Air Force Academy – Yes, there was a sigh of relief for Air Force cornerback Chris Sutton.
Like most of his defensive teammates, Sutton had been treated roughly in the first half by CSU quarterback Caleb Hanie and a game plan that effectively mixed in running back Gartrell Johnson.
But late in the fourth quarter, that same Air Force defense was trying to protect a three-point lead. Hanie and the CSU offense got the ball for a last try and the Rams had a first down at their 38-yard line as the clock ticked toward the final two minutes.
Hanie had proved in the first half that he could strike on any play. Sutton ended the drama with an interception at the Air Force 17-yard line with 1:59 left in the game.
“That clinched it,” Sutton said. “Bobby (Giannini) got the interception earlier and that was the turning point in the game. We knew they were going to play-action and Bobby did a great job over the top. I was able to play underneath and go for the ball.
“They didn’t have any more timeouts left so I knew we’d be all right.”
Defensive end Grant Thomas noted the work of the front line.
“Anytime you let a quarterback sit in the pocket, he’s going to complete passes,” Thomas said. “Getting pressure on him (Hanie) was critical. We don’t look at defensive backs when a pass is completed. We take that on our shoulders. As soon as you get his feet moving and he doesn’t feel comfortable, that’s when those pass interceptions come.”
Limping Rams
CSU’s injury streak is far from over.
Three of the key defensive starters – end Jesse Nading (ankle), tackle Erik Sandie (knee) and safety Mike Pagnotta (knee) – missed extensive time in the second half.
Pagnotta went into the game as CSU’s leading tackler, and despite the early exit he was second in tackles with 14. With Air Force getting off 77 plays, four Rams – Pagnotta, Klint Kubiak (19) and linebackers Jeff Horinek (10) and Jon Radford (10) – had career highs in tackles.
The numbers were deceiving considering CSU – which hadn’t a allowed an individual 100-yard rushing effort – gave 106 yards to Shaun Carney and 102 to Chad Hall.
First-time starting cornerback Liddon Levine pounced on CSU’s first fumble recovery of the season, not long after Dane Stratton, in his first start at offensive tackle, recovered a fumble by teammates Hanie.
Return to action
Air Force defensive tackle Gilberto Perez played for the first time since the season opener.
Perez left the major part of the tackling up to others, but he delivered one of the meaningful halftime speeches that got the Falcons going.
“He wasn’t quiet,” Giannini said.
Back judge suspended
Mountain West Conference supervisor of officials Ken Rivera said Thursday that the back judge who blew the inadvertent whistle that cost Nading his 96-yard fumble return against UNLV last week has been suspended for a game.
Rivera would not name the official but said he had more than 20 years of experience.
Bowls reps
Larry Naber of the Poinsettia Bowl thought he was seeing a replay of the CSU-Navy game with the way Air Force rolled up 420 yards on the Rams. Ex- New Mexico athletic director Rudy Davalos represented the inaugural Albuquerque Bowl.
