The Air Force Falcons football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Air Force Falcons football program in various categories,[ 1] including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Falcons represent the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in the NCAA 's Mountain West Conference.
Although Air Force began competing in intercollegiate football in 1955,[ 1] these lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
Since 1955, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length. The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 , allowing players to have four-year careers. Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[ 2] The Falcons have played in nine bowl games since this decision, giving recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics. Due to COVID-19 disruptions, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against the eligibility of any football player. While the service academies generally do not redshirt players, the Department of the Air Force allowed the USAFA to give its cadet athletes an extra season of eligibility. (Army was given this same option, but Navy was not.)[ 3] The values on these list are often smaller than the values seen on other programs' lists for several reasons:
Air Force has only played since 1955, making it a relatively new college football program. The Air Force Academy is a four-year undergraduate program, so it does not redshirt players under normal circumstances.[ 4] This means that for a player to play for four years, he must be good enough to see the field as a true freshman. Relatively few players are prepared to do this, which depresses career records. Air Force has run a triple option offense since the arrival of head coach Ken Hatfield in 1978. This offense emphasizes running over passing. Most passing records were established in the 24-year period before this time. These lists are updated through the end of the 2022 season .
Passing
Passing completions
Passing yards Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Shaun Carney 5,391 2004 2005 2006 2007 2 Dave Ziebart 4,789 1976 1977 1978 1979 3 Tim Jefferson 4,599 2008 2009 2010 2011 4 Rich Haynie 4,283 1971 1972 1973 5 Rich Mayo 3,399 1957 1958 1959 1960 6 Gary Baxter 3,362 1967 1968 1969 7 Beau Morgan 3,248 1994 1995 1996 8 Marty Louthan 3,137 1980 1981 1982 1983 9 Bob Parker 2,996 1969 1970 10 Dee Dowis 2,870 1986 1987 1988 1989
Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Bob Parker 2,789 1970 2 Gary Baxter 1,783 1969 3 Mike Thiessen 1,687 2000 4 Tim Jefferson 1,637 2011 5 Karson Roberts 1,595 2015 6 Kale Pearson 1,590 2014 7 Rich Haynie 1,570 1972 8 Dave Ziebart 1,562 1977 9 Shaun Carney 1,491 2007 10 Tim Jefferson 1,459 2010
Single game Rank Player Yards Years Opponent 1 Bob Parker 391 1970 Wyoming 2 Gary Baxter 388 1969 Wyoming 3 Bob Parker 375 1970 Colorado State 4 Dave Ziebart 339 1976 Wyoming 5 Donald Hammond III 327 2019 New Mexico 6 Rob Shaw 314 1976 Pacific 7 Dave Ziebart 311 1977 Baylor 8 Dee Dowis 306 1989 Notre Dame 9 Bob Parker 301 1970 Oregon
Passing touchdowns Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Bob Parker 21 1970 2 Rich Haynie 17 1972 3 Tim Jefferson 14 2011 Kale Pearson 14 2014 5 Gary Baxter 13 1969 Mike Thiessen 13 2000 Donald Hammond III 13[ 7] 2019 8 Beau Morgan 12 1995 Shaun Carney 12 2006 10 Rich Mayo 11 1958 Shaun Carney 11 2004 Karson Roberts 11 2015
Single game Rank Player TDs Years Opponent 1 Adam Fitch 5 2005 BYU 2 Paul Stein 4 1965 Arizona Rich Haynie 4 1972 Arizona State Mike Thiessen 4 2000 BYU Shaun Carney 4 2006 UNLV Donald Hammond III 4 2019 New Mexico 7 20 times 3 Most recent: Donald Hammond III, 2019 vs. Colorado State
Rushing
