Air Force center Connor Vikupitz and his offensive line teammates opened the season pushing around Colgate’s smaller defenders en route to routing the Football Championship Subdivision school, 48-7.
The next game, though, the Falcons found themselves in the middle of the food chain when the Mountain West Conference member that is among the Group of 5 schools faced bigger and quicker players representing a Power 5 opponent.
But the Falcons weren’t swallowed up as Air Force beat Colorado 30-23 in overtime on the Buffaloes’ field in Boulder.
“In the Colgate game, we were physical and did what we needed to do,” Vikupitz said. “Against Colorado, we had to do that against bigger and better guys in the Pac 12. We felt we did exactly that. We had some missed assignments and fumbles, but we overcame adversities. We kept the ball moving and scoring.”
Air Force frequently throws an upset scare against a Power 5 school, although Colorado was its first such victim since defeating Georgia Tech in the 2010 Independence Bowl.
In 2017 at Michigan, the No. 7-ranked Wolverines were a 23-point favorite, but they needed 13 unanswered points in the final 18 minutes for a 29-13 victory. How do the Falcons do it?
“We come out with that chip on our shoulder,” Vikupitz said. “We’re not afraid to be the underdog. When you line up across from a guy bigger than you that wants to hit you in the mouth, you have to have the mentality to get after it.”
Colorado isn’t an Oklahoma-like college football blue blood, but the Buffaloes have long played among the nation’s elite conferences from their Big Eight and Big 12 days alongside Oklahoma and now in the Pac-12. The only difference is the conference realignment within College Football Playoff system led to a Power 5 label.
But now that the Falcons open Mountain West play, that doesn’t necessarily mean facing an easier opponent. Air Force (2-0) plays No. 20-ranked Boise State (3-0) Friday night on the blue carpet of Albertsons Stadium.
Colorado hasn’t been ranked this season and has no points in Associated Press voting; it had climbing to 21 points equal to No. 32 before the Air Force loss.
“Beating Colorado was a big confidence boost, but like every game you can’t let it go to your head,” Vikupitz said. “We celebrated Saturday, but we have to move on. We have an even bigger and bigger opponent in Boise. They’re the top dog in our division. We’ll talk about the Colorado game after the season.”
The Falcons, picked second to Boise in the Mountain West Mountain Division by Phil Steele’s College Football magazine, can stick to grinding the ball on the ground with their option offense against Colgate and lesser MWC foes, but they need pass plays as a threat to beat strong programs.
Although Vikupitz and his offensive line teammates couldn’t toy with the Buffaloes as they did Colgate, they did enough to open holes for Kadin Remsburg to record career highs in carries (23) and yards (146) with one touchdown, provide time for quarterback D.J. Hammond to complete 7-of-12 passes for 155 yards and for Ben Walters to get behind the secondary for an 81-yard catch-and-run to the end zone and Geraud Sanders a 32-yard scoring play.
“At first teams overload the box and try to stuff the run,” Vikupitz said. “If they don’t’ think we can throw, we can get Sanders and Walkers open and D.J. to make big-time throws. It’s good to have a dual threat. Teams can’t play just the run.”
Vikupitz made it to the center of the Air Force offense through perseverance that is common among academy offensive linemen. He didn’t play his first two years. His junior year he broke into the playing rotation for 11 games and seven starts.
This season he’s the lone senior on the offensive line with four juniors around him.
“I was a little naïve when I came here my freshman year,” Vikupitz said. “We had some good players in front of me and this is a complex offense to learn. But I kept working and then they switched me to center. If you’re good enough to play they’ll find a spot for you. It’s been a long journey, but I knew I had to keep my eye on the horizon. It pays off to keep working and wait.”
He waited long enough for a chance to push around more highly recruited Colorado players.
* * *
I invite you to follow me on Twitter @shanny4055
Tom Shanahan, Author: Raye of Light http://tinyurl.com/knsqtqu
— Book on Michigan State’s leading role in the integration of college football. It explains Duffy Daugherty’s untold pioneering role and debunks myths that steered recognition away from him to Bear Bryant.
http://shanahan.report/a/the-case-for-duffy-and-medal-of-freedom
Don’t believe the myths at Duffy Daugherty’s expense about Bear Bryant’s motivation to play the 1970 USC-Alabama game or myths about the Charlie Thornhill-for-Joe Namath trade. Bear Bryant knew nothing about black talent in the South while he dragged his feet on segregation.
http://www.shanahan.report/a/forty-four-underground-railroad-legacy-facts
http://shanahan.report/a/myths-that-grew-out-of-1970-alabama-game-with-usc
http://shanahan.report/a/mystery-solved-in-thornhill-and-namath-myth
David Maraniss, Pulitzer Prize winner and biographer; “History writes people out of the story. It’s our job to write them back in.”
Make sure you follow the All Sports Discussion Twitter account at @AllSportsDACC and please like our Facebook Page
Leave a Reply