By Irv Moss The Denver Post
AIR FORCE ACADEMY — No matter where he is on the field, Justin Moore always seems to be running to daylight.
Two years ago as a sophomore, Moore played fullback, and running to daylight led to gaining yardage for Air Force. Moore shifted to linebacker last year and is starting in the middle backer spot this season. He’s still running to daylight, but there’s something different than yardage to be found.
“As a linebacker, you’re looking for open space because that’s where the running back is going and that’s where you’re going to find him,” said the 5-foot-11, 225-pound senior. “It’s pretty much the same thing being a linebacker or a running back.”
Moore’s view of daylight as a linebacker figures to be critical this week because the Falcons are playing Navy. The Midshipmen running backs have been dodging linebackers in open space so effectively that Navy has converted 56 percent of its third downs (31-of-55).
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said Navy’s conversion rate, which ranks seventh nationally, is extraordinary. Air Force’s defense has limited opponents to 11-of-51 on third-down tries.
Calhoun doesn’t say that breaking up Navy’s success on third down will determine the outcome, but he admitted it’s a good start to a winning trifecta.
“Third downs will be a factor undoubtedly,” Calhoun said. “The longer you can remain on the field offensively, it helps your team on the other side of the ball. If one squad has the ball for 38 minutes, wins the turnover margin and is really good in the kicking game, it may not be a trifecta, but it almost guarantees a cash ticket.”
Navy’s Cameron Marshall, a defensive lineman and special-teams player, isn’t centering on just third-down play.
“We grind on the other team, and everything is hard-nosed,” Marshall said.
Moore, described by Calhoun as not a huge guy but a really good football player, is joined by nose tackle Ben Garland in estimating that the third- down battle could decide the winner.
Said Garland: “To win this game, we have to get them off the field on third down. I think we have the heart as a team to do it.”
Falcons defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter isn’t sure that Moore could play linebacker “anywhere else but here. We may not get the biggest guys, but we’re looking for athletic players.”
Moore is more the size of a fullback in Air Force’s offense.
If Calhoun has a regret concerning Moore, it’s that he didn’t change him from fullback to linebacker earlier.
“Definitely, this is the biggest challenge we’ve faced this year,” Moore said. “Navy’s offense knows what it’s doing and it executes very well. Their third-down conversions tell me they’ve been very good on first and second down.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
