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

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Air Force TB Asher Clark

The sophomore seems due for a monster game. After failing to gain more than 40 yards in a game for five straight weeks, Clark has picked up 75 and 82 the past two weeks, respectively. And he got those 157 yards on just 23 carries (6.8 yards per rush). Clark, who scored on a season-long 36-yard run last week against Army, will face a UNLV defense that ranks last in the Mountain West Conference and 111th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in rushing defense (211.2 yards allowed per game and 5.8 yards per carry).

2. Who will play with more emotion?

Air Force’s 15 seniors are playing in Falcon Stadium for the final time. But UNLV is playing for its postseason life — the Rebels need to win this evening and in their season finale against San Diego State to become bowl eligible. Air Force started slowly last week against Army, gaining just 39 yards and three first downs in the first half. The Falcons will need to get off to a better start this week against a UNLV team that is 3-1 when scoring first and 3-0 when leading at the half. Air Force is 6-0 when it scores first and 0-4 when it falls behind.

3. Can the Falcons force turnovers?

Early in the season, there was no team better at taking the ball away from opponents. The Falcons came up with 20 takeaways in their first six games, five of which they returned for touchdowns. In the four games since, however, Air Force has forced just four turnovers. And last week against Army the Falcons failed to come up with at least one for the first time this season. Turnover margin is an area in which Air Force should have an edge. UNLV is minus-3 in turnover ratio on the year, having recovered 10 fumbles and picked off just three passes. Air Force is plus-19.

KEY MATCHUP

Air Force’s secondary vs. UNLV’s wide receivers

Senior Ryan Wolfe holds UNLV records for career receptions (279) and career receiving yards (3,459) and is college football’s all-time leading active career receiver. But just as dangerous is sophomore Phillip Payne, who has made 49 catches for 505 yards and a team-high five touchdowns this season. Air Force’s secondary should be up to the task, however. The Falcons lead the nation in pass defense (127.2 yards allowed per game) and have yielded just three touchdown passes.

QUOTE TO NOTE

“In terms of sheer numbers, you’d love to have a senior class that’s in the 20s somewhere, but when it comes to absolute quality, they’re an incredible group.” — Troy Calhoun, Air Force coach, on the Falcons’ 15 seniors

NOTE TO QUOTE

Neither Air Force nor UNLV has beaten a team this season that currently has a winning record. Air Force’s six victories have come over teams with a combined record of 15-31. UNLV’s four victories have come over teams that are a combined 10-27.

NUMERICALLY SPEAKING

1 - Winning seasons UNLV had from 1995 through 2008. It came in 2000, when the Rebels went 8-5 and played in the Las Vegas Bowl. In the 13 other seasons during that span they went 37-112.

8 - Touchdowns scored by the Air Force offense in the Falcons’ past two games — double the amount in the previous five games.

129 - Points yielded by Air Force in 10 games this season. The Falcons have scored 273.

SPOTLIGHT PLAYER

Kyle Halderman • slot receiver

Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 175 • Class: Jr. • No.: 4

Hometown: Katy, Texas

High school: Cinco Ranch

Nickname: Haldy

2009 stats: 4 catches, 62 yards, 1 touchdown; 7 rushes, 35 yards, 1 touchdown (four games).

Notable: Missed the Falcons’ first six games with a broken collarbone that he suffered in the preseason, but has given the Air Force offense a spark since returning. Grew up playing football but because of a leg injury he did not play his freshman through junior years of high school. In his only season in Texas 5A football, he caught 40 passes for 1,078 yards and seven touchdowns, earning first-team all-state honors and the Nati Valdez award, given to the state’s most outstanding receiver. Also a standout basketball player in high school. “He’s one of those guys that’s probably really just now starting to discover what he can do on the football field,” coach Troy Calhoun said.

Why to watch him: He’s a big-play threat and a much-improved blocker. Last season he made a team-high nine plays of 25 or more yards. He averaged 9.7 yards per carry (most among players with seven or more rushes) and a team-high 22.2 yards per catch. He broke a 74-yard run against Wyoming and scored on a 74-yard reception against Colorado State.

Coach’s quote: “The last three games, he gives you a real, real good boost. He’s a good blocker, you can just tell, he’s so natural plucking the ball out of the air, and yet he’s just one of those guys who’s emerged to be a physical player. And he wasn’t when he was in his first year, and yet it shouldn’t have been expected either. He was thin. You look at him now he’s got more chest, his calves are bigger, the whole bit.” — Calhoun