Air Force Football: Smith still recovering from illness

Air Force senior quarterback Shea Smith attended practice Monday but did not participate as he continues to recover from the sickness that forced him out of Saturday's 33-27 loss to Navy.

The good news is trainers have said the dizziness and nausea Smith experienced were the result of some sort of virus and not a concussion.

But that provides little solace for Smith, who had to spend the waning moments of a loss to a rival on the bench. Smith attempted to warm up so he could re-enter the game after sitting out a series, but he could not even walk straight.

"It was very tough," he said. "I've never not finished a game before. It was bad luck, bad circumstances, whatever you want to call it. I guess that happens in life. Losses happen, and you've got to move on."

Smith said he plans to practice today, and coach Troy Calhoun said Smith will need to participate to prepare for Saturday's game at San Diego State.

If Smith cannot play, backup Tim Jefferson would take his place in the starting lineup.

But Jefferson will get some snaps against San Diego State even if Smith is healthy, Calhoun said, because of the potential he flashed late in the loss to Navy. After a shaky start, Jefferson, a freshman, keyed a scoring drive by completing 4 of 7 passes for 56 yards and running four times for 36 yards.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Jefferson has progressed rapidly this season. He said Monday he feels he can "make the reads, make the throws, make the pitches and do all the things that (coaches) ask of" quarterbacks.

Depth chart moves

Asher Clark, another freshman who flashed his potential against Navy, cracked the two-deep chart Calhoun released Monday. Clark replaced sophomore Savier Stephens as the backup tailback behind sophomore Kyle Lumpkin.

The 5-8, 185-pound Clark came to the academy as a quarterback, but coaches have wanted to get him on the field to take advantage of his quickness and athletic ability. So he has been splitting practice time between quarterback and tailback, and in the loss to Navy he showed some good burst as a tailback on his lone carry, a 2-yard touchdown run.

Calhoun said that on Clark's other 10 plays he blocked well and "you seemed to be aware he was on the field."

"You watch him at practice, the guy's got another gear, he can change direction and he's a tough little cookie too," said Calhoun, who also listed Clark as a starting kickoff returner along with Reggie Rembert.

Other depth chart changes included senior Z receiver Ty Paffett and senior tight end Travis Dekker moving into the starting lineup. Both saw their first action of the season against Navy after returning from injuries. Sophomore Kyle Halderman and senior Keith Madsen now are listed as the backups at Z receiver and tight end, respectively.

With Kevin Fogler injured, junior Josh Cousins now is listed as the starter at X receiver. Junior Sean Quintana, who had played tight end when Dekker was hurt, now is listed as Cousins' backup.

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Contact the Writer: 636-0365 or jake.schaller@gazette.com. Check out our Air Force blog at gazetteafasports.freedomblogging.com