Varsity has drops, but hits 59 points

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Aug 27, 2000 | by Meri-Jo Borzilleri

With a week to go before the season opener, Saturday's Blue- Silver scrimmage wasn't the gem it was hoped to be for Air Force.

That said, no one's worrying much. Coach Fisher DeBerry was about as upbeat a coach could be after watching his offense lose five fumbles (including one recovered by the scout team for a touchdown) and commit nine penalties in the final tuneup before the Falcons host Cal State Northridge on Saturday.

"If we don't correct that," DeBerry told the team, "we'll get our butts beat."

Yet this was a different DeBerry than the one with worry lines etching his face after last week's scrimmage, one that left him grumpy and fretting aloud about the secondary and the kicking game.

The coach's mood change, more than any stat sheet, provides a clue to the Falcons' state of mind as they enter their final week of preparation for the season. So does quarterback Mike Thiessen.

"We're ready to start strapping it up against other teams," Thiessen said.

Kurt Duffy, a senior on the unproven secondary, said the unit is starting to jell.

"We took a step closer today," Duffy said.

"Our defense for the most part never got caught out of position," DeBerry said.

The reason for all this optimism? Three hundred seventy-three yards of rushing offense helps. So does 169 yards passing and 59 points on the scoreboard, even if it was against the scout team.

Thiessen fumbled once and mistimed a pitch to backup halfback Bert Giovanetti that resulted in that end-zone fumble and touchdown for the scouts - their only score in a 59-7 win by the varsity.

"Turnovers were our big downfall today," Thiessen said. "But I don't see any problems with it. ... We threw the ball well, ran the ball well."

Still, DeBerry promised repercussions for mistakes.

"If we've got one or two guys costing us a lot of penalties, we're not going to play them," he said.

One penalty was assessed in the red zone, an area DeBerry has targeted.

"I didn't like that worth a dadgum," he said.

But Qualario Brown (one touchdown) is running like his old speedy self, linebacker C.J. Zanotti is nearing 1998 form, Thiessen is sharp.

"The proof of the pudding is playing," DeBerry said.

In other words, bring on the season.

- Meri-Jo Borzilleri may be reached at 636-0259 or merijo@gazette.com

Air Force

Blue 59

Silver 7

HIGHLIGHT: Mike Thiessen found perfection, going 6-for-6 passing for 91 yards and two touchdowns. He played little more than half the game but also was the second-leading rusher with 60 yards on seven carries, including a 45-yard run to open the game.