AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Maybe quarterback Connor Dietz was a little amazed himself.
With starter Tim Jefferson out because of a head injury, Dietz entered the game with 2:10 left in the first half. Minutes before, Air Force players were waiting to see if Jefferson was going to get up after falling short on a third- down carry that forced a punt.
Dietz, a junior from Columbus, Ohio, had only four carries all season, but he knew what to do. During the last 32:10 of the game, Dietz and mop-up quarterback Ben Cochran took the Falcons to touchdowns on five of their six possessions.
From his first series, Dietz looked as though he had taken every snap. He completed 5-of-6 passes and led a 10-play, 76-yard scoring drive just before halftime.
“We’re comfortable with Connor,” receiver Kyle Halderman said. “Nothing changes. He took charge and kept up the tempo. They (the Lobos) wore down as we pounded away at them.”
Dietz said it was good to go out and show his teammates he could play at a high level.
“My role was to get ready and go out there for the team,” Dietz said. “Obviously, when anybody on the team goes down, there’s concern. When we scored before halftime, it gave me confidence.”
Status quo.
Athletic director Hans Mueh said before the game he has not heard from the University of Colorado or any other school voicing interest in coach Troy Calhoun.
Asked if he expected contact before anyone talks to Calhoun, Mueh said: “That’s the usual formality. It’s early yet, but this is his (Calhoun’s) school.”
Said Calhoun, when asked about the CU job: “We’re doing everything we can to get ready for UNLV.”
The Falcons close out the regular season Thursday at Nevada-Las Vegas.
