AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Anyone interested in playing the comparative score game might want to hand the Mountain West Conference championship right now to the Air Force Academy.
The No. 25 Falcons mauled hapless Colorado State 49-27 on Saturday. A week ago, No. 5 and unbeaten defending MWC champ TCU sputtered to a 27-0 decision over the Rams.
As if the Falcons offense wasn’t dominant enough, Air Force’s special teams turned in a command performance. The Falcons scored touchdowns on a fake field goal and Jonathan Warzeka’s 100-yard all-out sprint on a kickoff return for a 42-13 third quarter lead.
If anyone cares to peek ahead on Air Force’s schedule, the Falcons host TCU in two weeks. Oh, and No. 10 Utah follows the next week in Falcon Stadium.
Air Force pulled to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the MWC, with 41,547 fans on hand. One more win and Air Force will be eligible for its fourth consecutive bowl trip.
In losing for the 14th time in its past 15 outings, Colorado State dropped to 1-5, 0-2.
It was the most points scored by one team in the series since the Falcons won 52-10 in 1984 and fourth most in series history. It was CSU’s 10th consecutive conference loss.
CSU’s defense tried practicing this week against a scout unit that didn’t use a football in some drills. The purpose was preparing the Rams to play with the assignment discipline necessary against the Falcons.
Someone should have told Falcons quarterback Tim Jefferson. He refused to leave the football in the locker room.
He twice burned CSU with a big pass, setting up TDs on the first two drives, resulting in a 14-0 AFA lead with 9:07 to go in the first quarter. He made it 21-0 on a 27 yard pass to Zach Kauth for Kauth’s first career TD.
By the time the two hooked up again, the Falcons were dominating 49-13 with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter.
Jefferson came into Saturday with a career statline against Colorado State of 13 completions in 20 attempts for 284 yards and four touchdowns. By halftime, he was three of four for 117 yards. He took a seat at the end of the third quarter with career numbers against CSU of 418 yards and 6 TDs.
Air Force’s Asher Clark notched his sixth career 100-yard rushing game before halftime. And the Falcons had a 28-7 lead at intermission.
CSU needed a 70-yard kickoff return by walk-on Derek Good and a double reverse from the 13 to score its first points of the game. Thomas gave the handoff to running back Chris Nwoke who then handed off to receiver Lou Greenwood for the score with 6:35 left in the half.
It was CSU’s first score since the final quarter of the Idaho win two weeks ago.
CSU’s second score was set up by Jefferson’s first career interception against the Rams. Safety Ivory Herd took a deflected pass set up CSU for a 30-yard drive finished by Leonard Mason from the 2. AFA blocked Ben DeLine’s PAT.
Rams QB Pete Thomas tossed a 5-yard scoring pass to Eric Peitz at 11:14 of the fourth quarter, helping the Rams cut Air Force’s lead to 49-20. It was just the second time this season CSU scored three touchdowns in a game. They scored four TDs in a 36-34 win over Idaho on Sept. 25.
AFA looked as if it was going to blow it open earlier when Reggie Rembert returned an interception off Thomas to the CSU 3. Jared Tew fumbled on second and goal from the 1. Mychal Sisson recovered for only the third CSU’s takeaway of the season.
The Rams couldn’t take advantage continuing the turnover exchange and Rembert grabbed the ball coughed up by Mason. It had been a successful start for Mason. Until that point he had 74 yards subbing for Raymond Carter, left home with a knee injury.
It was 49-13 heading into the fourth quarter when AFA coach Troy Calhoun substituted heavily. CSU scored twice to make the game look much closer than it was.
“In the fourth quarter we had guys in there who needed to grow,” said Calhoun.
CSU coach Steve Fairchild’s post game comments just substituted “Air Force” for the other teams that beat the Rams this seson. “They played a good game and deserved to win.”
Natalie Meisler: 303 954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
