Strike 1: Traditionally, the Air Force Falcons under head coach Troy Calhoun have had some of their best seasons when very little was expected of them going in. With fingers crossed, that’s a glass half-full outlook AFA fans are taking into the upcoming 2025 season.
A year ago, everyone who followed the Falcons knew that Calhoun’s team was going to be young and inexperienced, and it showed early on. After having their offensive line nominated for the Joe Moore Award at the end of the 2023 season – the award given to the top unit in the country – the Falcons struggled to block and tackle during the first half of the season. They stumbled to a 1-7 start.
If you look even closer, the Falcons’ downward trend began the season before. After starting the season 8-0 and nationally ranked, the Falcons – who entered the game as a heavy favorite – stumbled and bumbled themselves to a 23-3 loss to arch-rival Army at Empower Field in Denver. What was supposed to be a showcase for local fans who don’t often see AFA up close instead became a body blow that the program has had trouble recovering from. Four straight losses to close the regular season were only offset only by a narrow Armed Forces Bowl win over James Madison. But the dents in the armor were apparent.
In 2024, the team that had mostly dominated the Commander-in-Chiefs Trophy over the past two decades found themselves looking up at both Army and Navy. Their two service academy rivals each had tremendous seasons, cracking the national rankings and challenging for a New Year’s Six Bowl bid. Army started out 9-0 before losing to Notre Dame, while Navy posted a 10-3 mark. Army won the American Athletic Conference title and the Independence Bowl. Navy beat Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Meanwhile, an Air Force program that had been to six bowls in the past 10 seasons watched on TV after going 5-7. The good news is that the Falcons won their last four games, providing some momentum going into this season.
While they’re more talented and experienced this season, there are still plenty of questions, especially at quarterback.
After Navy showed Calhoun and his staff a fist full of new wrinkles on offense last season during a 34-7 whopping in early October, expect AFA to incorporate some new looks and new plays out of their spread option attack this season. The O-line should once again be top notch, and there are several experienced running backs, led by Dylan Carlsen, ready to exploit holes. But there’s that issue under center.
Josh Johnson will likely be the guy to take the first snaps against Bucknell in the season opener, but he has a lot left to prove after an up-and-down season a year ago when he played in a total of six contests, starting against Colorado State. In that game, he failed to complete a pass. There were two interceptions against Army and just a single competition against Baylor. On the plus side, he showed flashes in the all important run game, picking up 49 yards on the ground against New Mexico. Jackson King, Brody Fortunati and Maquire Martin are all in the mix to play, too.
And will there be a role for highly touted freshman Liam Szarka out of Grandview High School, who has changed positions but remains a possibility under center?
On defense, the front seven should be solid, but fears about the brand new secondary are legit. And the schedule is very tough, with all the Mountain West favorites on the AFA slate. And then there is dealing with Army and Navy, too.
Observers believe the Falcons could go anywhere from 8-4 to 4-8, mostly depending on the QB play. Nothing is for certain.
Still, it would be a mistake to underestimate AFA. When you least expect it, they seem to rise and shine.
Their first game is Saturday when they host Bucknell.
