Far West Roundup : Air Force Strikes Back for a 24-7 Win Behind Its New Quarterback

Junior quarterback Jim Tomallo, in his first start for the Air Force, engineered three touchdown drives, while the Falcons’ defense, led by Tom Rotello, shut down Colorado State, 24-7, in a Western Athletic Conference game at Air Force Academy, Colo.

Tomallo, given the starting nod after sophomore Troy Calhoun failed to move the Falcons in last week’s loss to Wyoming, teamed with Albert Booker in the second quarter for a 13-yard touchdown pass to put Air Force ahead for good at 14-0.

Rotello tied the Air Force interception record with his 15th when he picked off a Kelly Stouffer pass at the Air Force seven late in the fourth quarter to stifle the last threat by the Rams.

Rotello also saved what appeared to be a touchdown when he made a shoestring tackle of Todd Tyrell, who had gathered in a 42-yard pass from Stouffer along the sideline.

The victory was Air Force’s third against one defeat, all in WAC play, while Colorado State fell to 2-2 overall, and 0-1 in conference play.

Air Force scored on its first possession, when Johnny Smith ran in from four yards out. The key play in the drive was a Tomallo to Smith pass for 29 yards to give the Falcons a first down on the Colorado State seven.

Colorado State cut the margin to 14-7 late in the third period when Steve Bartalo crashed over from a yard out, but the Falcons came back with two scores in the fourth period to clinch the victory.

The Falcons’ defense held Bartalo, who was shooting for his 22nd 100-yard game, to only 53 yards in 21 carries. Bartalo needed only 101 yards to become the WAC’s career rushing leader, but his longest run was 6 yards, and he was used only sparingly in the final quarter as the Rams were forced to pass.

Brigham Young 27, Temple 17--Steve Lindsley threw for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns to rally the Cougars at Provo, Utah.

BYU (3-1), rebounding from a 52-21 thrashing by Washington last week, held Temple scoreless in the final period while Lindsley brought the Cougars from a 17-14 deficit.

After a 55-yard kickoff return by BYU’s Mike O’Brien late in the third period, Lindsley fired a 15-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bellini with 1:30 remaining to make it 20-17.

Lindsley then led BYU on a 12-play drive, passing 31 yards to tight end Trevor Molini for the score, to make it 27-17 with 3:35 left.

Earlier, Lindsley connected with Dave Miles on a seven-yard touchdown pass. Lakei Heimuli scored BYU’s other touchdown on a one-yard dive over center.

For the game, Lindsley completed 25 of 33 passes and threw 2 interceptions.

Bellini had 5 receptions for 71 yards, and Molini gained 80 yards on 6 receptions. Defensive tackle Shawn Knight collected 2 of BYU’s 5 sacks.

Temple (2-2) was unable to provide adequate blocking for running back Paul Palmer, the NCAA’s fourth-leading rusher with a 158-yard average. On 19 carries against BYU, Palmer could manage just 67 yards.

It was only the second time in Palmer’s last 16 games that he was held under 100 yards.

Idaho 27, Eastern Washington 10--Scott Linehan threw for a career-high 415 yards at Spokane, Wash., as the Vandals (3-1) handed the Eagles (3-1) their first loss at home since Sept. 17, 1983.

Linehan, who completing 31 of 47 passes, had touchdown passes of 18 yards to Neosia Morris and 8 yards to Fred Lloyd. Morris finished with 10 receptions for 117 yards.

Nevada Reno 61, Montana State 10--The Wolf Pack’s Lucius Floyd rushed for a school-record 305 yards and 4 touchdowns at Bozeman, Mont., to break the school record of 293 yards set by the Raiders’ Frank Hawkins in 1978.

Floyd rushed 17 times and scored on runs of 68, 63, 56, and 2 yards.