AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Don’t believe everything in the NCAA statistics. Air Force entered the weekend ranked 117th nationally in passing, averaging just 100.6 yards a game. Colorado State entered dead last (120th) in rushing at 56.2 yards a game, while AFA led the nation in rushing at 273.6 yards a game.
Defying logic, CSU outrushed the Falcons 285-248. AFA option quarterback Tim Jefferson threw for 160 yards and two TDs on just 5-of-9 passing. Classic dropback passer Pete Thomas of CSU needed 22 completions on 35 attempts to gain 136 yards and one score.
“We were ganging up on the run, but again, we peeked into the backfield and gave up some big plays,” CSU coach Steve Fairchild said.
Meanwhile, AFA coach Troy Calhoun must have spotted something on film.
“We thought perhaps (we could be successful throwing),” he said. “We thought we could get one-on- one coverage out there.”
Walk-on record-setter.
Rams junior walk-on Derek Good from Berthoud had 263 yards in kickoff returns, breaking the school record set earlier this season by Tony Drake (242 yards).
Good said he was just recovering from pneumonia but didn’t mind if it worsened with his participation.
Drake and fellow freshman special-teams contributor Charles Favors were left home because of unspecified team rules violations. Fairchild said he won’t revisit the issue until Monday. Good also had three carries for 29 yards.
“When was the last time I ran the ball in a real game? It was my senior year in high school,” Good said.
Surprise starter.
CSU running back Leonard Mason said he didn’t learn he was starting until just before game time. The leading rusher for the Rams a year ago, he had barely played this season because of a hamstring injury. Starter Raymond Carter was out with a knee injury.
Mason responded with 139 yards rushing and a touchdown. He average 6.3 yards a carry; the Rams came in averaging just 2.1 yards a rush.
“I was so anxious. I had to prove myself again,” he said.
Footnote.
Although held to fewer than 200 yards passing for the second straight week, Thomas broke Caleb Hanie’s 2004 single-season freshman record of 1,204 yards, raising his total to 1,332. Hanie started the second half of his freshman season in 2004.
