It’s not often an Air Force team piles up 500 yards of offense. It’s far more rare that they do so in a losing effort. That was the case tonight at Falcon Stadium, as the Boise State had it’s way with them, rolling up just under 600 yards of offense. What’s now become incredibly alarming is the amount of big plays this team is giving up.
The Broncos averaged 9 yards per carry along the way to nearly 300 yards on the ground. Dylan Riley absolutely gutted Brian Knorr’s defense, scoring five touchdowns
while amassing over 250 yards of total offense (171 rushing). Whether it was on the ground or through the air, the Falcons had no answers. The one saving grace was the 12 penalties that Boise State committed that prolonged a few drives. What already seemed a point of concern after last week is quickly leaning into full on panic territory.
It wasn’t all bad though. You have to believe that Air Force has found their quarterback in Liam Szarka. The offense did everything you could hope for to give their team a chance against a really good Boise State team. With even a modest defensive contribution, they likely win this game. Szarka shined after taking over for Johnson, throwing for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Both he and Dylan Carson recorded over 100 yards on the ground as well. But to appreciate his performance, you can’t look at the stat line, you need to see the quality of the throws, the escape ability and improvisational skills he displayed. As just a sophomore, it’s very easy to get optimistic about the future with 9 under center. And just another day at the office for Cade Harris, who had nearly 200 yards of total offense (177 receiving yards), as he continues to prove to be one of the most versatile weapons in college football.
There is still a bit of youth and inexperience on the defensive side of the ball. Many will point to that as a contributing factor to their struggles. But there are some really good players on that defense as well, so to see the results of the last two games is quite concerning. Just as the offense appears to be getting better, the defense is going to have to make significant strides quickly if they don’t want the season to get sideways quickly.
On the other side of the field, Boise State seems to have their mojo back. No surprise as that’s been their modus operandi since joining the Mountain West. In their swan song in the Conference, performances like this may serve as a nice reminder that seeing them on your schedule each year may not be the worst thing.
What’s Next
Air Force will host Hawaii at Falcon Stadium next Saturday, at 2 p.m. MT.
