AIR FORCE ACADEMY — The return of nose guard Ryan Gardner to Air Force’s defensive line could be a big boost in reaching a directive from coach Ron Burton. Gardner, a senior leader, missed four games with a knee injury before returning for limited action last Saturday in the loss to Boise State.
The 6-foot-2, 260-pound senior from San Jose, Calif., says he’s ready to play a full game Saturday at New Mexico. His return couldn’t have come at a better time in terms of boosting hopes for a late-season surge. Air Force (3-4) has its sights set on finishing with a five-game win streak.
But first things first, and Burton’s directive for his line is to start making some plays.
Air Force’s defensive line has been depleted by injuries, a major reason the Falcons have been scorched for 137 points during a three-game losing streak.
“Our younger players have improved, but it’s not enough just being where they’re supposed to be on their assignments. They have to start making some plays,” Burton said. “We’ve learned from our mistakes, but we’re at the point of our season where it’s all about now.”
Senior Harry Kehs, a backup at the start of the season, has been Air Force’s most active defensive lineman, with 24 tackles. Even though he didn’t play for four weeks after starting the first two games, Gardner stayed with the team while doing his rehabilitation work. He was an additional coach at practices.
“It’s just an experience thing,” Gardner said of his status. “I could tell them what I thought they were doing right or wrong, and they respected what I had to say because of my playing experience. I still wanted to help the team as much as I could.”
Gardner learned his role from Ben Garland, who preceded him at nose guard.
“I wasn’t overwhelmed at following Ben on the defensive line,” Gardner said. “He taught me so much about playing and how to help teach my teammates.”
Coach Troy Calhoun welcomes Gardner’s return and other Falcons who should be back on the field in the next week or so. Senior defensive linemen Zach Payne and Ben Kopacka and sophomore cornerback Chris Miller could return next week.
But Gardner is a key for Calhoun.
“His 10 or 12 more pounds mean a lot to our defense,” Calhoun said. “He has great leadership qualities, and when he plays 25 plays a game, it’s a significant help for us.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
Three questions for Air Force
1. Can the Falcons (3-4) get on a late-season roll after struggling through a brutal October schedule? Air Force needs to win out to present coach Troy Calhoun his fifth consecutive season of at least eight victories. Since Calhoun took over for Fisher DeBerry, Air Force has posted seasons of 9-4, 8-5, 8-5 and 9-4. The records in 2009 and last year included a bowl game triumph.
2. Will Air Force fullbacks Mike DeWitt and Wes Cobb be able to provide a strong running attack Calhoun believes is necessary to control the ball, and the game, against New Mexico? The fullbacks have combined for 494 yards rushing and four touchdowns, with DeWitt having gained 346 of those yards. DeWitt has the only 100-yard game, which came last week against Boise State.
3. With injuries depleting the ranks at the receiver positions, will senior receiver Jonathan Warzeka take over as more of a big-play weapon? A year ago, Warzeka averaged 22.6 yards on his 18 pass receptions. This year he has 21 receptions and three touchdowns but is averaging only 12.7 yards a catch.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
Related News
Big East trying to judge AFA’s interest in joining Conference
Big East Conference commissioner John Marinatto has put the ball in the Air Force Academy’s court in terms of an answer to the question of the academy’s interest in moving from the Mountain West to the Big East in football.
The next step is Air Force making a decision. An invitation hasn’t officially been offered by the Big East, but a conference spokesperson indicated invitations usually aren’t offered unless there’s a guarantee of acceptance.
Marinatto met with Academy officials, including superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael Gould, for two hours Wednesday evening in hopes of explaining why the Big East is a good fit for the Air Force football program.
“We’ll give this a real thorough thought process,” Gould said Thursday through academy public affairs officer David Cannon. “(The Big East gave) us a lot of information to think about and consider as we make a decision on what’s best for our cadet-athletes, the Air Force Academy and the Air Force.”
According to meeting participants, Air Force wasn’t given a timetable to replay.
However, Big East spokesperson Chuck Sullivan said there is a meeting scheduled Tuesday in Philadelphia of the conference’s board of directors. Marinatto met Thursday with Boise State officials as he tries to fill out the Big East to as many as 12 teams for football.
The Big East has been hit hard in the musical chairs that has spread through collegiate athletics. It already has lost Pittsburgh and Syracuse in recent weeks and possibly will lose West Virginia to the Big 12. Without West Virginia, the conference would be down to five teams for football. Irv Moss, The Denver Post
