.

With plenty of starters and contributors set to return next season, the biggest question heading into the offseason is whether Calhoun and much of his staff will be back. At 17-8 in two seasons, Calhoun is expected to be courted by schools with coaching vacancies.

Clemson and Tennessee both appear to have some interest in Calhoun.

The coach remained mum about his future after Saturday's finale. But if he returns, it's clear he wants Air Force to fly higher.

"Going to a bowl game's a pretty good year - a really good year," he said. "And at the same time it's OK to aspire as a competitor to see if maybe there are some other heights to which we can take our program."

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Contact the Writer: 636-0365 or jake.schaller@gazette.com. Check out our Air Force blog at gazetteafasports.freedomblogging.com