LARAMIE — Air Force quarterback Shea Smith came of age Saturday at War Memorial Stadium with a gutsy performance against a Wyoming defense that made his work seem like he was facing a horde of bandits.
Smith had no choice. After hearing coach Troy Calhoun say during preseason camp and even after last weekend’s 41-7 rout of Southern Utah that the Falcons’ starting quarterback job was open, Smith had to play like the job was his.
During the week, junior Eric Herbort, the primary competition for Smith, decided to leave the team. That left freshman Tim Jefferson as Smith’s backup.
“I didn’t feel as if there was a lot of pressure,” said Smith, a senior. “You don’t worry how many plays you’re going to get, you play each one the best you can. We did a good job as a team in not panicking. Coaches decide who is going to play and we play the role. You have to prepare to play every week. I don’t see it that my closest rival wasn’t there. We’re going to miss him. Everyone just comes ready to play.”
Calhoun rated Smith’s performance as solid, pretty much the same rating as last weekend.
“I thought he left some yards on the field,” Calhoun said. “Our whole team has to play better. We have to grow game by game.”
While Smith deftly guided the Falcons through a sticker patch, Wyoming quarterback Dax Crum found Air Force’s defense just as thorny. He completed only 7-of-19 passes for 72 yards, was sacked four times, fumbled the ball away three times and threw an interception.
Dandy defense.
Turnovers set up the first nine points of the game, leading to a 6-3 lead for the Falcons with 10:18 left in the second quarter.
Air Force’s defensive statistics told the story. Fumble recoveries were credited to safety Chris Thomas, defensive ends Ryan Kemp and Rick Ricketts and safety Aaron Kirchoff. Thomas, defensive end Jake Paulson, linebacker Andre Morris and nose guard Ben Garland were credited with quarterback sacks.
Injury report.
Offensive tackle Keith Williams (ankle) is questionable. Receiver Kyle Halderman (knee) returned to the game.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
