It was always going to be difficult to come close to matching the, uh, magnificence of last year’s Cheez-It Bowl but the 2019 edition is doing its best in the biggest contrast of styles college football has to offer.
Air Force’s option offense soaked up clock and churned up the yards to take a 17-14 lead over Washington State at halftime of a game that was every bit as fun as expected coming in.
The Falcons set the tone early, making a goal line stand on 4th down defensively and then turning right around and putting together what might have been the drive of the year. In something fit for a museum, the offense went 20 plays, 98 yards and took 12:23 off the clock before D.J. Hammond III eventually plunged in for the touchdown. The triggerman completed two of his six passes for 12 yards and a pick but was naturally more effective on the ground in rushing for 27 yards and making a number of nifty pitches. Kadin Remsberg was the leading rusher with 91 yards on 12 carries as the flexbone was stopped just once in the first half in the closing seconds.
Wazzu hung around though as Mike Leach’s Air Raid attack predictably moved the ball quickly even if their defense was on the field over 21 minutes. QB Anthony Gordon was already up to 194 yards and two touchdown throws while all-purpose threat Max Borghi being limited to a single yard on two touches might have been the upset of the game so far.
Expect plenty of fireworks either way from Chase Field down the stretch as two polar opposite philosophies battle it out in the Valley of the Sun to all of our enjoyment.
