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Utah State football looks to rebound against Air Force

By: Ben Fordham

The show must go on.

Following a disappointing loss to New Mexico, USU football, now 5-4 on the season, travels to Colorado Springs to face a 6-3 Air Force team that has won three straight games and four of its last five.

“We have watched a little bit of Air Force tape and they kind of bring the same defense as New Mexico,” said USU wide receiver Brandon Swindall. ”We can come out with a victory. We just have to get the ball in the air more, and that will open up the run game more.”

Air Force is 4-1 in the Mountain West and enters Saturday’s contest on an emotional high following a huge 20-3 win over rival Army.

The Falcons rank second in the nation for rushing yards with 335.9 per game. Junior running back Jacobi Owens has 615 rushing yards on the season and averages five yards per carry.

“I think their offense goes through Owens,” said head coach Matt Wells. “He has played very well this year for them. We’ve got to be very disciplined in the back end and guys have to understand their responsibilities and assignments, and we’ll have to be on-point on defense.”

Air Force is led by senior quarterback Karson Roberts who hasn’t been dropped for a sack since the 2013 season.

“He manages the game really well and he’s a leader,” added Wells. “He’s tough like a lot of those guys in the past, but he’s a true spirit and true leader of that offense. He does a really good job and has been accurate with the ball.”

Air Force will face a veteran Utah State defensive unit led by senior linebacker Kyler Fackrell and senior nose guard David Moala. Fackrell has recovered four fumbles this season to lead the nation. Moala has recovered two fumbles this season and returned from a knee injury last week.

“When you’ve got a guy playing at a high level like Moala is, they all do respond to that because he’s making plays,” Wells said. “He’s getting tackles for loss and playing in the backfield.”

Sophomore quarterback Kent Myers is expected to start against Air Force despite suffering a helmet-to-helmet hit that briefly sidelined him against New Mexico. Kimmie Carson, UNM’s linebacker who hit Myers, was issued a half-game suspension by the MW for forcible contact to the head and neck area of a defenseless player after the game.

“At the time when Kent came out of the New Mexico game, our doctors, our trainers and medical staff, were still examining him for the shot he took above the shoulder,” Wells said. “I had no idea where he was, so that’s why you saw Chuckie play the rest of that series.”

Myers has completed 82 of 130 passes this season while throwing only one interception. Utah State is 9-3 when Myers is the starting quarterback.

Utah State must win at least one of the three remaining games on their schedule to become bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive season.

Saturday’s matchup begins at noon.

— bfordhamsix@gmail.com
Twitter: @bfordham6