Air Force is idle after its conference loss

The Falcons have a Week 3 bye after losing 38-32 to North Dakota State. There is no outside game to chase.

Cade Paterson’s targeting penalty extended North Dakota State’s opening touchdown drive. Air Force eventually lost 38-32 at home, and Troy Calhoun’s postgame assessment put the late comeback in perspective. The Falcons needed better execution from the outset, and production while trailing by multiple scores was no substitute.

For a program that went from 9-4 in 2023 to 5-7 and then 4-8, those early mistakes make a rebound harder to trust. Air Force’s preseason inventory listed seven returning defensive starters against just three on offense, giving fans reason to expect the defense to help the rebuilt offense along. Against NDSU, Steve Russ’s unit allowed all three fourth-down attempts to succeed and recorded no sacks. Blake Fletcher’s 85-yard interception return for a touchdown supplied a spectacular scoring play; the defense still needs to get opponents off the field on possession downs.

Air Force found more ways to score through the air. Matt Long had been questionable before the game, then started and caught two passes for a team-high 55 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown from reserve quarterback Evan Medders. Medders led a late 75-yard touchdown drive, while receiver Mason Hayes threw a 29-yard touchdown to Adam Hrynciw. Those alternate passers gave Air Force ways to finish drives through the air, useful options to develop without treating the comeback as a cure for the slow start.

Air Force is idle in Week 3, with no outside result important enough to recommend. The interactive guide and methodology are available, but this week’s wish list belongs on the practice field.

The Falcons also need to protect the points and possessions they create. A second-half chop block erased a third-down conversion, Carter Cremascoli had a PAT blocked and missed a 28-yard field goal, and both of Liam Szarka’s conversion passes fell incomplete. This is Air Force’s final break before ten consecutive games. Use it to clean up the costly penalties and conversion execution, get Russ’s defense to finish fourth-down stops, and make the passing options productive before a multiple-score deficit demands them.