Nov. 16, 1999

Nov. 16 - COLORADO SPRINGS - A game of 94 yards rushing and 84 passing by junior quarterback Mike Thiessen against Nevada-Las Vegas didn't just look good to fans of Air Force football.

The performance caught the attention of AFA coach Fisher DeBerry as well. The result? Thiessen will be the Falcons' starter Thursday night at Colorado State, a key Mountain West Conference game ESPN will televise.

Thiessen has overtaken senior Cale Bonds for the job.

"We thought Mike Thiessen came into the UNLV game and had an outstanding performance,'' DeBerry said Monday, referring to Air Force's 35-16 beating of the Rebels on Saturday.

After replacing Bonds during the first quarter of the UNLV game, Thiessen guided the Falcons to touchdowns on three of his first four possessions. The Falcons (6-3, 2-3 MWC) finished with their most points this season against a Division I-A opponent.

"Mike deserves the opportunity to start (at CSU),'' DeBerry said. "Mike right now is probably a little more physical player than Cale, because Cale still isn't quite 100 percent. We feel that a player has to be a 100 percent to participate in a game that will be of the physical prowess this one shapes up to be. Cale might play some in the game, but I won't go on record as I did a couple of weeks ago and say our backup quarterback will play in the (next) game.''

The Rams (6-3, 3-2) still are in the race for the first MWC title.

"I really don't know yet exactly how I feel about it,'' Thiessen said about DeBerry's decision. "I'd say it gives me a little bit more confidence. I'm feeling a little bit more that it's my team. I think I've had enough playing time by now to know what to expect and the team knows what to expect from me.''

Bonds, a Cherry Creek High School graduate, started the Falcons' first four games, against Villanova, Washington, Wyoming and San Diego State.

Thiessen took over when Bonds injured an ankle during the second quarter of the SDSU game. Thiessen (1-2 as a starter) made starts against Navy, Utah and Brigham Young. Bonds (5-1) returned to start against Army and UNLV.

"I'm the guy there now,'' Thiessen said. "It's a lot different this way. Just having game experience has made me a better player.''

Despite playing in just seven games, Thiessen is third in MWC rushing. He's averaging 97.6 yards per game. CSU's Kevin McDougal (106.4) leads the MWC.

"CSU is a real physical football team,'' Thiessen said. "I think they'll be a lot like BYU ... really big up front, fast, good players in the secondary. We seem to be in a dogfight every time we play them.''

Bonds took in stride DeBerry's decision to start Thiessen at CSU.

"I want to be on the field, but at the same time I want to win,'' Bonds said. "Coach feels Mike is moving the team better right now, and you have to go with that.''

Bonds followed CSU's Matt Newton as the quarterback at Cherry Creek. Thiessen's promotion will keep the former Bruins from starting against each other in a game the Falcons and Rams need to win to preserve hopes of a bowl bid.

"It really has no bearing on the game,'' Bonds said, referring to his Cherry Creek ties to Newton. "It doesn't matter. That's not my focus. Right now, I'm just getting ready to play. It's a great rivalry. It's one of the reasons why we formed a new conference.''