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Show Hilltop September 2, 1999 17 Expectations high for Falcons football team tions. The Falcons were also among the nation's leaders in turnover margin at an average of 1.42. Leading the defense will be returning defensive tackle by Steven R. Ford staff Hilltop Times With the success of last year's team as well as competing for the inaugural Mountain West Conference championship, expectations and excitement are running high for this season's Air Force Academy Falcons football team. The Falcons return 12 players from last year's Western Athletic Conference championship team that went 12-- 1 and stomped the PAC-10- 's Washington Huskies 45-2- 5 in the Oahu Bowl. Air Force finished the season ranked No. 10 in the USAESPN poll. Head coach Fisher DeBerry, the winningest coach in Academy history, has a major milestone ahead this season, needing just two more victories to move ahead of Army's Red Blaik to become the winningest coach in the history of service academy football. Blaik posted 121 wins from 1941-5DeBerry, who will be entering his 16th season as head coach at the Academy, has collected 120 wins with a 24-- 6 record in Commander-in-Chief'- s Trophy games. In the WAC, DeBerry's Falcons went ranking second in wins behind BYU's Shawn Thomas who led the team in tackles for loss with 15 and sacks with eight. Inside linebacker Craig Thorstenson also returns after leading the Falcons with 96 total tackles and three interceptions. In Saturday's home opener against Villanova, an NCAA Division school, the numbers favor the Falcons. Air in season home openers. Under DeBerry, Force is the Falcons are 13-- Villanova is 5 in games against schools since 1988, most recently losing Division 1 against Big East opponent Pittsburgh in last year's season opener. The Wildcats are also 04 on the road during that stretch. The Wildcats come in with experience and depth on offense. Senior quarterback Chris Boden, who currently holds 18 school records, was named the 1998 recipient of the Ernie Davis award for the best quarterback in Division For his career, t ..e San Clemente, Calif, native has compiled 574 pass completions for 7,088 yards and 75 touchdowns. Boden, an efficient passer, has thrown just 17 interceptions in his entire career. Villanova also 195 pound returns running back Brian Westbrook. Last year, Westbrook became the first player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards and gain 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. The 1999 Wildcats sport more depth in the receiving corps than last year's team, lead by junior wideout Steven Ward. In his first season as a starter, Ward collected 60 receptions for 240 pound 818 yards and five TDs. Add to the mix solid offense. on are Cats and the end Joe Kavanaugh, tight Seven defense. will be on The big question for Villanova starters return from last year's squad, but that defense wasn't very good. The Wildcats gave up and average of 31 points per game last season and specialized in giving up the big play. Against the Bonds and the Falcons, giv255 ing up the big one could end the game early. pound defensive end Kristian Ward is a standout for the Villanova D, recording 22 tackles and an interception last season. One solidifying factor for the Wildcats is that, for the first time since 1996, they will have the same defensive coordinator for two straight seasons as Jim Fleming returns to lead the defensive unit. Wildcats should be a light Overall, the Division snack for the Falcons, a tune up as they prepare for the next week's rematch with the Washington Huskies. A i 'if; f 30-11-- 48-4- i A Y III - (V " ISS A. 74-41-- 1, 166 victories. season's game at Falcon Stadium, but with Cale Bonds, there should be no drop in the Academy's signature wishbone offense, r. The Falcon offense returns seven starters, but Cale Bonds will have the unenviable position of being the only to quarterback the Academy in the last five years. Beau Morgan's younger brother Blane graduated as the winningest QB in school history with a 20-- career record. But Bonds may have one thing neither Morgan did, a serious arm. Bonds is expected to be the best passing quarterback the Academy has seen in years. That should open up a lot more options to the Falcons' wishbone offense. Bonds started twice last year, winning both games. an 3 V !Tre ' T r Edepiaincity-- 5 I ' 1 I , Tl i V I 1 ' ' pL, I jlj - TO ADVERTISE IN THE : J . I ' " ' WELCH 323 S0 KA!!, mm 7234431 tC3RiJ3 ' 2 829-324- 5 The Can J KSU i LAYTON t wM... ' -- - 544-580- Jeep &M1 "v P.O. BOX 687 V 1. 1888 North Main Street - Layton. Utah 8404 f-- 394-884- 4 j 0 UlMlCO ilulM ' 77B-420- rHMsimi,. I v a. E3 mmWrMB IVTCI'' - t 544sscSsed LJ V- -i More Americans Trust. J HOTLINE645 N. MAIN RUSS CARRIGAH MOTORS, INC. 544-211- ' 1234 No. Main, Layton 281 0 WASHINGTON BLVD. V-- . 1 3. 4 I, e .T" I T 647 S. Main, Brigham From Ogden 479-194- "" - ' ' JeepEa9d 723-345- 6 I lJV-Kysvill- i HiiAigiaiHH : 1 n r7 ataVs "Only" Full UneGM Dealer . " hafsra IK-Layto- U Genuine Chevrolet fe ... . .VV-7w-TkS!,"- L 1 1 , ,;. y 1 . (u pi : flparfield t"05 'J c - ) B I ' L ' Nt' I - game. The Academy punished opposing quarterbacks last season with 41 sacks to go along with 16 intercep . Y oY A " V Yf J" I .. Against Navy, Bonds rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 194 yards and two more TDs. Joining Bonds on offense are wide receiver Matt Farmer, since the first Falcon receiver to be named collected Brown. Farmer halfback and Qualario 1985, 35 catches for 650 yards last season as well as notching the first Academy punt return for a touchdown since 1985. Brown rushed for 52 1 yards and two TDs last season and four touchcaught 16 passes for 229 yards and a team-hig- h downs. The defense may be even better than the offense this season. Coming off a year where they allowed opponents a very stingy 13.8 points per game, the defense, with five key returning players, could to do even better. Over the last two seasons, the Falcon D has given up just 12.8 points per game, second only to Ohio State's 11.7 per a win. ; Ail-Americ- an hoto courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Academy The 1999 Falcons football team will be without the services of quarterback Blane Morgan, shown here against BYU in last The Academy begins this season unranked, but should challenge for the first ever MWC title, where they were picjked second in the coaches' poll behind BYU. This year's schedule is a tough one as the Falcons will travel to take on conference contenders San Diego State, rival Colorado State. Only the BYU and cross-stat- e and the Wyoming Cowboys visit Runnin' Utes of Utah Falcon Stadium this season. The trip to Provo in late October could decide the conference championship, but the Falcons will have to overcome BYU's vaunted passing offense and 66,000 Cougar fans to come out of Utah with ' 0-- 2. I-- A 8. non-Morg- 1 SSy ' 1 f?rl gffj .r - JEW CAR BUYERS GUILDE CALL KlITZI SHAW fr 7?i 4371 I - .? If |
