Air Force Academy – Air Force football players aren’t living in the past, but they wouldn’t mind anyone stepping up for a memorable performance as they continue through a tough part of the schedule.
Even though the current seniors weren’t at the academy at the time, they know about former linebacker Anthony Schlegel’s effort in 2001 on the last play of the Utah game that clinched a 38-37 win. Schlegel’s game-saving tackle was the final play of the season and allowed the Falcons to finish 6-6.
The opponent is Utah again Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Salt Lake City, the first of three consecutive road games. The Falcons go to Fort Collins for their Sept. 29 game against Colorado State and play Oct. 8 at Navy.
There is reason to think the Falcons need a star again to stay in contention in the Mountain West Conference after their 29-28 loss Saturday to Wyoming.
“I was at the (2001 Utah) game,” said Ross Weaver, a 6- foot-7, 295-pound senior offensive tackle from Ponderosa High School. “I don’t think we need one hero; we need players to step up. Against Wyoming, we needed a player to make a block, make a catch or make a throw on a certain drive, make a tackle or bat down a pass. In a sense we need some heroes. We’ve been making plays, but not consistently at the right time.”
Weaver has followed AFA football since the Falcons began recruiting him when he was attending Ponderosa.
Weaver well remembers two years ago when the Utes beat Air Force 45-43 in three overtimes at Falcon Stadium. The Falcons needed a star that day.
“I’m not worried about this year,” Weaver said. “We have players who are going to do that. The one thing the Wyoming game told us was that we are at the same level as the other good teams in this league. We hear from the start in this program that you have to do the little extra. The winning team is the one who does those things.”
Senior wide receiver Jason Brown, from Arvada West, could have been the star against Wyoming. His 18-yard touchdown catch on Shaun Carney’s pass with 3:27 left in the game put the Falcons ahead 28-22, but they couldn’t hold the lead.
Brown also was at the 2001 Utah game when Schlegel, who is completing his collegiate career this year as a starter at Ohio State, saved the win.
“Each week there’s opportunity for someone to step up and a make a big play when the team needs it,” Brown said. “When the opportunity comes, a player has to do that. We have players on the team who can get the job done no matter what it takes.”
Special-teams coach Tom Miller, in his 22nd season at Air Force, has seen some big-play performances this year.
“We could use a few more,” Miller said. “We have enough playmakers on this team, but the story has been great plays and then some blunders in the same game. If we can eliminate the busts, we’ll be fine.”
Injury report
AFA fullback Jacobe Kendrick (knee) and nose guard Russ Mitscherling (ankle) are expected to play at Utah.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
