AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Only hours before Air Force played its toughest opponent of the season, coach Troy Calhoun didn’t know who would be his quarterback.
Sure, Connor Dietz was told Thursday that he would start, but Calhoun felt if Tim Jefferson’s right ankle looked right in pregame warm-ups, Jefferson would play against No. 10 Texas Christian.
“If that was (the situation), I was glad they didn’t tell me,” Dietz said.
Alas, the snakebitten Jefferson wasn’t mobile enough on the frostbitten Saturday, and now Calhoun has got himself in a little bit of a pickle.
“I thought (Dietz) really did a fine job for a guy in only his second start,” Calhoun said after his squad couldn’t squeak one out in a 20-17 loss at Falcon Stadium. “He made some plays, and probably what I love most about him was just his spirit, his leadership. He’s a guy, when you go play a game, you can tell it means something to him.”
Dietz wasn’t Tommie Frazier out there running the option, but he did show glimpses of potency in Air Force’s triple-option offense. He rushed for 71 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown, while completing 6-of-17 passes for 42 yards. Most encouraging was his final drive of the game — with Air Force trailing 20-10 and 3:36 left. He marched the Falcons 46 yards, completing three passes and scoring on an 8-yard quarterback draw with 57 seconds left. TCU, though, recovered the ensuing onside kick.
So now, the former starter Jefferson remains “day to day,” according to his coach. Asked if Dietz could remain the starter even if Jefferson is healthy, Calhoun said: “That’s something that when we get to that point, we’ll need to look at. (Dietz) played well, and I only think he’s going to get better.”
Dietz and Jefferson are sophomores for the Falcons, who are 3-3 heading into next Saturday’s home game against Wyoming. After that, Air Force travels to Utah and Colorado State.
“My gut tells me that we’re going to be a better football team this second half of the season,” Calhoun said. “Yet you have to make it that way by the way you work.”
Thing is, will Jefferson be able to work at practice with his lingering ankle injury? Time will tell — but the clock’s ticking.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
