Air Force Academy – Junior fullback Jacobe Kendrick probably doesn’t know his predecessors, the cadets who have played the rugged position in Air Force’s triple-option offense.
Kendrick’s 6-foot, 230-pound frame is reminiscent of former AFA fullback stars that include Pat Evans and Andy Smith. They share the trademark of running close to the ground and serving as the battering ram to make the Falcons go.
Kendrick put his page into the AFA book on fullbacks Saturday at Falcon Stadium, powering for 128 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries. He also caught two passes for 39 yards, helping the Falcons finish with 503 total yards in their 41-29 victory over San Diego State.
“We like to run the ball, and our offensive line did a great job today,” Kendrick said. “We were hyped up early in the game. Maybe we were too anxious. We didn’t get it done at first, but we settled down and things started clicking. We started pounding the ball up the middle, and usually the game comes together when we start running the ball straight at them.”
Quarterback Shaun Carney recognized that San Diego State’s game plan was to stop the fullback. The plan didn’t work.
“Going into the game we thought they’d try to take Jacobe out of it,” Carney said. “But they didn’t get it done.”
The Falcons passed for 231 yards and rushed for 272, balance they prefer.
“The offensive line was making the calls up front,” Kendrick said. “I was reading the block, and I already knew where I was going to run. That made it really easy.
“We didn’t establish the fullback game like we wanted in the last couple of years. But we have something good going this year with the helmets we have at quarterback and on the offensive line. Our offense is about staying on the field.”
Brown takes his turn
Last weekend, AFA wide receiver Greg Kirkwood had a big game against Washington in Seattle with six catches for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Jason Brown had the big game at the position Saturday. He caught four passes for 115 yards, including two critical receptions in Air Force’s 11-play, 81-yard drive for a fourth-quarter touchdown and 34-24 lead.
In the third quarter, Brown was on the receiving end of a 61-yard strike from Carney that put Air Force in scoring position at the Aztecs’ 16-yard line. But the Falcons came away empty-handed when Scott Eberle missed a 30-yard field goal.
“Any time you come down the field and get into the red zone, it’s discouraging when you don’t score,” Brown said.
“We can’t have long drives and not score points,” Carney said.
