Details from Air Force’s 20-3 loss to New Mexico in front of 20,218 at Falcon Stadium on Saturday evening, the final home game of the season.

AIR FORCE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Brody Bujnoch, Jr., Inside Linebacker

Thrust into a starting role because of an injury to Dallas Daley, Bujnoch made a career-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.

“Credit to the coaches,” said the native of Hutto, Texas. “They didn’t skip a beat and threw me in there. Gave me everything I needed to play.”

Bujnoch’s previous career high in tackles was four, and the 1.5 tackles for loss matched his previous total.

“The main thing that I take away from it is I had so much help on that field,” he said. “I felt like I could just go out there and do what I had done in practice all week and I didn’t have to worry about anybody else doing their job, because I could trust my brothers on the field with me.”

WHAT WE WATCHED

Revisiting items of intrigue identified prior to the game by The Gazette’s Brent Briggeman.

Injury status

Air Force listed slot receiver Cade Harris and tailback Kade Frew as questionable on the availability report, but both played. Linebacker Dallas Daley was a late addition to the report and did not, as he was replaced by junior Brody Bujnoch.

Air Force’s run game

The Falcons struggled against New Mexico’s run defense, which entered the game ranked 17^th nationally. Air Force didn’t go over the 100-yard rushing mark until 11 minutes remained in the fourth quarter. The Falcons finished with 110 rushing yards, narrowly keeping alive the nation’s longest streak of 100-yard rushing games (96).

New Mexico’s balance

It was indeed New Mexico’s ability to attack in multiple ways that proved harmful, but not in the way Air Force might have expected. The Lobos ran effectively, finishing with 172 rushing yards, but some of that came as an indirect product of the passing game. Quarterback Jack Lane threw for 105 yards, but he also ran for 35 positive yards (offset in the totals by 11 lost yards) as he scrambled out of pressure and extended drives with his legs.

BY THE NUMBERS

0

Penalties for Air Force, a particularly noteworthy item as quarterback Kemper Hodges made his first start and Josh Johnson entered in the second half and played for the first time in more than a month.

0

Catches for Air Force tight end Bruin Fleischmann, snapping a 10-game streak with a reception that was the longest for a tight end during coach Troy Calhoun’s 19 years with the program. Fleischmann nearly hauled in a one-handed touchdown catch, but he came down out of bounds.

8

Quarterbacks who have started games over Air Force’s past 26 games (Zac Larrier, Jensen Jones, Ben Brittain, John Busha, Quentin Hayes, Josh Johnson, Liam Szarka and Kemper Hodges).

17

Margin of New Mexico’s victory. Only Utah State (49-30) has beaten the Falcons by a wider margin this season.

25

Years between wins at Falcon Stadium for New Mexico, which last won here in 2000 and had lost 10 in a row in Colorado Springs.