Aztecs scouting report - Air Force

By: - North County Times | Monday, November 17, 2003 9:23 PM PST ∞

+ KICKOFF: Saturday, 6:07 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium

+ SERIES: Air Force leads 15-6. The Aztecs won last meeting 38-34 in 2002

PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Chance Harridge

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior is the center of the triple option, but passes well for a quarterback who plays on a team that wants to run most of the time. He leads the team in rushing with 165 carries for 870 yards and 12 touchdowns, and has completed 73 of 143 for 930 yards and six TDs. Harridge will be looking to become the second Falcon and third player in NCAA history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in passing and rushing. He led the conference and ranked seventh nationally last year with an average of 10.2 points a game. He set an NCAA record for rushing TDs for a quarterback with 22, while passing (1,062 yards) and rushing (1,229) for 1,000 yards each.

OFFENSE

The triple option has given the Aztecs problems through the years, and the Falcons (7-4, 3-3 Mountain West Conference) can run it to perfection. They average 394.5 yards, 288.7 on the ground, and 29 points a game. This offense starts with the offensive line, and there are four starters back from last year's squad. T Brett Huyser (6-4, 295), G Jesse Underbakke (6-3, 285), T Blane Neufeld (6-5, 280) and T Brett Waller (6-7, 275), all seniors, make for the biggest line in school history. C Stephen Maddox (6-0, 260), also a senior, rounds out the group. ... The rushing offense leads the conference and ranks third nationally with a 288.7 average. There are five other steady ball-carriers besides Harridge, led by junior HB Darnell Stephens (569 yards) and junior HB Anthony Butler (397).

DEFENSE

There are five defensive backs on the field to stop the many passing offenses in the MWC, and the Falcons use a 3-3 formation up front. They rank second in the conference in scoring defense with a 19.8 average, but allow 349.2 yards a game. They rank second in the conference in rush defense, giving up 123.9 yards an outing. Senior LB Marchello Graddy leads the team in tackles with 109 and sacks with six, and is second in the conference with 9.9 tackles a game. Senior LB Trevor Hightower is second on the team in tackles with 55. Senior CB Jeff Overstreet is the top cover player with three interceptions.

NOTEWORTHY

Air Force is on a three-game conference losing streak, after starting the season 5-0. ... The Aztecs have never won two straight against the Falcons. ... Harridge and senior TE Adam Strecker have been selected to the Las Vegas All-American Classic all-star game. Huyser will play in the East-West Shrine Classic. ... The Falcons have blocked five kicks. ... Senior P Andrew Martin leads the MWC with 44.6 yards a punt.

---- Cliff Kirkpatrick