Air Force Academy
Tennessee Tech
Falcons Blank Tennessee Tech, 42-0
9/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept 8, 2001
By AARON J. LOPEZ
AP Sports Writer
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - Like piloting a stealth fighter, marching in formation and saluting superior officers, blocking kicks just seems to come naturally for Air Force.
The Falcons, who practice special teams as much as any team in the nation, blocked two field goals and a punt as they shook off an opening-week rout by beating Tennessee Tech 42-0 on Saturday.
Air Force (1-1) has blocked 71 kicks since 1990 and averaged nine blocks in the last four seasons.
"A lot of teams kind of take it for granted," defensive tackle Eric Thompson said. "Some teams, their starters will be out there and they kind of take it as a break. We take it as an opportunity."
The Air Force defense also provided a big boost, stifling Tennessee Tech's running game and handing the Golden Eagles (1-1) their first shutout since 1992 - a span of 89 games.
"Nobody likes to be shut out," Tech coach Mike Hennigan said. "That's an obvious thing that hurts a little bit."
Keith Boyea, making his second career start, accounted for five touchdowns for Air Force as the Falcons bounced back from last week's 41-point loss to No. 3 Oklahoma.
Boyea had touchdown runs of 1, 9 and 22 yards and threw scoring passes to Brian LaBasco and James Burns.
"I felt like I played well, but I threw a pitch on the ground and early in the game, I went the wrong way on a play," Boyea said. "When we play Utah next week, you can't do those things."
After the Oklahoma overdose, Air Force and Boyea welcomed a taste of Tennessee Tech, a Division I-AA team from the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Golden Eagles sustained a handful of drives and had several chances to keep their scoring streak in tact. The final chance came with 33 seconds remaining, but place-kicker David Collett missed wide-left on a 22-yard field-goal attempt.
"We needed a shutout as a defense," said defensive tackle Justin Pendry, who blocked Collett's other two attempts. "Last week, we didn't play that well overall."
Tennessee Tech's best threat came with Air Force leading 7-0 early in the second quarter. The Golden Eagles had first-and-goal at the 5 but turned the ball over on downs. Air Force responded with a 98-yard scoring drive and never looked back.
"With the game being a 7-0 ballgame, I think it's obvious that we had the ability to kick a field goal out there," Hennigan said. "But when you're playing a Division I opponent, how long do you think that you'll be able to stay that close? So you better go for it there."
After managing just 39 yards on four first-quarter drives, Air Force took command following its momentum-seizing goal-line stand.
The Falcons took over at their own 2-yard line and Boyea capped an 11-play drive with a 1-yard keep to give Air Force a 14-0 lead.
Tennessee Tech punted again four minutes later, and the Falcons methodically moved 85 yards in 11 plays just before halftime. Boyea made it 21-0 on a 9-yard run.
"Offensively, we saw some vintage option offense out there," Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry said. "Even though I realize that we were not playing the University of Oklahoma today, I thought we improved a lot from one game to the next."
Boyea threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to James Burns on Air Force's first drive of the second half, and he ended his day with a 13-yard TD throw to Brian LaBasco with 13:24 left in the game.
Boyea finished 11-for-15 for 164 yards, and he gained 73 yards on 18 carries.
Tennessee Tech had few superlatives. After rushing for 284 yards last week, the Golden Eagles were held to 62 yards.
"Our goal was to be a better football team when we left than when we came in here," Hennigan said. "That's kind of unknown."
