Jefferson answers casting call for Falcons

Air Force freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson considers himself a runner first - in high school, he ran a triple-option offense that rarely called for him to throw.

But Jefferson looked like a polished passer in Saturday's 38-17 win over Colorado State, albeit with limited chances. He completed 6 of 8 passes for a career-high 171 yards and two touchdowns.

Jefferson found Ty Paffett for 53 yards on the Falcons' second series to key the team's first scoring drive. He hit Kyle Halderman in stride for a 74-yard touchdown - the team's longest pass play since the 2005 opener. And he threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Travis Dekker.

Air Force just missed on another big play as a pass from Jefferson glanced off Paffett's fingertips.

"Threw some strikes," coach Troy Calhoun said. "We had some good protection and probably had a chance to hit another one over there and just missed it."

Jefferson called audibles with confidence Saturday. Since turning the ball over twice in the first quarter against New Mexico, Jefferson has committed only one turnover in the past 11 quarters, and that was on a Hail Mary pass at the end of the first half against Army.

"He's definitely filling a leadership role and becoming the leader of the offense," Halderman said.