SAN DIEGO — The future that Air Force coach Troy Calhoun talked about all week was rushed into service Saturday night at Qualcomm Stadium, and it looked every bit capable of the needs of today.
In a bold move, Calhoun started Tim Jefferson at quarterback and Asher Clark at tailback. The prized freshmen proved the future is now as the Falcons pulled away in the second half for a 35-10 victory over San Diego State.
Clark’s debut featured 109 yards on 15 carries, and Jefferson added 55 yards on 12 carries. Both scored touchdowns. The Falcons finished with 401 yards rushing on 77 carries as nine players carried the ball.
The first half was a roller-coaster ride for Jefferson. While he took the Falcons on a 78-yard, all-run scoring drive to start the game, it got much tougher against an Aztecs defense that turned Air Force’s running game to a walk.
It took the Falcons 16 plays to get a 7-0 lead, with Jefferson banging out the final yard with 9:39 left in the opening quarter. But after the opening drive, Air Force’s only other threat of the first half was a desperation 48-yard field-goal attempt that went wide left as the half ended.
“I thought in the first half we were playing like we were running on eggshells,” Calhoun said. “We were all waiting for somebody else to do it.”
Jefferson’s game was flawed by a fumble at his 31-yard line. The error came on first down after the Aztecs took a 10-7 lead on Lane Yoshida’s 45-yard field goal with 3:08 left in the half.
“I was told early in the week I was going to get the shot,” said Jefferson, who was 3-for-5 passing for 34 yards. “I don’t think I played great. I guess I did all right.”
Senior quarterback Shea Smith, the AFA starter for the first five games, entered Saturday’s game twice, the second time when Jefferson left after being stunned on a tackle.
The Falcons (4-2, 2-1 Mountain West Conference) put on a solid performance. Smith had his moments, completing a 32-yard touchdown pass to receiver Josh Cousins for Air Force’s fourth TD of the second half and a 35-10 lead.
When asked if Jefferson was the new starter, Calhoun said, “He has to earn it every week. Both Tim and Shea are going to have to play as if they are both veteran players.”
After struggling in the second quarter, Air Force’s defense matched the offensive fireworks. With a lot of pressure on Aztecs quarterback Drew Westling stalling San Diego State’s offense, the Falcons forced punts on the Aztecs’ first three possessions of the second half.
A sack by defensive end Jake Paulson on Westling on the first series of the second half forced a punt and it got the Falcons going. The Falcons allowed just 8 yards in the third quarter. Paulson, who came into the game leading the nation with seven sacks, had two Saturday night.
Falcons linebacker Justin Moore salted it away with a 25-yard interception return for a 28-10 lead with 11:37 left in the game.
With Smith coming in after Jefferson left for equipment repair, the Falcons drove 74 yards to take a 14-10 lead with 9:11 left in the third period. Clark wove his way through the Aztecs’ defense for the last 9 yards for his first collegiate touchdown.
With Westling also making his first start, the Aztecs had a long drive in their offense and a field goal after a Jefferson fumble to gain a 10-7 lead at halftime.
Westling, playing for the injured Ryan Lindley (separated shoulder), finished 18-of-35 passing for 128 yards and two interceptions; he was 14-of-18 in the first half for 93 yards. The Aztecs finished with 35 yards rushing.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
Key stat
30:28: The amount of time between Air Force’s first score, on the opening possession of the game, and it’s second, coming on the Falcons’ first possession of the second half. Air Force then scored 21 points in the next 15 minutes.
Key play
Linebacker Justin Moore’s 26-yard interception return for a TD capped a stellar second-half effort by the Falcons’ defense. Air Force allowed just 8 yards total offense in the third.
