Football Gameday: CSU Rams vs. Air Force, Oct. 17

Oct. 16, 2015

Colorado State's Homecoming game against Air Force will be played in front of a standing-room-only crowd. The two teams will be playing for the Ram-Falcon Trophy, which CSU won in 2013 during the last meeting in Fort Collins. Kickoff Saturday is set for 1:34 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

COLORADO STATE (2-4, 0-2 MW) vs. AIR FORCE (3-2, 2-0 MW)
KICKOFF: Saturday, 1:34 p.m. MT
TV: CBS Sports Network (find channel)
RADIO: CSU Flagship: KJAC 105.5 FM | KRFD 100.1 | KJME 890 AM | KKVT 100.7 FM | Sirius 145 | XM 203
LIVE STATS:
TWITTER: @CSUFootball | @CSURamsGameday | @CoachBobo_CSU | CSURams NeverSatisfied

LINKS: Game Notes | Roster | Media Guide | Schedule | Gameday Fan Guide | Tickets

COLORADO STATE FOOTBALL HEADLINES
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Game Notes: CSU vs. Air Force

RIVALRY WEEK
Colorado State is looking to post back-to-back home wins over Air Force for the first time since 2003 and 2005. On the line is the Ram-Falcon Trophy, which has been awarded annually to the game's winner since 1980. The trophy is traced back to former CSU ROTC commander Shelly Godkin.

HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND
The 101st annual Colorado State University Homecoming & Family Weekend will take place this week, beginning Friday with the community parade and Festival on the Oval - including a pep rally, bonfire and lighting of the A. The parade can be streamed online. Saturday morning will begin with the Homecoming 5K run, and continue with the Rams' football game against Air Force. For more, visit homecoming.colostate.edu.

ABOUT COLORADO STATE

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Mike Bobo, formerly the OC at Georgia.
Has won 14 of its past 18 home games dating back to 2012, the team's best period of success since 1997-2001.
Ranks 10th in the NCAA FBS on third-down defense (26.8 percent). CSU ranks fifth for kickoff-return average (29.8) and 11th for net punting (42.1).
Averaging 411.2 yards per game (3rd in MW), including 246.0 through the air.
The team's experienced pass catchers lead the nation with 7,743 career yards combined.
2014 consensus All-American Rashard Higgins leads CSU with four touchdowns, and has recorded at least 100 receiving yards three of the past four games. His 6.8 receptions-per-game average ranks first in the MW and 17th nationally.
Junior LB Kevin Davis leads the MW with 9.0 tackles for loss, which ranks 26th in the NCAA FBS. He has at least a share of a TFL in eight consecutive games.
LB Cory James moved up to fourth in CSU history with his sack vs. Boise State, the 23rd of his career.
Hayden Hunt ranks 13th in the country for punting (46.0).

ABOUT AIR FORCE

Led by Troy Calhoun, who is 62-46 in his eight-plus seasons at the Academy, advancing to a bowl game in all but one season.
Is 2-0 in Mountain West action following last week's 31-17 victory over Wyoming. The Falcons also beat San Jose State during Week 2.
Both of Air Force's losses came on the road (35-21 at No. 4 Michigan State and 33-11 at Navy). AFA is 3-2 on the season.
DB Brodie Hicks is the reigning MW Defensive Player of the Week, totaling eight tackles, a fumble recovery and two interceptions vs. Wyoming.
AFA's ground game ranks fifth nationally, averaging 320.8 yards per contest. Overall, AFA's offense is putting up 32.6 points per game, second in the MW and 44th in the NCAA FBS.
AFA's defense ranks third in the MW and 44th nationally, allowing 21.6 points and 300.6 yards per game.
Has six players averaging at least 29.2 rushing yards per game, led by D.J. Johnson's 59.8 yards per game and five total touchdowns.
Alex Hansen leads the nation with two blocked kicks.
Garrett Brown ranks fourth in the country, averaging 20.3 yards per punt return, including a touchdown.

