Thiessen runs right on the option. He’s going to take it himself,and he’s tackled for a gain of seven.
The scene is Qualcomm Stadium, during last season’s San DiegoState-Air Force game.
Thiessen on the option. Goes right, and he’s brought down for again of nine.
The SDSU players know what’s coming next. So do the coaches andfans. Even the cheerleaders.
Thiessen options right, and he breaks through. He’s finally out ofbounds for a gain of 15.
Despite knowing what is coming, the Aztecs seem powerless to stopit. The result: a 23-22 Falcons victory, with backup quarterback MikeThiessen running for 134 yards, mostly on the option, including twotouchdowns.
Fast forward to the 2000 season and this weekend, when SDSUtravels to Colorado Springs, Colo. to take on Air Force again. Thanksto last week’s bye, the Aztecs have had two weeks to prepare for theFalcons.
Can you guess what they’re focusing on?
“Our focus is attacking the option,” said defensive tackle JeromeHaywood. “We’re going to give them the respect they deserve, butwe’re not scared, and we’re not going to let up for them.”
The Falcons run four different variations of the option, and SDSUhas been preparing vigorously for each type.
“We’re giving each one the credit that it needs,” Haywood said.”We’re confident we can stop it, and we’re going to prove it onSaturday.”
Stopping the option is a major component of stopping the explosiveAir Force offense, which ranks 20th in the nation in scoring averageat 33.9 points per game. Thiessen, the second-stringer who stepped infor an injured Cale Bonds in the second quarter of last year’s game,is the starter now. He’s also the team’s leading rusher with 623yards and nine touchdowns.
But he’s also thrown for 1,536 yards and 12 touchdowns, againstjust four interceptions. Five of those touchdowns were to widereceiver Ryan Fleming, who has caught 48 balls for 889 yards thisseason.
This puts the onus on the Aztecs offense, which could be afrightening thing for SDSU fans. The offense has struggled to a mere13.6 points per game, 106th in the country. The running game, whichhas faltered repeatedly and is ranked 108th nationally, will get aboost as running back James Truvillion returns from the neck injurythat sidelined him against New Mexico two weeks ago.
“The neck is pretty good,” Truvillion said. “I’ve got full rangeof motion, and I’m planning on going. I wouldn’t quite say I’m 100percent, but it’s close enough.”
Running back Garric Simmons rushed for 88 yards in the Lobos gamein place of Truvillion and the other injured Aztecs back, Larry Ned.But having Truvillion back is a tremendous boost, and the pressurewill be on him and quarterback Lon Sheriff to produce enough pointsto match Falcons’ attack.
Sheriff is confident it can be done.
“We just have to go out and put some points on the boardourselves,” Sheriff said. “I know our defense is going to play themtough. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Anyone who watched last weekend’s nationally televised AirForce-Colorado State game, which the Falcons won, 44-40, saw thenear-blizzard conditions in which the game was played. The currentforecast calls for below-freezing temperatures but no snow onSaturday. The cold might seem to give Air Force an advantage over theteam from sunny San Diego, but the Aztecs don’t seem to care.
“We just like to play football,” Haywood said. “If it’s snowing,that’s great. If it’s nice and sunny outside, that’s great. If it’s10 below, that’s great too.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Barring a hand recount in Florida, SDSU will not go to a bowl gamethis year, as they cannot win the required six games. Wins in theirlast two games would, however, make them second place in theconference.
That’s motivation enough for the Aztecs.
“We’re not going to quit,” Haywood said. “We’re going to give themour all, and we’re going to shut them down.”
— Staff Writer Jared Quient contributed to this report.
