VIDEO: Highlights Of Air Force's Win Over Northwestern State

Even though this game was not on television that does not mean there is not visual evidence of this game, so here are the highlights of the Falcons 65-21 victory.

The Real Air Force Team Decided To Show Up In The Second Half

Air Force finally woke up and is finally moving the ball and scoring some points against Northwestern State, plus their defense has decided to show up as well. The defense has allowed zero points through the third and the start of the fourth quarter and stopped every third down attempt by Northwestern State. After leading only 24-21 at the half, Air Force has rolled off 35 unanswered points and now have a commanding lead of 59-21, early in the fourth quarter. All aspects of the offense have improved and the vaunted triple option offense exploded in the second half.  Air Force may have just overlooked Nortwestern State in anticipation of their showdown against BYU next week.

Halftime: Air Force 24 Northwestern State 21

The Falcons were looking to use this game against Northwestern State as a tune up before their big conference showdown against BYU, but at the half Air Force holds only a 24-21 lead. Air Force has just not been able to sustain any drives as they are one of five on third down attempts compared to Northwestern State who has converted six of eleven. The big play in the first half that made a difference was when Northwestern State punted to Anthony Wright, Jr who then fumbled the punt.

That turnover gave Northwestern State the ball on the Falcon seven and a few plays later tied the game at seven. Air Force did respond by scoring the next ten points, but the Falcon defense keeps allowing Northwestern State back in the game. Northwestern State is going blow to blow with Air Force and is exposing the Air Force secondary that is supposed to be best in the Mountain West, and so far in the first half have allowed 215 yards and two touchdowns all while playing two quarterbacks. Air Force was looking to take a 24-14 lead going into the half but a 23 yard pass combined with a 15 yard penalty against the Falcons allowed Northwestern State inside the five yard line were they proceeded to score a touchdown with thirty-three seconds left in the half.

Other bad news for the Falcons is that defensive back Reggie Rembert who is an all-Mountain West defensive back left the game in the first quarter and was carted off the field due to a neck injury. Rembert did raise his arm to the crowd while on the backboard and was taken to the locker room for precautionary reason. He did receive x-rays and  was able to move all of his extremities, so he looks to be ok. The injury to Rembert came after falling in a heap making a tackle.

Air Force Takes On Northwestern State In Their 2010 Season Opener

Air Force is looking to tune up their game and get new players some real time game experience against Northwestern State who comes from the Southland Conference out of the football championship subdivision, or for those old schoolers I-AA.  Air Force is the favored team because of the division separation, but to put things in perspective to how lopsided this game could be is to just look at last years results as Air Force beat Nicholls State 72-0 and Nicholls State beat Northwestern State 28-21 who went on to have an 0-11 season.

Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun is holding no seriously injured players back nor is he hiding anything from his playbook even though a big game against BYU is a week from Saturday. Calhoun is even channeling his inner Lou Holtz to motivate his team:  

"How many NFL draft picks has Northwestern State had, and how many has Air Force had?" Calhoun asked in explaining his attention to the Demons. "Northwestern State has had 32 draft picks, and Air Force has had five. We've got plenty of work to do."

Troy Calhoun is either serious or is trying to motivate his team.

A few things to watch in this game is to see how the brand new offensive line of Air Force handles themselves. Northwestern State is a team that likes to pass and may attempt to challenge the Air Force secondary that might be the best secondary in the Mountain West.  

Air Force just wants to come out of this game injury free and the most high profile player who may or not play is defensive back Anthony Wright Jr. who has been hurt with a rib injury during camp.  The Falcons would be smart to play Wright only a short time or not at all to make sure he is at full strength against BYU.

This game kicks at noon mountain time it is not on television but you can follow the action online with CBS Gametracker or listen to the game at  AM 740 KVOR.