Air Force notes: Holder goes missing
Air Force punter David Baska took full responsibility for a mistake that didn’t affect the outcome of Saturday’s game, but it summed up the mental errors the Falcons made in their loss to TCU.
After Air Force scored on a trick play, a 32-yard touchdown pass from receiver Jonathan Warzeka to Zack Kauth, the Falcons lined up for the extra point. But Baska, Air Force’s holder, was on the far end of the Falcons’ sideline. He ran 34 yards on a fake punt the play before, tweaked his hamstring and was stretching.
Sophomore kicker Briceton Cannada went in the game to hold, couldn’t field the snap, and his desperation pass into the end zone was incomplete.
“Mental lapse on my part,” Baska said. “I was trying to get ready for the next possession. I didn’t realize we scored. It’s a learning experience. It won’t happen again. That’s my fault.”
Calhoun went to Baska after the failed extra point to get an explanation.
“He thought he needed to stretch,” Calhoun said. “To hold, I don’t think you need to stretch. Shouldn’t happen. Shouldn’t happen.”
No offense
Air Force’s offense had a strange look against TCU. The Falcons used a lot of three- and four-receiver sets and passed more than usual. In the first three quarters, Tim Jefferson attempted 15 passes. The Falcons’ running backs had just nine carries combined. Also unusual was starting fullback Wes Cobb’s disappearance from the offense. He had just one carry, which came in the fourth quarter. Backup Mike DeWitt played most of the game.
TCU gave up many deep passes last week against Baylor, but the Falcons couldn’t replicate that success. Jefferson’s longest pass was 18 yards.
“We tried to take some shots down the field,” Calhoun said. “That’s part of what our plan was. I don’t think we’re going to hit them all. But we had to hit more than we did.”
TCU leaving
TCU is departing the Mountain West Conference to join the Big East Conference.
This is good news if you’re an Air Force coach, player or fan.
Since Air Force upset the Horned Frogs at Falcon Stadium in 2007, the rivalry has turned decidedly in TCU’s favor. Since the 2007 defeat, TCU has outscored Air Force 137-53.
Air Force is not alone in suffering against TCU. Under Gary Patterson’s direction, the Horned Frogs have won 48 of their last 53 games and scored more than 30 points in 23 of their last 28 games.
