Falcons shut out Wofford, 49-0

  • Published
  • By John Van Winkle
  • Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  Fullback Dan Shaffer dove one yard to score the go-ahead points and give head coach Fisher DeBerry his 150th career win in a 49-0 shutout of Wofford College on Aug. 30.

Shaffer returned from last year’s season-ending knee injury to score a career-high three touchdowns, as the Academy Falcon fullbacks ran for 170 yards and five touchdowns.

Junior fullback Adam Cole notched his second career touchdown, while freshman fullback Jacobe Kendrick crossed the goal line for his first career score and injured fullback Steve Massie got to douse his head coach with ice-cold water to celebrate the win.

Shaffer was also heavily into the celebration during each of his touchdowns.

“I was thrilled to death. I was jumping around like a little 8 year old who scored his first touchdown,” Shaffer said. “Usually, I’m pretty calm. I just give the ball to the ref, and go to the sideline with the team. It was awesome.

“Coach (DeBerry) is a great guy, great man, great coach,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of guys in the locker room who’d die for the man if he asked them. We know he’s been through it. We know he’s experienced and he knows what he’s talking about, and he’s a good motivator.”

For Shaffer, this game also marked a successful return from his knee injury.

"I don't think any of us realized the tremendous sacrifice he's made for this team,” DeBerry said. “I've never been around a guy who was any more determined to come back."

DeBerry’s 150th career victory came at the expense of his alma mater, where he played linebacker, flanker and defensive back during his collegiate years.

“I don’t care whether you play the Sisters of the Poor or you’re playing in Podunk Holler, whoever you’re playing, to shut a team out in modern-day college football … says an awful lot about our defense,” DeBerry said.

The academy defense limited the Wofford Terriers to 175 total yards, split evenly between their standard option-based running game and seldom-used passing attack.

“We were hunting and pecking on offense all game and could not be consistent," said Wofford head coach Mike Ayers. "You give Air Force the ball too many times, and they are going to grind you and wear you down."

The Falcons, looking to extend their national rushing title of last season, ran 74 times for 380 yards, and added 89 passing yards to their offensive production.

But before Shaffer, Cole, Kendrick or the rest of the Falcons went to watch the game film, DeBerry already knew a few areas his team needed to work on.

“One thing we need to improve on is getting a better start in the ball game than we did,” he said. “I’d like to get started a little faster in the game.”

The Falcons did not score until Shaffer plunged across the goal line from one yard out, just in the second quarter.

DeBerry said the team can improve in production of penalties. The Falcons had 26 yards marked off for two false starts and one clipping penalty in the game. The coach will have the team work on those two things this week as they prepare for their Sept. 6 game at Northwestern University, DeBerry said.

“They came in here last year, and we embarrassed them, so they’ve got revenge on their minds,” DeBerry said.

Kickoff is noon CST at Ryan Field, in Evanston, Ill.