Air Force runs CSU into the ground, 34-16

FORT COLLINS — Last year, Colorado State came into its annual rivalry game against Air Force with five losses. Falcons quarterback Tim Jefferson threw for over 100 yards and two touchdowns in the game, which left the Rams with no other options but to win out for the rest of the season.

One year later, not much has changed. Jefferson again had a strong passing game for the Falcons, who usually rely heavily on the run, to hand Colorado State its sixth consecutive loss, 34-16. Jefferson needed only seven completions to gain 111 yards though the air and had another two touchdowns. The quarterback added to that with 35 yards rushing.

It was part of another Air Force running attack that left the Rams’ defense on the field too long, Steve Fairchild said. “I thought we were in position there in the first half. We just once again didn’t do a good enough job on third down on either side of the ball, and consequently, you play too many snaps on defense when you’re doing that.”

The triple-option scheme used by the Falcons totaled 271 yards on the ground, with 113 of those in the first quarter alone. That helped Air Force build a 14-0 lead early, and CSU’s stumbling offense couldn’t answer.

The Rams tried to fight fire with fire, running the ball more heavily than usual. For the most part it worked; running back Leonard Mason returned from injury to tally just over half the team’s 180-yard rushing total. The problem came with using that production to score.

CSU had a 22-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, followed by a Grant Stucker rushing touchdown a minute before halftime, but that would be it for the starters.

Air Force ran the ball back down the field in time for a 50-yard field goal of its own before the break, and that momentum carried over into the seconnd half. The Falcons scored three more times on their next three drives, building the lead to 34-10.

By then you could tell it was over, and with 8:41 left in the game, the student section at Hughes Stadium was nearly empty. CSU gave the reserves a shot at playing time. Backups QB Jon Eastman and RB Lou Greenwood led the team to a late score but could not convert the two-point try.

Although Fairchild stated he didn’t want to single anyone out for mistakes, it’s hard not to find fault with Stucker. Limited to 10 attempts, Stucker completed only five passes for 49 yards and an interception. The pick was especially ugly, thrown almost directly at AFA defensive back Reggie Rembert.

“We’re not executing in the passing game, all year, like we should be,” Fairchild said. Asked whether this game would finally lead to a change at quarterback, he responded, “We’ve got to do something, that’s for sure.”

So once again, Colorado State faces consecutive must-wins to qualify for a bowl game, which even then, with a 6-6 record, wouldn’t be guaranteed. The bright spot in such a gloomy scenario? CSU pulled it off last year.