Air Force Academy – Offensive coordinator Chuck Petersen and quarterback Shaun Carney agreed Monday the Falcons will stick to their game plan this week against New Mexico, even though the Lobos have provided evidence they can be disruptive.
“Right now people have to prove they can stop our running game for me to open up the throwing game,” Carney said. “Our throwing game always is in the bag, but they’ll really have to stop our running game first.”
Carney isn’t surprised the Lobos, who play Saturday in the Falcons’ home opener, have done a better job of defending the Air Force triple-option offense than any other Mountain West Conference team.
In the past seven meetings, New Mexico has limited the Falcons to averages of 210.9 yards rushing, 347.1 total yards and 29.1 points. The rushing and total offense figures are the best against the Falcons since the MWC began in 1999.
“During (the MWC) media day before (preseason) practice started, I was talking to all the other quarterbacks who were there and everybody said New Mexico was the toughest defense,” Carney said. “They’re a well-coached defense. Their head coach (Rocky Long) really takes pride in having a great brain about defense.”
Petersen said New Mexico’s defensive game plan is different other MWC teams, but said playing the Lobos is the same as playing anyone else.
“We’re going to have to run the football in order to be successful,” he said. “That hasn’t changed in 20 years. Now that doesn’t mean we can’t throw and we won’t throw. The one thing this conference has done a nice job of is emphasizing defensive football. Years ago you could expect to score 40 points every time out.”
MWC salutes Falcons
Carney’s performance Saturday at Wyoming earned him the conference’s offensive player of the week award. He rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns and passed for a touchdown in the Falcons’ 31-24 victory.
Zach Sasser received the MWC special-teams award for the second time in three weeks. Sasser kicked a 27-yard field goal, and he had a 59-yard punt on his first career try.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
