Air Force Falcons football statistical leaders explained
The Air Force Falcons football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Air Force Falcons football program in various categories,[1] including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Falcons represent the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in the NCAA's Mountain West Conference.
Although Air Force began competing in intercollegiate football in 1955, these lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
- Since 1955, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
- The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972, allowing players to have four-year careers.
- Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[2] The Falcons have played in nine bowl games since this decision, giving recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics.
- Due to COVID-19 disruptions, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against the eligibility of any football player. While the service academies generally do not redshirt players, the Department of the Air Force allowed the USAFA to give its cadet athletes an extra season of eligibility. (Army was given this same option, but Navy was not.)[3]
The values on these list are often smaller than the values seen on other programs' lists for several reasons:
- Air Force has only played since 1955, making it a relatively new college football program.
- The Air Force Academy is a four-year undergraduate program, so it does not redshirt players under normal circumstances.[4] This means that for a player to play for four years, he must be good enough to see the field as a true freshman. Relatively few players are prepared to do this, which depresses career records.
- Air Force has run a triple option offense since the arrival of head coach Ken Hatfield in 1978. This offense emphasizes running over passing. Most passing records were established in the 24-year period before this time.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2022 season.
Passing
Passing completions
Passing yards
Career| 1 | Shaun Carney | 5,391 | 2004 2005 2006 2007 |
| 2 | Dave Ziebart | 4,789 | 1976 1977 1978 1979 |
| 3 | Tim Jefferson | 4,599 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 |
| 4 | Rich Haynie | 4,283 | 1971 1972 1973 |
| 5 | Rich Mayo | 3,399 | 1957 1958 1959 1960 |
| 6 | Gary Baxter | 3,362 | 1967 1968 1969 |
| 7 | Beau Morgan | 3,248 | 1994 1995 1996 |
| 8 | Marty Louthan | 3,137 | 1980 1981 1982 1983 |
| 9 | Bob Parker | 2,996 | 1969 1970 |
| 10 | Dee Dowis | 2,870 | 1986 1987 1988 1989 | |
Single season| 1 | Bob Parker | 2,789 | 1970 |
| 2 | Gary Baxter | 1,783 | 1969 |
| 3 | Mike Thiessen | 1,687 | 2000 |
| 4 | Tim Jefferson | 1,637 | 2011 |
| 5 | Karson Roberts | 1,595 | 2015 |
| 6 | Kale Pearson | 1,590 | 2014 |
| 7 | Rich Haynie | 1,570 | 1972 |
| 8 | Dave Ziebart | 1,562 | 1977 |
| 9 | Shaun Carney | 1,491 | 2007 |
| 10 | Tim Jefferson | 1,459 | 2010 | |
Single game| 1 | Bob Parker | 391 | | Wyoming |
| 2 | Gary Baxter | 388 | | Wyoming |
| 3 | Bob Parker | 375 | | Colorado State |
| 4 | Dave Ziebart | 339 | | Wyoming |
| 5 | Donald Hammond III | 327 | | New Mexico |
| 6 | Rob Shaw | 314 | | Pacific |
| 7 | Dave Ziebart | 311 | | Baylor |
| 8 | Dee Dowis | 306 | | Notre Dame |
| 9 | Bob Parker | 301 | | Oregon | |
Passing touchdowns
Single game| 1 | Adam Fitch | 5 | | BYU |
| 2 | Paul Stein | 4 | | Arizona |
| Rich Haynie | 4 | | Arizona State |
| Mike Thiessen | 4 | | BYU |
| Shaun Carney | 4 | | UNLV |
| Donald Hammond III | 4 | | New Mexico |
| 7 | 20 times | 3 | Most recent:
Donald Hammond III, 2019 vs. Colorado State | |
Rushing
Rushing yards
Career| 1 | Dee Dowis | 3,612 | 1986 1987 1988 1989 |
| 2 | Brad Roberts | 3,545 | 2020 2021 2022 |
| 3 | Asher Clark | 3,594 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 |
| 4 | Beau Morgan | 3,379 | 1994 1995 1996 |
| 5 | Jacobi Owens | 3,005[7] | 2014 2015 2016 |
| 6 | John Kershner | 2,726 | 1980 1981 1982 1983 |
| 7 | Chad Hall | 2,606 | 2005 2006 2007 |
| 8 | Shaun Carney | 2,561 | 2004 2005 2006 2007 |
