AFA notes: Halderman, Warzeka provide 1-2 punch at slot receiver

Kyle Halderman’s return to the lineup has taken some plays from sophomore Jonathan Warzeka.

But Warzeka has welcomed Halderman’s return. He no longer has to shoulder the majority of snaps at slot receiver, and the pair working in tandem has given Air Force better production.

On Saturday, they provided a boost for the offense in a 34-16 victory over Colorado State, combining for three touchdowns.

“We’re a lot more loose, and we can rely off each other — ‘Hey, I’m good to go,’ or ‘You take this one, I’ll sit this one out,’” Warzeka said. “We play at 100 percent every play, and it showed.”

Halderman ran three times for 22 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown run, and Warzeka ran once for 10 yards.

Warzeka had two catches for 41 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown, and Halderman had one catch — an 8-yard touchdown.

Rembert plays
Junior Reggie Rembert, who suffered a concussion last weekend at Utah, started at cornerback but did not return kicks.

Rembert said he felt a bit hesitant “because I didn’t really hit anybody all week” in practice. And he said he didn’t feel he played that well. But he made four tackles, broke up a pass and picked off another to set up the team’s final score.

Tight end sighting
Late in the first half, quarterback Tim Jefferson delivered a 16-yard strike to senior tight end Sean Quintana. It was Quintana’s first catch since the Sept. 26 game against San Diego State and only the third catch by an Air Force tight end in seven games.

In the third quarter, Jefferson hit tight end Chaz Demerath for a 5-yard gain.

Clark breaks 1,000
Sophomore tailback Asher Clark rushed for 75 yards on 10 carries, giving him 1,047 career yards.

Clark is the 35th player in Air Force history to hit the 1,000-yard rushing milestone.

Etc.
Jefferson’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Halderman on the team’s opening drive was the first touchdown pass by an Air Force quarterback since the third quarter of the third game. … Air Force scored on four of five trips to the red zone, and the one time it didn’t was when time ran out in the game. More importantly, the Falcons got three touchdowns and only one field goal in those trips. … Four seniors — guard Nick Charles, defensive tackle Ben Garland, Quintana and punter Brandon Geyer — served as captains.