Senior defensive end Gabe Knapton provides good evidence that the Wyoming Cowboys are a throwback to some of their better teams of the past.
The thread that ran through most of Wyoming’s better teams in the past was strong defensive play.
Knapton, a 6-foot-3, 251-pound senior from Mead (and Skyline High School), is holding up the first line of defense at a level that speaks of the past.
His 48 tackles, including five sacks, are the most for a defensive lineman in the Mountain West, and he ranks seventh on Wyoming’s career tackle charts with four games to go.
“My thing is hustling to get around the ball,” Knapton said. “I fly around. I play at high voltage.”
Air Force (5-4, 1-3 Mountain West) plays Wyoming (5-3, 2-1) at noon Saturday at Falcon Stadium.
The Cowboys are encouraged by their best start to a season since 1998. But they face a five-game losing streak, including four in a row in the current coaching term of Troy Calhoun, against the Falcons. Their last victory at Falcon Stadium, a 29-28 thriller in 2005, is well within memory.
“We’re comfortable playing them,” Knapton said. “They have an unusual offense. We don’t play against it more than once a year.”
Calhoun has modified what was a triple-option offense over the years. While the Falcons don’t rely as much on their rushing game, they still are averaging 310.4 yards a game.
Knapton began at Wyoming as a linebacker but was moved into the defensive line.
“I’m happy where I’m playing,” Knapton said. “It’s a more physical game in the trenches.”
His tackle chart indicates he likes to mix it up on the field.
Blane Morgan, Air Force’s quarterbacks coach and a former AFA quarterback, said Knapton is a lot like Wyoming players he faced.
“I played in two service academy games each year, and they’re as hard-hitting games as there are,” Morgan said. “Wyoming played just like that. Their players pride themselves on being hard-nosed.”
Wyoming’s upturn has Air Force’s attention. But Knapton wants a better result against the Falcons in his last meeting.
“Air Force plays at full speed all the time,” Knapton said. “We’re getting ready for a fistfight, basically. I’ve played them three times, and I’d like nothing better than to finally get a win over Air Force.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
