Air Force Academy – Fullback Ryan Williams’ performance against Tennessee last week brought back memories of the good old days of Air Force’s triple-option offense.
His 98 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries were statistical reminders. But at 5-feet-9, his low-to-the-ground running made him the prototype of past fullbacks who have spearheaded the Falcons’ touted running game.
“It works out pretty good for me because of our big offensive linemen,” Williams, a junior from Mesquite, Texas, said. “Nobody knows I’m there until I get to the secondary. It helps a lot.”
It has been eight years since a fullback has led the Falcons in rushing. Spanky Gilliam led the Falcons with 741 yards in 1997 and 527 yards in 1998. Jason Jones was another fullback who led Air Force in rushing with 598 yards in 1990, but Andy Smith was the last 1,000-yard rusher at the fullback spot with 1,040 in 1988.
Gilliam, Jones and Smith were the ideal, low-to-the-ground size for the triple option.
Williams’ total against Tennessee was a career high.
“You can always have a better game,” Williams said. “I played pretty well, but I missed a couple of blocks.”
Fullbacks coach Paul Hamilton wasn’t as critical.
“He wants to be the very best he can be on every play,” Hamilton said. “He was good all the way around. He has great feet, runs behind his pads and has good vision.”
Williams and his teammates are shaking off the pain of a 31-30 loss to Tennessee while getting through a bye week before playing at Wyoming on Sept. 23. After the Tennessee game, the attitude was to get back on the field as soon as possible.
“It’s good to have a week off,” Williams said. “Anytime you lose, it sticks around for a while, but it’s time to move on.”
Williams can move on with no second thoughts about the Falcons trying a two-point conversion with 1:35 left, but not getting into the end zone. He credits coach Fisher DeBerry for giving the team a chance to win, remembering how everyone’s face lit up when the signal for two points went up.
The question now is whether the Falcons can play at the level they did against Tennessee for the rest of the season.
“We didn’t come into the season trying to just beat Tennessee,” Williams said. “We’re trying to win the (Mountain West Conference), the trophy (Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy) and a bowl game.”
Williams isn’t the imposing, burly type of player. He wants to become an English teacher and said none of the players at the academy were thinking about the NFL.
“I’ve never been the typical athlete,” Williams said. “I didn’t do the things people my size are supposed to do. I love it when somebody tells me I can’t do something and I prove they’re wrong. I played fullback in high school and threw the shot put in track and field.”
Williams doesn’t shy from competition. He’s even looking forward to the return of Jacobe Kendrick, the senior projected starter at fullback. Kendrick has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.
“I knew we were going to have a battle at the fullback position,” Hamilton said.
“Our fullbacks take a lot of pounding. The more we can keep a fresh player in the game, the better we’ll be.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
