Nov. 15, 1999

Mike Thiessen is uncertain if he'll start at quarterback for Thursday's showdown with Colorado State, but he certainly made a case for it in Air Force's 35-16 win over Nevada-Las Vegas on Saturday.

Thiessen has proven he can run - he came 6 yards short of his third 100-yard rushing performance of the season. Against UNLV, he also had his best day throwing since first filling in for an injured Cale Bonds on Oct. 2 against San Diego State.

Thiessen has thrown for more yards before, twice in losing efforts. But his arm has never been as deadly efficient as it was Saturday, when he completed 4-of-5 passes for 84 yards and one touchdown.

Air Force doesn't throw much, which might disappoint ESPN's national television audience Thursday night at Fort Collins in a game with serious bowl implications for both teams.

When Thiessen did throw Saturday, he meant business. His completions went for 24, 15, 16 yards and 29 yards. His only incompletion was tipped.

Colorado State, going into its bye weekend, was last in the Mountain West Conference in pass defense, allowing an average of 229.7 yards.

Don't think option-loving Air Force is going to turn pass-happy. But Thiessen showed how effective the Falcons can be in the air when the run is working.

It's effective for two reasons: defenses overplay the run, and they're more susceptible to the fake.

We're not sure if Thiessen's tried baseball's hidden-ball trick - he's a star shortstop for Air Force - but we've seen him make it work on the football field.

Exhibit A: Tight end Ken Chandler's 29-yard touchdown catch and run early in the third quarter. It came on a play-action pass, after Scotty McKay got 11 yards on an option play to the right side.

"We'd been running the triple-option to that side all game," Thiessen said. "All of a sudden we get a great fake, and the safety jumps and Kenny runs right by the guy. It doesn't get much easier than that."

Exhibit B: McKay's 40-yard dash down the right sideline for Air Force's first score. Like many well-executed option plays, this one looked ripe for disaster. Thiessen appeared swallowed up by three rushing UNLV defensive backs, but at the last moment, pitched the ball to McKay running outside.

Said Thiessen: "There was nobody out there left to get him."

On Thursday, Air Force hopes to make Colorado State repeat the disappearing act.