Utes brace for annual Air Force headache

The Utah Utes always expect their games against Air Force to be tough, close, hard-fought battles. The one thing they never expect them to be is fun.

"It's a headache, that's what it is," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "They're tough, disciplined sons of guns who play the full 60 minutes no matter what the circumstances are."

What is viewed as a headache for the Utes is often served up as an entertaining game for fans. Today's matchup at Rice-Eccles Stadium could be another classic in the conference rivalry as the Falcons (4-3, 3-1 Mountain West) bring one of the nation's best rushing attacks and defenses to Salt Lake City.

"It's going to be a great conference battle," Whittingham said.

He made that prediction based not only on what the Falcons have in their game plan this year, but also on history.

While the No. 19 Utes (5-1, 2-0) have the edge in the series recently, winning five of the last six games, none has been a blowout win. Air Force nearly ruined Utah's perfect season in 2008 as it took a game-winning drive in the final minute for the Utes to win 30-23.

Today's game could be just as close. It matches a Utah offense that has been inconsistent against a defense that doesn't give much, and a Utah defense that has done well against Air Force's offense in the past but has been spotty against the run this season.

Such a game could come down to mistakes such as penalties and turnovers. Give the Falcons the

edge in those areas since they lead the nation in turnover margin (2.43) while the Utes are No. 50 (0.33). Air Force is 58th in yards penalized per game (50.3) where the Utes are No. 106 (81.0).

The Utes have harped on cleaning up their play this week, knowing those are the kinds of weaknesses the Falcons will use to their advantage.

"Ball security is huge for us," offensive lineman Zane Beadles said. "We have to do a better job than we have."

Air Force challenges defenses with its triple option offense, but is using the shotgun, too, this year, which adds a new challenge for Utah's defense.

"They're still very good with the option and run it with such precision," Whittingham said. "But now they're more diverse, for them."

Why the two teams have had such close matchups in the past is credited to two things by the Utes.

First, Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester said the Falcons simply match up well against the Utes.

"Whether it's football or basketball, games are about the matchups, not hype, and they always match up well with us," he said. "They have a great defense and just like New Mexico, no matter what kind of team they are, they are going to play us well."

Secondly, the Falcons never quit in games, Beadles said. The senior said many times he can feel when a team has lost its mental edge against the Utes. However, he has never felt that moment when an Air Force team was defeated before the clock ran out.

"You can be up 28, 35 points an they are going to keep fighting and coming back until the whistle blows," he said. "But they are out there defending our country. I wouldn't have it any other way. I have all the respect for them."

Even if it does cause headaches.

lwodraska@sltrib.com