Whether or not TCU coach Gary Patterson is superstitious, he may see a sign that his team is on its way to another 10-win season.
The No. 21-ranked Horned Frogs (6-1, 4-0 Mountain West Conference) are on a roll heading into Saturday’s game at Air Force (3-4, 2-3) and could get 10 victories by winning out in their first MWC season. They went 10-2 in 2002 and 11-2 in 2003.
“It’s not the easiest thing to do, but the last two times we’ve won at least 10 games, we’ve had a change of quarterbacks during the season,” Patterson said.
That change has already occurred, with an injury to starter Tye Gunn. Junior Jeff Ballard has come on in the past three games and kept the Frogs’ offense moving.
“We run the same plays with Ballard as we did with Tye,” Patterson said. “Ballard is a little more mobile, primarily because he hasn’t been beat up as much. Dick Winder coaches our quarterbacks as if they are linebackers. They grow up quicker that way.”
Ballard has thrown for 673 yards and seven touchdowns and is also the team’s third-best rusher with 158 yards. Before being injured in the fourth game against BYU, Gunn had thrown for 646 yards and two touchdowns.
But Patterson, promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach when Dennis Franchione left for Alabama, always has built around defense. He long ago decided to put his defensive unit on notice for Air Force. The Falcons run a triple-option, which TCU rarely sees.
“We started working on defending the option last spring,” Patterson said. “We started that early because we knew how difficult and how important this game would be. The offense Air Force has this year is as good as any they’ve had. They might be the best 3-4 team in the country.”
Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry says the difference between TCU and his team is the Horned Frogs have won close games.
“We’ve lost three games by a total of seven points and they’ve won three close games by a total of 11 points,” DeBerry said. “There aren’t that many differences between the two teams.”
The biggest difference is on defense. Patterson’s team leads the country in turnover margin with plus-15. Air Force’s defense hasn’t played well enough to win close games, often wearing down in the second half. But there isn’t a hopeless feeling about Air Force’s chances.
“Of course they have a chance,” said Wyoming coach Joe Glenn, whose team lost to TCU and won a squeaker over Air Force. “Air Force seems to have it going again.”
Air Force quarterback Shaun Carney, who led the way in a lopsided victory over UNLV last week, sees a chance to make a late-season run, though the Falcons are out of the conference race.
“If we’re going to be looked at as spoilers, so be it,” Carney said.
Texas Christian vs. Air Force
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Texas Christian (6-1, 4-0): Take a look at the defensive unit. The charts are filled with almost as many numbers as the offensive ledger. Horned Frog defenders have chalked up 57 tackles for losses, including 23 sacks. Linebacker Jason Phillips, a redshirt freshman, leads the defensive charge with 44 tackles, five for losses. But the tackling statistics are spread around. Sixteen players have 10 or more tackles. Junior quarterback Jeff Ballard has come on in place of injured Tye Gunn and the offense hasn’t missed a beat. Ballard has completed 55-of-92 passes for 673 yards and seven touchdowns. He has thrown three interceptions.
Air Force (3-4, 2-3): The offensive line moves front and center this week, with the task of protecting ball carriers from TCU’s potent team speed. Center Jon Wilson and tackles Robert Kraay and Ross Weaver are the keys. Quarterback Shaun Carney has his completion percentage back up over 60 percent. He has been the workhorse with seven rushing touchdowns, five passing touchdowns and 419 yards on the ground. But the Falcons need to spread the offense around to fullbacks Ryan Williams and Jacobe Kendrick, if he plays, and they need more from halfbacks Chad Smith, Chad Hall and Justin Handley.
KEY STAT
26: Number of turnovers TCU has collected, an almost unheard of number at this point in the season. Included are 15 interceptions. Air Force, by contrast, has committed 15 turnovers.
KEY FOR TCU
Look for TCU to exploit Air Force’s troubles defending the run. Running back Robert Merrill is capable of a huge game.
KEY FOR AIR FORCE
Hold on to the ball. TCU has vaulted to the top of the MWC with its ability to force turnovers. Coach Fisher DeBerry has made it clear if his team doesn’t hang on to the ball, the game could quickly get out of hand. Carney needs to get his team into the end zone when it has sustained drives and not have the offense settle for field-goal attempts against a heavy favorite.
Irv Moss can be reached on 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
