UNLV at Air Force: position-by-position breakdown
A look at who has the advantage at each position when UNLV travels to Air Force for an 11 a.m. game Saturday at Colorado Springs, Colorado:
QUARTERBACKS
Comparing the two starters seems almost unfair, because UNLV’s Armani Rogers and Air Force’s Arion Worthman approach the position differently because of the Falcons’ triple option. Worthman has 13 total touchdowns on 113 rushes and 57 throws, and had 396 yards of total offense last week. Rogers has five fewer total TDs, but averages more total offense per game.
Advantage: Air Force
RUNNING BACKS
Air Force has had 15 players carry the ball as part of its triple option attack for an average of 291.8 rushing yards per game. The Rebels’ ground game has been more efficient behind running back Lexington Thomas, whose yards per carry average of 7.6 would be the best in team history for a season.
Advantage: UNLV
RECEIVERS
The Falcons’ two starting wide receivers have a combined 14 catches and 11 rushing attempts. The Rebels’ three starters have a combined 36 receptions and are used a lot more in the offense.
Advantage: UNLV
OFFENSIVE LINE
While Air Force runs the ball often, its average of 5.0 yards per attempt is behind UNLV’s 6.04. The Falcons have allowed 11 sacks, while fellow triple-option offenses Army and Navy have only given up three combined.
Advantage: UNLV
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Rebels’ offensive line should be foaming at the mouth thinking about this matchup. Opponents are averaging 253.2 rushing yards per game and 6 yards per carry against the Air Force defense. Stopping the run certainly isn’t UNLV’s strong suit (214.2 yards allowed per game), but the Rebels do it better than the Falcons.
Advantage: UNLV
LINEBACKERS
The two inside linebackers in the Falcons’ 3-4 defense have been productive, with seniors Jack Flor and Grant Ross combining for 85 tackles. That’s the same number of tackles that UNLV’s top two linebackers — Bailey Laolagi and Gabe McCoy — have between them.
Advantage: Push
SECONDARY
Through five games, opponents have thrown only 79 passes against Air Force, the lowest total in the country. Opponents are averaging 7.9 yards per pass against the Falcons, though UNLV is allowing a higher passer rating against.
Advantage: Air Force
SPECIAL TEAMS
Air Force kicker Luke Strebel has made five of six field goals, including a 50-yarder, and all 19 of his extra points. Evan Pantels has made seven of 11 field goals for the Rebels. The Falcons’ kickoff return and kickoff coverage units have performed better than UNLV’s.
Advantage:
INTANGIBLES
UNLV hasn’t seen the triple-option offense, and even though the team spent extra time in spring practice and training camp preparing for it, seeing it live will be totally different. It’s going to take a lot of discipline from the Rebels to slow Air Force.
Advantage: Air Force
HANDICAPPER’S TAKE
Bruce Marshall (goldsheet.com): Air Force 48, UNLV 27 — The season is about to get away from Air Force, which is on a rare four-game skid. But its schedule eases up a bit this week against the 109th-ranked UNLV rushing defense (allowing 5 yards per carry) that hasn’t seen the Falcons’ option since Tony Sanchez made the move from Bishop Gorman High in 2015.
More Rebels: Follow all of our UNLV coverage online at reviewjournal.com/Rebels and @RJRebels on Twitter.
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow@BenSGotz on Twitter.