| 9 | Chance Harridge | 2,324 | 2001 2002 2003 |
| 10 | Brian Bream | 2,284 | 1969 1970 1971 |
| Pat Evans | 2,284 | 1984 1985 1986 | |
Single season| 1 | Brad Roberts | 1,728[8] | 2022 |
| 2 | Beau Morgan | 1,494 | 1996 |
| 3 | Chad Hall | 1,478 | 2007 |
| 4 | Brad Roberts | 1,356 | 2021 |
| 5 | Dee Dowis | 1,315 | 1987 |
| 6 | Dee Dowis | 1,286 | 1989 |
| 7 | Beau Morgan | 1,285 | 1995 |
| 8 | Brian Bream | 1,276 | 1970 |
| 9 | Cody Getz | 1,248 | 2012 |
| 10 | Chance Harridge | 1,229 | 2002 | |
Rushing touchdowns
Single game| 1 | Dee Dowis | 6 | | San Diego State |
| 2 | Marty Louthan | 5 | | Navy |
| 3 | 14 times | 4 | Most recent:
Brad Roberts, 2022 vs. UNLV | |
Receiving
Receptions
Single game| 1 | Ernie Jennings | 15 | | Wyoming |
| 2 | Mike Bolen | 14 | | Colorado |
| 3 | Ernie Jennings | 13 | | Stanford |
| 4 | Charles Longnecker | 11 | | Stanford |
| Cormac Carney | 11 | | Georgia Tech |
| 6 | Bob Brickey | 10 | | Trinity |
| Bob Farr | 10 | | BYU |
| Mike Fortson | 10 | | Navy |
| Ryan Fleming | 10 | | New Mexico |
| Alec Messerall | 10 | | Navy | |
Receiving yards
Career| 1 | Jalen Robinette | 2,697[14] | 2013 2014 2015 2016 |
| 2 | Ernie Jennings | 2,392 | 1968 1969 1970 |
| 3 | Mike Kirby | 1,909 | 1980 1981 1982 1983 |
| 4 | Ryan Fleming | 1,515 | 1999 2000 2001 |
| 5 | Matt Farmer | 1,504 | 1997 1998 1999 |
| 6 | Garrett Brown | 1,334 | 2012 2013 2014 2015 |
| 7 | Charlie Longnecker | 1,312 | 1967 1968 1969 |
| 8 | Steve Hoog | 1,199 | 1975 1976 1977 1978 |
| 9 | Geraud Sanders | 1,176[15] | 2017 2018 2019 |
| 10 | Frank Murphy | 1,150 | 1971 1972 1973 |
| Paul Williams | 1,150 | 1975 1976 1977 | |
Single game| 1 | Ernie Jennings | 235 | | Wyoming |
| 2 | Cormac Carney | 220 | | Georgia Tech |
| 3 | Jalen Robinette | 210 | | Utah State |
| 4 | Frank Murphy | 198 | | Arizona State |
| 5 | Jason Brown | 184 | | Utah |
| 6 | Jalen Robinette | 182[16] | | New Mexico |
| 7 | Mike Kirby | 179 | | BYU |
| 8 | Ernie Jennings | 175 | | Utah State |
| 9 | Ernie Jennings | 174 | | Stanford |
| 10 | Brandon Lewis | 172[17] | | Louisville | |
Receiving touchdowns
Total offense
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[19]
Total offense yards
Career| 1 | Shaun Carney | 7,952 | 2004 2005 2006 2007 |
| 2 | Beau Morgan | 6,627 | 1994 1995 1996 |
| 3 | Tim Jefferson | 6,587 | 2008 2009 2010 2011 |
| 4 | Dee Dowis | 6,482 | 1986 1987 1988 1989 |
| 5 | Dave Ziebart | 5,511 | 1976 1977 1978 1979 |
| 6 | Marty Louthan | 4,997 | 1980 1981 1982 1983 |
| 7 | Rich Haynie | 4,740 | 1971 1972 1973 |
| 8 | Chance Harridge | 4,500 | 2001 2002 2003 |
| 9 | Haaziq Daniels | 4,179[20] | 2020 2021 2022 |
| 10 | Mike Thiessen | 3,820 | 1998 1999 2000 | |
Single season| 1 | Bob Parker | 2,783 | 1970 |
| 2 | Beau Morgan | 2,704 | 1996 |
| 3 | Dee Dowis | 2,571 | 1989 |
| 4 | Bart Weiss | 2,481 | 1985 |
| 5 | Keith Boyea | 2,469 | 2001 |
| 6 | Beau Morgan | 2,450 | 1995 |
| 7 | Mike Thiessen | 2,400 | 2000 |
| 8 | Karson Roberts | 2,338 | 2015 |
| 9 | Chance Harridge | 2,291 | 2002 |
| 10 | Kale Pearson | 2,277 | 2014 | |
Single game| 1 | Arion Worthman | 396[21] | | Navy |
| 2 | Isaiah Sanders | 390[22] | | UNLV |
| 3 | Bob Parker | 380 | | Colorado State |
| 4 | Dee Dowis | 377 | | Northwestern |
| 5 | Dave Ziebart | 375 | | Wyoming |
| 6 | Donald Hammond III | 368 | 2019 | New Mexico |
| 7 | Keith Boyea | 364 | | Wyoming |
| 8 | Cale Bonds | 361 | | Navy |
| 9 | Bob Parker | 353 | | Wyoming |
| 10 | Dee Dowis | 345 | | Notre Dame |
| Karson Roberts | 345[23] | | Boise State | |
Touchdowns responsible for
"Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[24]
Defense
Interceptions
Single game| 1 | Cyd Maattala | 3 | | Colorado State |
| 2 | Jim Miller | 3 | | Notre Dame |
| 3 | Anthony Wright | 3 | | Houston |
| 4 | Weston Steelhammer | 3[26] | | Boise State |
| 5 | Several times | 2 | Most recent:
Jeremy Fejedelem, 2019 vs. Wyoming | |
Tackles
Single game| 1 | Terry Maki | 30 | | Notre Dame |
| 2 | Jack Kucera | 26 | | Boston College |
| 3 | Tom Foertsch | 25 | | Notre Dame |
