Air Force senior quarterback Connor Dietz runs past Wyoming defenders during Saturday’s 28-27 win over the Cowboys. Dietz missed only one offensive play, but it was a controversial one — and ended up in an Air Force touchdown. ( US Presswire photo by Troy Babbit)
Eight tidbits for service academy football fans after a busy weekend.
1. Cowboy coach: I’m sorry. Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen apologized Sunday, via a school news release, for his heated postgame exchange with Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun on Saturday — and his postgame interview that all but accused Calhoun of cheating. At issue: When Air Force quarterback Connor Dietz lost his helmet on a fourth-quarter drive and had to miss a play, Christensen said he thought the QB and Air Force coaches may have exaggerated their concern over a possible head injury, giving the Falcons enough time to draw up a play for sophomore backup Kale Pearson. The play worked — a 5-yard TD bootleg that ended up being the winning score in a 28-27 road victory. It was Pearson’s only play of the game.
2. Defending his right to say it. Calhoun considered Christensen’s rant a free-speech issue. He also denied the delay was intentional, saying he was upset things took so long since it gave the Cowboys a chance to plan for the bootleg.
3. Air Force injuries. Dietz told reporters he was fine after the game, but senior running back Cody Getz wasn’t — he injured his ankle in the fourth quarter and “will be out a few days,” Calhoun told David Ramsey of The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette in the report linked above. Getz had 41 yards rushing on 10 carries in Saturday’s win — 136 yards below his NCAA-leading average entering the game.
4. Army injuries. Air Force’s top offensive player got nicked, but Army’s top defender may have gotten the worst of the weekend academy injury report. Army football guru Sal Interdonato reports senior linebacker Nate Combs’ left shoulder got crushed by a falling Kent State 300-plus-pound offensive lineman during Saturday’s 31-17 loss. Combs, who has a team-best six sacks and nine tackles for loss, was joined by fullback Larry Dixon (leg) and safety Justin Trimble (concussion) among Army starters who didn’t finish Saturday’s game, Interdonato reports. No word on the severity of any of the injuries.
5. Better news, Part I. Army’s Raymond Maples topped the 2,000-yard career rushing mark in Saturday’s loss. He’s 10th all-time at West Point with 2,025 yards. Senior QB Trent Steelman ranks fifth (2,569). Mike Mayweather tops the list with 4,299 yards.
6. Better news, Part II. For the first time all season, a Navy Midshipman has been named the best offensive player of the week among independent teams. It’s another first for freshman QB Keenan Reynolds, whose first start resulted in a 31-13 win Friday over Central Michigan. Reynolds threw for 134 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 59 yards on 24 carries.
7. Schedule note. Navy’s Oct. 27 game at Eastern Carolina will start at 3:30 p.m. and be televised by Fox College Sports. Keep your eyes here for further schedule updates.
8. All times Eastern.This Saturday, Army hits the road to face Eastern Michigan (1 p.m., ESPN3); Navy hosts Indiana for homecoming (3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network); and Air Force hosts New Mexico in Mountain West Conference play (7 p.m., Root Sports).
