Aztecs Are Next Up to Face Air Force’s Passing Wishbone

Just when San Diego State thought it was getting a break from playing strong passing offenses, it may get a surprise from the Air Force Academy this afternoon.

Though it is a well-kept secret, Air Force is as effective as any team in the country when it decides to pass.

In fact, Air Force quarterback Bart Weiss has the nation’s top passing efficiency rating at 177.2. However, Iowa’s Chuck Long is considered the national leader with a 166.3 rating because Weiss has not thrown enough passes (only 85 in eight games) to qualify.

Air Force (8-0) has gained a reputation as having one of the top wishbone offenses in the nation, which translates into a powerful running game. But anyone who thinks wishbone teams cannot pass has not been paying attention to the Falcons.

“In contrast to what a lot of people think, we feel the wishbone is a good passing offense,” Fisher DeBerry, the Air Force coach, said. “Most passing teams try to get one-on-one coverage. This is created by how you must defense the option.”

Air Force averages 11.5 passing attempts per game, but the Falcons are getting first-class results from their passing attack. They have averaged 6.6 completions per game and 20.6 yards per completion.

Of course, running is what wishbone teams do best. And few teams are as good as Air Force at running the wishbone.

The Falcons are second nationally in scoring and fourth in rushing. Quarterback Weiss, the team’s leading rusher, has run for more than 100 yards in each of the past four games.

“He is one of the best wishbone quarterbacks I’ve seen in years,” Brigham Young Coach LaVell Edwards said. “He runs that offense really well.”

Weiss rushed for 105 yards in last week’s 37-15 win against Utah. Johnny Smith netted 175 yards and Kelly Pittman added 115. It marked the first time Air Force has had three men rush for more than 100 yards in the same game.

What makes the wishbone so hard to defend?

More than anything, it is the element of surprise. A good wishbone quarterback is able to disguise who the ball carrier will be until the last instant.

Preparing for Air Force’s wishbone has not been easy for the Aztecs.

Rob Hawkins, SDSU’s scout team quarterback, attempted to simulate the Falcon offense in practice, but Hawkins is a dropback quarterback.

“It’s tough for teams to simulate the offense we show them,” Weiss said. “And they get frustrated after a while during games. They’ll do their assignments, but they can’t find the ball.”

SDSU’s defense will be trying to right itself after allowing 88 points the last two weeks. But it won’t be easy against Air Force’s best offensive team in history.

The Falcons have scored 322 points in eight games, needing only 38 points in their final four games to break the school scoring record. They also need six more touchdowns to break the school record of 48 set in 1970.

Air Force has scored 31 touchdowns by rushing, 7 by passing and 5 on returns.

DeBerry said it is difficult for pass-oriented teams such as SDSU to defend the wishbone.

“It’s tough to change gears going from teams that pass 30 to 50 times a game to a team that depends more on the run,” he said. “The wishbone is something that’s unique.”

Especially considering what Air Force does with it.

“People say the wishbone is out of style,” Aztec Coach Doug Scovil said. “Look what Air Force is doing with it. I know of a minimum of five teams that have gone to the wishbone this year.”

Considering Air Force’s success, the wishbone may turn into the college offense of the late 1980s.

Aztec Notes Air Force’s current 11-game winning streak is the longest in school history. The Falcons are among four undefeated teams in the nation. The others are Bowling Green (8-0), Iowa (7-0) and Penn State (7-0). . . . Bart Weiss of Air Force is 14th nationally in total offense. Mark Simon is second in punting, Kelly Pittman is tied for ninth in scoring and Scott Thomas is 11th in punt returns. . . . Tom Ruby has been successful on 41 straight extra point attempts for the Falcons. . . . Chris O’Brien of SDSU has made 17 straight field goal attempts, a Western Athletic Conference record. Fisher DeBerry said he thinks O’Brien could kick a 70-yard field goal in the high altitude of Colorado Springs. . . . Todd Santos, the nation’s No. 6 passer, will start at quarterback for SDSU. Jim Plum started last week’s 49-37 loss to Oregon, playing the first 23 minutes. Santos came on to pass for 398 yards and 4 touchdowns. The two quarterbacks set a single-game school record when they combined to complete 40 passes. . . . SDSU has gained more than 500 yards in four of its last five games. Even so, it has lost three straight. . . . Doug Scovil on this week’s game plan: “We know we need a running game. We can’t just drop back and pass every time. We’ll have to out-execute them, and that’s not easy to do. If we tighten up on defense, it could be a close ballgame.” . . . Nose tackle Levi Esene will miss his sixth straight game with a dislocated elbow. After great deliberation, the Aztecs now are expected to redshirt Esene. Fullback Corey Gilmore was also left behind with a hamstring injury. . . . Air Force has a 4-1 series lead over SDSU. The Aztecs’ only win was in 1980 by a 13-10 score. Claude Gilbert was SDSU’s head coach at the time.