5 players to watch in UNLV-Air Force

Five players to watch when UNLV’s football team plays Air Force at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium:

1. Air Force senior QB Kale Pearson. Having Pearson healthy all season has been one of the keys to the Falcons’ turnaround. In operating the triple option, he has passed for 1,098 yards and rushed for 411.

2. UNLV junior QB Blake Decker. The Rebels’ best hope to win is to win a scoring contest, and Decker will need to make sharp decisions all game. He’s capable of doing it, having thrown for 2,170 yards and rushed for 312.

3. Air Force sophomore RB Jacobi Owens. The Centennial High School graduate leads the Falcons with 853 yards, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Air Force’s running game is always difficult to defend, and Owens’ emergence makes it that much stronger.

4. UNLV senior DE Siuea Vaesau. He has made six tackles for loss, including four sacks, and keeping Pearson and the Air Force running backs from getting outside is crucial.

5. Air Force senior LB Jordan Pierce. He is the team leader in tackles (70), tackles for loss (12) and sacks (four), a major reason the Falcons are allowing 368.1 yards per game, a considerable improvement over the 490.2 average surrendered last season.