Rushing yards Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Dee Dowis 3,612 1986 1987 1988 1989 2 Brad Roberts 3,545[ 8] 2020 2021 2022 3 Asher Clark 3,594 2008 2009 2010 2011 4 Beau Morgan 3,379 1994 1995 1996 5 Jacobi Owens 3,005[ 9] 2014 2015 2016 6 John Kershner 2,726 1980 1981 1982 1983 7 Chad Hall 2,606 2005 2006 2007 8 Shaun Carney 2,561 2004 2005 2006 2007 9 Chance Harridge 2,324 2001 2002 2003 10 Brian Bream 2,284 1969 1970 1971 Pat Evans 2,284 1984 1985 1986
Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Brad Roberts 1,728[ 8] 2022 2 Beau Morgan 1,494 1996 3 Chad Hall 1,478 2007 4 Brad Roberts 1,356[ 8] 2021 5 Dee Dowis 1,315 1987 6 Dee Dowis 1,286 1989 7 Beau Morgan 1,285 1995 8 Brian Bream 1,276 1970 9 Cody Getz 1,248 2012 10 Chance Harridge 1,229 2002
Rushing touchdowns Single game Rank Player TDs Years Opponent 1 Dee Dowis 6 1989 San Diego State 2 Marty Louthan 5 1983 Navy 3 14 times 4 Most recent: Brad Roberts, 2022 vs. UNLV
Receiving
Receptions Single game Rank Player Rec Years Opponent 1 Ernie Jennings 15 1969 Wyoming 2 Mike Bolen 14 1970 Colorado 3 Ernie Jennings 13 1970 Stanford 4 Charles Longnecker 11 1970 Stanford Cormac Carney 11 1978 Georgia Tech 6 Bob Brickey 10 1959 Trinity Bob Farr 10 1974 BYU Mike Fortson 10 1979 Navy Ryan Fleming 10 2000 New Mexico Alec Messerall 10 2004 Navy
Receiving yards Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Jalen Robinette 2,697[ 15] 2013 2014 2015 2016 2 Ernie Jennings 2,392 1968 1969 1970 3 Mike Kirby 1,909 1980 1981 1982 1983 4 Ryan Fleming 1,515 1999 2000 2001 5 Matt Farmer 1,504 1997 1998 1999 6 Garrett Brown 1,334 2012 2013 2014 2015 7 Charlie Longnecker 1,312 1967 1968 1969 8 Steve Hoog 1,199 1975 1976 1977 1978 9 Geraud Sanders 1,176[ 16] 2017 2018 2019 10 Frank Murphy 1,150 1971 1972 1973 Paul Williams 1,150 1975 1976 1977
Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Ernie Jennings 1,289 1970 2 Jalen Robinette 959[ 15] 2016 3 Ryan Fleming 930 2000 4 Jason Brown 874 2005 5 Cormac Carney 870 1978 6 Ken Carpenter 869 1985 7 Mike Kirby 862 1983 8 Jalen Robinette 806 2014 9 Andy Bark 794 1980 10 Geraud Sanders 746 2019
Receiving touchdowns
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[ 20]
Total offense yards Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Shaun Carney 7,952 2004 2005 2006 2007 2 Beau Morgan 6,627 1994 1995 1996 3 Tim Jefferson 6,587 2008 2009 2010 2011 4 Dee Dowis 6,482 1986 1987 1988 1989 5 Dave Ziebart 5,511 1976 1977 1978 1979 6 Marty Louthan 4,997 1980 1981 1982 1983 7 Rich Haynie 4,740 1971 1972 1973 8 Chance Harridge 4,500 2001 2002 2003 9 Haaziq Daniels 4,179 [ 21] 2020 2021 2022 10 Mike Thiessen 3,820 1998 1999 2000
Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Bob Parker 2,783 1970 2 Beau Morgan 2,704 1996 3 Dee Dowis 2,571 1989 4 Bart Weiss 2,481 1985 5 Keith Boyea 2,469 2001 6 Beau Morgan 2,450 1995 7 Mike Thiessen 2,400 2000 8 Karson Roberts 2,338 2015 9 Chance Harridge 2,291 2002 10 Kale Pearson 2,277 2014
Single game Rank Player Yards Years Opponent 1 Arion Worthman 396 [ 22] 2017 Navy 2 Isaiah Sanders 390 [ 23] 2018 UNLV 3 Bob Parker 380 1970 Colorado State 4 Dee Dowis 377 1988 Northwestern 5 Dave Ziebart 375 1976 Wyoming 6 Donald Hammond III 368 2019 New Mexico 7 Keith Boyea 364 2001 Wyoming 8 Cale Bonds 361 1998 Navy 9 Bob Parker 353 1970 Wyoming 10 Dee Dowis 345 1989 Notre Dame Karson Roberts 345 [ 24] 2015 Boise State
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[ 25]
Defense
Interceptions Single game Rank Player Ints Years Opponent 1 Cyd Maattala 3 1968 Colorado State 2 Jim Miller 3 1975 Notre Dame 3 Anthony Wright 3 2009 Houston 4 Weston Steelhammer 3[ 26] 2014 Boise State 5 Several times 2 Most recent: Jeremy Fejedelem, 2019 vs. Wyoming
Tackles Single season Rank Player Tackles Year 1 Terry Maki 195 1986 2 Tom Foertsch 184 1977 3 Chris Gizzi 179 1997 4 Jack Kucera 170 1976 5 Jack Kucera 166 1977 6 Tom Foertsch 163 1976 7 Mike France 157 1980 8 Brian Hill 146 1988 9 Willie Mayfield 145 1970 10 Shawn Smith 144 1982
