AIR FORCE ACADEMY — On the surface, receiver Jonathan Warzeka isn’t making an unreasonable request for what he wants in the fourth quarter Saturday when the Falcons play at national powerhouse Boise State.
It’s just that recent history makes it seem unlikely.
“We’re just hoping that by the fourth quarter we still have a shot at the game,” said Warzeka, a senior from Lake Elsinore, Calif. “We want to go punch for punch and see what happens. Pretty much the only people who believe in us are in our locker room.”
The Falcons are facing a Boise State team that has a 34-game home winning streak — the second-longest active streak behind only Oklahoma’s 39 — and has won its first six games by an average score of 44-15.
Warzeka, who coach Troy Calhoun describes as a catalyst, revved up a slow start of the season with two touchdown catches against San Diego State. He has three touchdowns among his 19 catches.
His reputation probably has brought on some extra coverage by the opposition’s defense.
“It’s nice to get recognition, but we still want to make plays all over the field,” Warzeka said. “Hopefully, whoever gets the ball can make good things happen.”
No small challenge.
Calhoun rates the stretch with Navy at the beginning followed by Notre Dame, San Diego State and now Boise State the toughest stretch of football his teams have faced in his five years at the helm. The Falcons are 3-3 for the season and 0-2 in the Mountain West Conference.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had that kind of stretch,” Calhoun said. “But that’s part of football. I think you come to the Air Force Academy because you love challenges. Our players embrace the heck out of challenges.”
Calhoun said he didn’t expect any of his injured players to return to action against the Broncos.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
