Second-half adjustments key to AFA's win

In the first half of Saturday's game against Colorado State, Air Force was unable to apply pressure on quarterback Billy Farris and mostly unable to stop the Rams.

Colorado State compiled 234 yards and scored on three of five drives, setting the stage for a second-half shootout.

But the Falcons defense came alive after halftime. It put heat on Farris, picked off two passes and limited the Rams to 120 yards, seven first downs and zero points.

"Second half we switched a couple blitzes up," defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said. "And I just thought that our guys came with a little different velocity in the second half than they did in the first half."

Junior strong safety Chris Thomas certainly did on the Rams' first possession of the third quarter. Down 21-17, Colorado State drove from its 20-yard line to inside the Falcons' 20. But on third-and-11 from the 19, Thomas came on a backside blitz along with two teammates. Nobody picked up Thomas, and he drilled Farris while the quarterback was throwing. The ball fluttered into the air, and Ken Lamendola picked it off.

Air Force turned that interception and Reggie Rembert's pick on Colorado State's next possession into scores to pull away.

"The first half we didn't get it done as far as takeaways," DeRuyter said. "We told our guys at halftime, ‘We've got to get two,' and they went out and got it done."