After a numbing 27-24 loss Saturday to Navy on a last-second field goal, doubts are creeping into the Air Force psyche.
Even coach Fisher DeBerry can’t say where his team is headed after falling to 2-4 and slipping toward a second straight losing season. If the Falcons can’t get on the positive side of the ledger in five remaining games, it will be the first time they have had consecutive losing records in DeBerry’s 22 years as head coach.
“We’re going back to work (today) and see where we go from there,” DeBerry said after the third straight loss to the Midshipmen. “When you win, you have to be humble. When you lose, you have to take it like a man. How this will impact our players, I don’t know.
“But I think I know them well enough that they will come back and fight hard the rest of the season.”
DeBerry’s team resumes Mountain West Conference play at 10 a.m. Saturday against Nevada-Las Vegas at Falcon Stadium. The Falcons are 1-3 in conference action.
After the Rebels, Air Force gets MWC leader TCU on Oct. 22 at Falcon Stadium.
Quarterback Shaun Carney said the team is playing for pride and the chance to be spoiler.
“All our goals we had for the season are gone,” Carney said, noting the Falcons are out of the conference race, and can’t regain the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy from Navy. “We have to play for ourselves.”
DeBerry was at a loss for words regarding his team’s problems after losing to Navy.
“I’d like to score 45 points every game, but it doesn’t happen. Give Navy credit,” DeBerry said.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