| Terry Maki | 25 | | Wyoming |
| 5 | Jack Kucera | 24 | | Arizona State | |
Sacks
Kicking
Field goals made
Single game| 1 | Dennis Leuthauser | 4 | | SMU |
| Dave Lawson | 4 | | Navy |
| Dave Lawson | 4 | | Army |
| Jim Sturch | 4 | | Boston College |
| Sean Pavlich | 4 | | Wyoming |
| Joe Wood | 4 | | Army |
| David Adams | 4 | | Army |
| Joey Ashcroft | 4 | | Army |
| Erik Soderberg | 4 | | San Diego State |
| Tevye Schuettpelz-Rohl | 4[32] | | Navy | |
Field goal percentage
Single season| 1 | Jackson Whiting | 100.0% | 1999 |
| Jake Koehnke | 100.0%[33] | 2019 |
| 3 | Luke Strebel | 90.9% | 2015 |
| 4 | Will Conant | 90.5% | 2014 |
| 5 | Joey Ashcroft | 88.9% | 2002 |
| 6 | Luke Strebel | 88.0% | 2016 |
| 7 | Joe Wood | 85.7% | 1990 |
| 8 | Sean Pavlich | 83.3% | 1982 |
| Parker Herrington | 83.3% | 2011 |
| 10 | Ryan Harrison | 82.8% | 2008 | |
Notes and References
- Web site: 2016 Air Force Falcons Media Guide. 2016-08-20. GoAirForceFalcons.com. 2016-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20160824154539/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/afa/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/2016footballrecordbook080216.pdf. dead.
- Web site: NCAA changes policy on football stats. 2002-08-28. 2016-08-20. ESPN.com. AP.
- News: Niumatalolo says Navy fired him immediately after loss to Army . Heather . Dinich . ESPN.com . December 12, 2022 . December 13, 2022.
- Web site: Troy Calhoun thinks Air Force should consider adding a redshirt program. 2013-09-24. 2016-08-28. Gazette.com. The Gazette (Colorado Springs). Briggeman. Brent.
- Web site: Air Force Falcons Passing.
- Web site: Air Force Falcons Passing.
- Web site: Jacobi Owens . 2017-01-15. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Brad Roberts. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Air Force controls Army to end 7-game skid . 2013-11-02 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Fagan rushes for 260, Air Force beats Colorado State 27-19 . 2018-11-22 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Owens leads Air Force to 44-16 win over Nicholls . 2014-08-30 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Air Force 42, Colorado St. 21 . 2012-09-29 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Air Force vs. Nevada Box Score. ESPN.com. November 19, 2021. November 22, 2021.
- Web site: Jalen Robinette . 2017-01-15. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Geraud Sanders. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Gipson shines in Dallas return as UNM tops Air Force 45-40 . 2016-10-15 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Air Force vs. Louisville Box Score. ESPN.com. December 28, 2021. January 1, 2022.
- Web site: New Mexico uses big plays to beat Air Force 47-35 . 2015-11-28 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: 2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records . NCAA . 9 . December 4, 2021.
- Web site: Haaziq Daniels. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Navy uses last-minute TD to beat Air Force 48-45 . 2017-10-07 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Air Force gets first conference win 41-35 . 2018-10-19 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Air Force goes to the air to thwart Boise State, 37-30 . 2015-11-20 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: 2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records . NCAA . 12 . December 4, 2021.
- Web site: Donald Hammond III. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Air Force beats mistake-prone Boise State 28-14 . 2014-09-27 . ESPN.com .
- Web site: Vince Sanford. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Jordan Jackson. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Bo Richter. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Luke Strebel . 2017-12-31. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Matthew Dapore. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Navy vs. Air Force Box Score. ESPN.com. October 3, 2020. October 5, 2020.
- Web site: Jake Koehnke. ESPN.com.
