Cavalier Corner Digital

✦ top storylines: notre dame vs. air force aging 9.2 yards per rushing play and 8.2 yards per pass attempt. During its 1-6 start this year, the Air Force defense regressed from last season, when it surrendered an average of 29.0 points per game. In more than a half-dozen defensive categories it ranks near the cellar nationally, including dead last at 123rd in third-down conversion defense (63.7 percent) and 122nd in pass efficiency defense (162.06 rating). The Falcons have allowed the opposition to complete 73.2 percent of its passes at 8.1 yards per clip — while at the same time allowing 221.3 yards per game rushing at 4.9 yards per carry. Air Force will get its share of yardage and maybe even points on occasion on offense. The real issue is how to limit points by its opponent. Quarterback Soap Opera Notre Dame has experienced its share of drama this past half-year with the transfer of freshman five-star recruit Gunner Kiel to Cincinnati, the ineligibility of incumbent Everett Golson for academic reasons, and then freshman Malik Zaire battling mononucleosis during the first month of the season. Air Force has matched the soap opera. Junior starter Kale Pearson suffered a knee injury early in this year's opener against Colgate, and then his replacement, sophomore Jaleel Awini, was suspended indefinitely by the Air Force Academy for an unspecified violation. During 27-20 loss at San Diego State Oct. 10, sophomore Karson Roberts incurred a head injury, but then freshman Nate Romine directed Air Force to a 20-6 lead in the fourth quarter before the Aztecs rallied to win, 27-20. Whether it's Roberts or Romine at the throttle against Notre Dame, neither is likely to put the ball in the air a lot. Roberts has played in all seven games and has completed 14 of 30 passes (46.7 percent) for 207 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. In four appearances, Romine has passed 16 times, completing six (37.5 percent) for 126 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Roberts has carried the ball 40 times for 223 yards (5.2 yards per rush) and two scores, while Romine's 13 attempts netted 44 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and one touchdown. Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly said it's not going to be about preparing either for Roberts or Romine as it is the system. "Their offense didn't look that much different when they were in there," Kelly said of Roberts and Romine. "Both of them add something to it, so we're preparing more for the structure of the offense than the particular quarterback." With Awini, Air Force was more multiple. But with the two youngsters, the Falcons offense has more of an option base, which Kelly can appreciate because of the upheaval he's had at quarterback the past four years. The Falcons having had 16 days to prepare since their last game (Oct. 10 versus San Diego State) also should help. "I think everybody would go back to basics and certainly there's a little bit more option," Kelly said, "But they've had a lot of time to prepare both quarterbacks … and to expand that package a little bit." Family Reunion Two years ago, Air Force junior linebacker Austin Niklas and then Notre Dame freshman outside linebacker Troy Niklas (now the starting tight end) were on the opposite ends of the sideline at Notre Dame Stadium, but the two brothers didn't face off against each other. Freshman defensive end Isaac Rochell could find himself squaring off with his brother Matt Rochell, a 6-3, 260pound sophomore who is the starting offensive left tackle for the Falcons. photo by bill panzica This year, another sibling rivalry might have a chance to go head to head in the Notre Dame-Air Force clash. The starting offensive left tackle for the Falcons is 6-3, 260-pound sophomore Matt Rochell. Notre Dame freshman defensive end Isaac Rochell could line up against him while coming in as a reserve. The Rochell brothers played high school football together for two years at Eagle's Landing High in McDonugh, Ga., about an hour south of Atlanta. "There's definitely a chance," the younger Rochell said of going head to head. "We'd do board drills and stuff together [in high school], but nothing too serious where we were butting heads and going at it. It'll be fun. I think it's a bigger deal for my parents seeing both their kids on the same field." ✦ Page 8 When Isaac Rochell was a 260-pound defensive end as a high school senior, it appeared he was destined for a redshirt season while needing to add more weight. Instead, the rookie gained 20-plus pounds during his summer and reportedly benchpressed 26 reps of 225 pounds. (As a comparison, Florida State's 2013 first-round defensive end Bjoern Werner had 25 reps at the NFL Combine.) Combine that with injuries and attrition along the Irish defensive front, and Rochell has suddenly found himself in the rotation. "It's one of those things I never really thought about it," he said. "I just thought about starting camp and starting college. I just need to work hard and let everything work itself out." ✦

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