{"id":26653,"date":"2019-09-18T06:52:40","date_gmt":"2019-09-18T10:52:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/allsportsdiscussion.com\/?p=26653"},"modified":"2019-09-18T20:10:06","modified_gmt":"2019-09-19T00:10:06","slug":"a-week-after-knocking-off-power-5-foe-air-force-faces-tougher-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allsportsdiscussion.com\/2019\/09\/18\/a-week-after-knocking-off-power-5-foe-air-force-faces-tougher-test\/","title":{"rendered":"A week after knocking off Power 5 foe Air Force faces tougher test"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Air Force center Connor Vikupitz and his offensive line teammates opened the season pushing around Colgate\u2019s smaller defenders en route to routing the Football Championship Subdivision school, 48-7.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

But the Falcons weren’t swallowed up as Air Force beat Colorado 30-23 in overtime on the Buffaloes\u2019 field in Boulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the Colgate game, we were physical and did what we needed to do,\u201d Vikupitz said. \u201cAgainst 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe come out with that chip on our shoulder,\u201d Vikupitz said. \u201cWe\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colorado isn\u2019t an Oklahoma-like college football blue blood, but the Buffaloes have long played among the nation\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

But now that the Falcons open Mountain West play, that doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

Colorado hasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeating Colorado was a big confidence boost, but like every game you can\u2019t let it go to your head,\u201d Vikupitz said. \u201cWe celebrated Saturday, but we have to move on. We have an even bigger and bigger opponent in Boise. They\u2019re the top dog in our division. We\u2019ll talk about the Colorado game after the season.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Falcons, picked second to Boise in the Mountain West Mountain Division by Phil Steele\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Although Vikupitz and his offensive line teammates couldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first teams overload the box and try to stuff the run,\u201d Vikupitz said. \u201cIf they don\u2019t\u2019 think we can throw, we can get Sanders and Walkers open and D.J. to make big-time throws. It\u2019s good to have a dual threat. Teams can\u2019t play just the run.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vikupitz made it to the center of the Air Force offense through perseverance that is common among academy offensive linemen. He didn\u2019t play his first two years. His junior year he broke into the playing rotation for 11 games and seven starts.<\/p>\n

This season he\u2019s the lone senior on the offensive line with four juniors around him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a little na\u00efve when I came here my freshman year,\u201d Vikupitz said. \u201cWe 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\u2019re good enough to play they\u2019ll find a spot for you. It\u2019s been a long journey, but I knew I had to keep my eye on the horizon. It pays off to keep working and wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

He waited long enough for a chance to push around more highly recruited Colorado players.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

I invite you to follow me on Twitter @shanny4055<\/a><\/p>\n

Tom Shanahan, Author: Raye of Light http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/knsqtqu<\/a><\/p>\n

— 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.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/shanahan.report\/a\/the-case-for-duffy-and-medal-of-freedom<\/a><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t believe the myths at Duffy Daugherty\u2019s expense about Bear Bryant\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.shanahan.report\/a\/forty-four-underground-railroad-legacy-facts<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/shanahan.report\/a\/myths-that-grew-out-of-1970-alabama-game-with-usc<\/p>\n

http:\/\/shanahan.report\/a\/mystery-solved-in-thornhill-and-namath-myth<\/a><\/p>\n

David Maraniss, Pulitzer Prize winner and biographer; “History writes people out of the story. It’s our job to write them back in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Raye of Light: Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, The Integration of College Football, and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans<\/a><\/p>\n

Make sure you follow the All Sports Discussion Twitter account at\u00a0@AllSportsDACC<\/a>\u00a0and please like our\u00a0Facebook Page<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
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