SERIES NOTES

CSU won the most-recent meeting in Fort Collins (2013), but had previously lost three in a row at home and seven consecutive overall.
In two career games vs. Air Force, Rashard Higgins has 320 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Against Air Force, Cory James and Trent Matthews have recovered fumbles, while Kevin Pierre-Louis has forced one.
In three career games vs. Air Force, Joe Hansley has 10 catches for 126 yards.
CSU has thrown for at least 300 yards in each of the past three meetings in the series.
In CSU's 2013 victory, the Rams limited the Falcons to 154 yards on the ground. Air Force has averaged 350.5 rushing yards in victories in 2012 and 2014. In 2013, CSU out-rushed Air Force, 234-154, in addition to throwing for 395 yards.
After taking a 10-7 lead, CSU trailed the 2014 meeting by two scores, 24-10, before scoring twice during a 5-minute period to tie the game early in the fourth quarter. Neither team would score again until AFA's Will Conant nailed a 39-yard field goal as time expired to win the game. The loss snapped CSU's nine-game winning streak.
Rashard Higgins caught a career-most 12 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-tying score early in the fourth quarter.
Xavier Williams, playing in his first game vs. Air Force, caught one pass for a career-long 76 yards and a score.
Cory James had a career-high 10 tackles, including a seven-yard sack.
Terry Jackson, Jr. had eight tackles, including a career-most 2.5 for loss.
In 2013, CSU scored on its first two possessions en route to a 58-13 blowout victory. The Rams led 58-0 midway through the fourth quarter, before the Falcons scored twice in the final 5 minutes of the game.
In the win, CSU out-rushed the run-heavy Falcons, 234-154, in addition to putting up nearly 400 yards through the air. CSU finished with 629 total yards of offense.
CSU scored on nine of its 12 possessions, while holding Air Force without a point for its first 10 drives.
Playing in his first game vs. Air Force, Rashard Higgins had seven catches for 127 yards and two scores.
Jordon Vaden caught four passes for a (career-most) 72 yards in the 2013 meeting, including a 49-yard touchdown.
CSU did not turn the ball over in the victory, and threw just one interception in 2014 against Air Force.
In 2012, CSU never led, allowing Air Force to score on each of its first four possessions.
Between 1992-2005, CSU went 5-1 against Air Force at Hughes Stadium, and 10-4 overall.
The first game ever played at Hughes Stadium was against Air Force, with the Falcons claiming victory, 31-0, on Oct. 19, 1968.

NOTES IN 140

CSU and Air Force have met every season since 1978. The Rams won the most-recent meeting in Fort Collins, 58-13 in 2013.
The #CSURams have won 14 of their last 18 home games, the best stretch since 1997-2001.
.@ColoradoStateU is celebrating Homecoming & Family Weekend, featuring a parade, bonfire and pep rally Friday, in addition to the game Saturday.
On the line Saturday is the Ram-Falcon Trophy, awarded annually to the game's winner since 1980.
In two career games against Air Force, #HollywoodHiggins has 320 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
CSU has thrown for at least 300 yards in each of the past three meetings against the Falcons.
Cory James set a career high with 10 tackles against Air Force in 2014, also posting a sack.
LB Cory James moved into 4th place in #CSURams history with his 23rd career sack last week.
Opponents are converting 26.8% of 3rd-down attempts, which ranks CSU's defense 10th in NCAA. CSU's offense has converted at a 42.9% rate (41st).
The #CSURams rank 5th in the NCAA FBS, averaging 29.8 yards per kick return. Gaines ranks 34th, with 3 returns over 30 yards.
Hayden Hunt ranks 13th nationally, averaging 46.0 yards per punt. Against Minnesota, he had a 73-yarder, the 8th-longest in #CSURams history.
LB Kevin Davis leads the @MountainWest with 9.0 tackles for loss. The junior has at least shared a TFL in 8 consecutive games.
Opponents have started drives on the Rams' side of the field 4 times this season, coming away with just 6 points.
Senior Trent Matthews is one of 11 NCAA FBS players named to the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team. Fans can #VoteTrent at Allstate.com/captain.
CSU is out-scoring its opponents 54-27 in the first quarter, and has trailed after the first stanza just once this season.
Nick Januska recorded his first career interception against Boise State, also adding a personal-best 6 tackles.
CSU's 411.2 yards of total offense per game rank 3rd in the @MountainWest. CSU is 1 of 5 schools to rank in upper half for offense and defense.
Jasen Oden, Jr. ranks 8th in the @MountainWest with 72.3 yards per game, including a career-best 143 at UTSA.
#HollywoodHiggins ranks 16th nationally with 93.8 receiving yards per game, including 3 games over 100.
#HollywoodHiggins has scored a school-record 29 career touchdowns, has 3,055 receiving yards (3rd) and has caught 198 passes (2nd).
#HollywoodHiggins has at least one catch in all 31 career games he has played in (7th in NCAA FBS).
QB Nick Stevens ranks 2nd in the @MountainWest for TD passes (10; 28th in NCAA) and passing yards (1,190; 50th).
Martavius Foster is tied for fourth in the MW with 3.5 sacks. He is followed by Joe Kawulok (2.5) and Kiel Robinson (2.0).
Despite trailing the turnover battle 17-6 this season, CSU's opponents have scored just 22 points off of turnovers (24 for CSU).
CSU has forced a three-and-out on nearly 35% of drives this season and ranks 26th in the NCAA FBS with 4.7 three-and-outs per game.
CSU has pass catchers who have accounted for 574 career receptions for 7,743 yards (1st in NCAA FBS) and 63 touchdowns (2nd).

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