Air Force Academy – Air Force starting tailback Kip McCarthy most likely is lost for his team’s Mountain West Conference opener Saturday at Utah.
McCarthy missed his second day of practice with swelling and soreness in his right knee. If McCarthy is out, coach Troy Calhoun will go with freshman Savier Stephens and senior Jim Ollis, the latter of whom didn’t play in the Falcons’ 34-3 season-opening victory over South Carolina State on Saturday.
McCarthy led the Falcons in rushing in the opener with 129 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Stephens carried seven times for 29 yards and a touchdown.
“I don’t think you can play this game unless at some point early in the week you’re at full tilt,” Calhoun said. “We’ll evaluate him again (today), but there was more to it than we thought Monday. It’s something that could be a couple of weeks. He may be out the next two games.”
Ollis, a backup quarterback and running back the past two years, has been hampered by an ankle injury.
“Jim Ollis has practiced pretty well the last two days,” Calhoun said. “It’s clearly not even close to where he was last week at this time.”
In the past two seasons, Ollis carried 26 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
Utah also has running back issues. Matt Asiata, the team’s leading running back, broke a leg in the Utes’ season opener against Oregon State.
Motivation
Junior defensive end Ryan Kemp had some extra motivation in Saturday’s game. He turned it into the top performance by an Air Force defensive lineman with six tackles, including for a loss and credit for half a quarterback sack. The six tackles tied Kemp for second most on the Air Force defense.
Kemp had missed the early part of the week’s practice to attend his grandfather’s funeral in Mannford, Okla.
“If it wasn’t for my grandfather, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Kemp said. “He came to all of my games. I’m always going to miss him up in the stands, and I’m definitely disappointed that he can’t be here watching me anymore. I dedicated that game to him.”
Centering
There was something new for center Blaine Guenther as well as followers of Air Force football. The Falcons lined up in the shotgun formation, meaning Guenther had to snap the ball to quarterback Shaun Carney a few yards back. The first couple of snaps in the shotgun had Carney reaching to take the ball.
“I was a little excited on the first couple of snaps. I had never done it before in a game,” Guenther said. “I’m working on it, and we were fine after the first couple of snaps.”
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