Single game Rank Player Tackles Years Opponent 1 Terry Maki 30 1985 Notre Dame 2 Jack Kucera 26 1977 Boston College 3 Tom Foertsch 25 1977 Notre Dame Terry Maki 25 1986 Wyoming 5 Jack Kucera 24 1977 Arizona State
Sacks
Kicking
Field goals made Single season Rank Player FGs Year 1 Ryan Harrison 24 2008 2 Erik Soderberg 22 2009 3 Luke Strebel 22[ 30] 2016 4 Dave Lawson 19 1974 David Adams 19 2000 Ryan Harrison 19 2007 Will Conant 19 2014 8 Joe Wood 17 1991 9 Jim Sturch 16 1978 Joey Ashcroft 16 2002 Matthew Dapore 16[ 31] 2022
Single game Rank Player FGs Years Opponent 1 Dennis Leuthauser 4 1969 SMU Dave Lawson 4 1974 Navy Dave Lawson 4 1975 Army Jim Sturch 4 1978 Boston College Sean Pavlich 4 1980 Wyoming Joe Wood 4 1991 Army David Adams 4 2000 Army Joey Ashcroft 4 2002 Army Erik Soderberg 4 2009 San Diego State Tevye Schuettpelz-Rohl 4[ 32] 2020 Navy
Field goal percentage Single season Rank Player FG% Year 1 Jackson Whiting 100.0% 1999 Jake Koehnke 100.0% [ 33] 2019 3 Luke Strebel 90.9% 2015 4 Will Conant 90.5% 2014 5 Joey Ashcroft 88.9% 2002 6 Luke Strebel 88.0% [ 30] 2016 7 Joe Wood 85.7% 1990 8 Sean Pavlich 83.3% 1982 Parker Herrington 83.3% 2011 10 Ryan Harrison 82.8% 2008
References ^ a b "2016 Air Force Falcons Media Guide" (PDF) . GoAirForceFalcons.com . Archived from the original (PDF) on August 24, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016 . ^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com . AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved August 20, 2016 . ^ Dinich, Heather (December 12, 2022). "Niumatalolo says Navy fired him immediately after loss to Army". ESPN.com . Retrieved December 13, 2022 . ^ Briggeman, Brent (September 24, 2013). "Troy Calhoun thinks Air Force should consider adding a redshirt program". Gazette.com . The Gazette (Colorado Springs). Retrieved August 28, 2016 . ^ "Air Force Falcons Passing". ^ "Air Force Falcons Passing". ^ a b c d "Donald Hammond III". ESPN.com . ^ a b c d e "Brad Roberts". ESPN.com . ^ "Jacobi Owens". ESPN.com . Retrieved January 15, 2017 . ^ "Air Force controls Army to end 7-game skid". ESPN.com . November 2, 2013. ^ "Fagan rushes for 260, Air Force beats Colorado State 27-19". ESPN.com . November 22, 2018. ^ "Owens leads Air Force to 44-16 win over Nicholls". ESPN.com . August 30, 2014. ^ "Air Force 42, Colorado St. 21". ESPN.com . September 29, 2012. ^ "Air Force vs. Nevada Box Score". ESPN.com . November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021 . ^ a b c d "Jalen Robinette". ESPN.com . Retrieved January 15, 2017 . ^ a b "Geraud Sanders". ESPN.com . ^ "Gipson shines in Dallas return as UNM tops Air Force 45-40". ESPN.com . October 15, 2016. ^ a b "Air Force vs. Louisville Box Score". ESPN.com . December 28, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022 . ^ "New Mexico uses big plays to beat Air Force 47-35". ESPN.com . November 28, 2015. ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . NCAA. p. 9. Retrieved December 4, 2021 . ^ a b "Haaziq Daniels". ESPN.com . ^ "Navy uses last-minute TD to beat Air Force 48-45". ESPN.com . October 7, 2017. ^ "Air Force gets first conference win 41-35". ESPN.com . October 19, 2018. ^ "Air Force goes to the air to thwart Boise State, 37-30". ESPN.com . November 20, 2015. ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved December 4, 2021 . ^ "Air Force beats mistake-prone Boise State 28-14". ESPN.com . September 27, 2014. ^ a b "Vince Sanford". ESPN.com . ^ "Jordan Jackson". ESPN.com . ^ "Bo Richter". ESPN.com . ^ a b c d "Luke Strebel". ESPN.com . Retrieved December 31, 2017 . ^ a b c "Matthew Dapore". ESPN.com . ^ "Navy vs. Air Force Box Score". ESPN.com . October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020 . ^ a b "Jake Koehnke". ESPN.com . Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons