A day after his Air Force team lost 33-27 to Navy at Falcon Stadium, coach Troy Calhoun said Sunday that he will start one phase of a recovery plan but will wait on another until he learns the status of starting quarterback Shea Smith.
Against the Midshipmen, the Falcons surrendered two touchdowns on blocked punts and Smith left the game early in the fourth quarter with flu symptoms.
Calhoun’s immediate plan was to keep the shield punt formation as well as the rugby kick in his game plan, but the Falcons will work more on both in practice. Navy blocked one punt straight out of the shield formation and the other after punter Ryan Harrison tried to deliver a rugby punt.
“We put our punting team through a good bit of practice,” Calhoun said. “It’s usually the first thing we do each day.
“There are a number of aspects we have to improve, but the initial one is getting the punt away sooner.”
Smith was replaced by freshman Tim Jefferson, who guided the Falcons on an 84-yard touchdown drive that cut Navy’s lead to six points with 2:32 left in the game.
Calhoun said he wouldn’t make a decision at the quarterback position before being assured that Smith’s problems weren’t related to a concussion.
The loss to Navy eliminated Air Force from contention to win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Calhoun expects his team will focus on the rest of the season.
“Our players have strong hearts, and I believe they will bounce back,” Calhoun said. “We have to change gears.”
Footnote.
Calhoun said sophomore receiver Kevin Fogler likely will miss some time with a knee injury suffered in the Navy game.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
The Aztecs
Air Force at San Diego State Saturday, 7:30 p.m., MTN
For the record: The Aztecs are 1-4, and 0-1 in Mountain West Conference play, losing 41-7 to TCU last weekend.
Streaking: Linebacker Russell Allen has at least two tackles in 37 straight games and at least three in 35 of 37 career games.
Who’s hot: Receiver Vincent Brown is fifth in the conference with 26 receptions for 367 yards and four touchdowns. He scored three touchdowns against Idaho this season.
Who’s not: The Aztecs have lost four straight conference games, including the final three last season.
Key stat: San Diego State’s passing offense ranks 24th in the nation at 261.8 yards per game.
FYI: San Diego State defenders have ranked either first or second in tackles in the conference in each of the last five seasons.
Injury report: Quarterback Ryan Lindley (shoulder) is questionable.
Coachspeak: “As a coach, you always look at capability, and I see a significant amount of capability. Their wide receivers can get on the top of our corners’ toes almost instantly.” — Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, on San Diego State’s talent
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
