FORT COLLINS — With Air Force week comes the inevitable questions.

How important is it to capitalize on your scoring opportunities? How do you get the Falcons offense off the field? How do you keep your defense from getting frustrated at Air Force’s time of possession?

Those are just a few of the queries Jay Norvell and Colorado State (3-4, 1-2 Mountain West) have to answer this week, as the Rams prepare to host the 18th-ranked Falcons (7-0, 4-0 MW) on Saturday night at Canvas Stadium.

Even as the personnel on the field changes every year, the challenges remain the same on both sides of the ball for Air Force’s opponents. Norvell said that, in a typical game, his team will have around 16 to 18 offensive possessions. This week, that will likely be cut in half.

“There’s a path of victory that you have to follow or you’re going to get caught up in their formula for winning,” Norvell said. “You gotta pay attention to possessions. You gotta really take advantage of your opportunities in this game. They really understand their strengths and weaknesses really well as a program.”

On defense, it’s about patience and having your eyes in the right place at all times. Air Force is currently leading the country in rushing for the fourth straight season and is tied for first in time of possession.

“You gotta disrupt what they do,” Norvell said. “You gotta create a turnover, you gotta get a minus-yardage play, you gotta get ‘em off the field and get ‘em off schedule, defensively, to really have a chance to beat them.”

The Falcons are also second-best in the conference in third down conversion rate, which is boosted by the fact that they’re almost always in a third-and-short situation.

“The mindset this week is just (to) hit everything you see and get them behind the sticks,” senior cornerback Chigozie Anusiem said. “Even like third-and-7 (or longer), that will kinda put them in a situation that they’re not really used to being in. Their third downs are really manageable for them, so just getting them behind the sticks is our main thing.”

This year, though, there’s an added challenge in the form of Falcons quarterback Zac Larrier.

The senior from Youngstown, Ohio has not only continued to bring a dynamic speed threat to the position as a two-time Mountain West champion in the 200-meter dash, but he’s also on pace for the most efficient passing season in program history — a 72.7 completion percentage to go with his 619 passing yards and five touchdowns.

“He’s a good leader and he’s an excellent player,” Norvell said. “He’s run that offense, protected the ball. He’s obviously athletic, but he also can make quality throws and big plays in the passing game. He’s a guy we definitely gotta control.”

It looked like Larrier was going to miss an extended period of time with a knee injury suffered in the win over Wyoming, but there he was last week in the tough win over Navy, carrying the ball 15 times and completing the longest touchdown pass in Air Force history.

Even though the Rams know they have an edge this week in terms of athleticism — as most teams do, hence the reason for the play style of Air Force and the rest of the service academies — there’s plenty of respect for what Larrier can do.

“He’s a lot better athlete than I think he gets credit for,” Anusiem said. “For us, it’s just (about) not going in there (and) underestimating him. I think athlete for athlete, I don’t think it’s close, but they’re efficient at what they do. We just have to go in there and respect everything they do.”

CSU blues against the blue and gray

It’s been a struggle for the Rams in recent years against the Falcons. Here’s a look at some of the history in the rivalry:

All-time series: Air Force leads 38-21-1

Last 15 years: Air Force 13 wins, CSU 2

Current streak: 6 wins, Air Force