AIR FORCE ACADEMY — When receiver Kevin Fogler was injured, the question for the Air Force passing game was whether it could stretch the field without its long-range pass catcher.
Junior Zach Kauth showed Saturday he can step in to fill the void.
With CSU coach Steve Fairchild’s defense stacked to stop the run, Kauth and quarterback Tim Jefferson took advantage. Kauth caught three passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
“We had some success today,” said Kauth, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound junior. “I don’t know if I’m the go-to guy now, but I’ve stepped into the role of the deep threat a little bit.”
Kauth’s three catches were critical. He took a 39-yard pass from Jefferson to CSU’s 11-yard line on Air Force’s second scoring drive. His second catch was a 27-yarder from Jefferson for a touchdown in the second quarter for a 21-0 lead.
Kauth’s third catch was a 19-yard reception late in the third period that spurred the Falcons to a 49-13 lead.
Kauth, who did not have a reception coming into this season, now leads the team with nine catches, and his average jumped to more than 18 yards a catch.
“I’ll make a play when we need it,” Kauth said. “We did a good job on third down today. Our game is ball possession. We work on third-down situations every week in practice.”
Kauth and the Falcons know what’s ahead. They play San Diego State, TCU and Utah in the next three weeks.
“We’re rolling,” Kauth said. “We had a great emotional game against CSU. We had a great emotional game against Navy. We have to keep the emotion going.”
Kauth said coach Troy Calhoun’s methods keep the Falcons motivated.
“He definitely keeps your feet on the ground,” Kauth said.
Said Calhoun: “I didn’t think we’d be dwelling on the Navy game, that’s not us. But our world definitely changes over the next few weeks.”
