Air Force Academy – Air Force players were thinking about a numbers crunch Sunday and not about the loss to Navy at Falcon Stadium the day before.
The Falcons’ 24-17 loss ended their hopes of winning the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, but it brought into focus other challenges for the rest of the season.
The first comes Thursday night when the Falcons (2-2, 2-0) host Front Range rival Colorado State (4-1, 1-0) in a Mountain West Conference game.
The Falcons haven’t been to a bowl game since 2002, and they have a ways to go to become eligible for a bowl game this year. But already being 2-0 in the MWC certainly helps.
“My goal in college football was to play in at least one bowl game, and I’m going to do everything in my power to personally get that and for the team, too,” AFA junior safety Bobby Giannini said. “With two losses in four games already, each game is very pivotal, especially in conference play. If we win enough games in conference, the bowl will come.”
Air Force has eight games left, including six in the conference, and needs four more victories to become bowl-eligible.
Coach Fisher DeBerry wasn’t in a mood for any bowl speculation Sunday as the Falcons returned to the practice field.
“Nothing has been said about a bowl,” DeBerry said. “The only bowl game we have is CSU. I told our team the other night that we lost a round, but we have eight rounds to go. We lost a game, but that doesn’t mean we’re a bad team.”
But the Falcons have a job to do in curbing their own doubts.
“The last couple of years we’ve spiraled down after a big loss,” Giannini said. “I think we’re going to fight back this year. I took the loss to Navy pretty hard. … It will be hard to get rid of that loss, but we have to and focus on the conference race.”
Air Force’s senior class went 0-4 against the Midshipmen but can finish 2-2 against CSU with a win Thursday.
“We know every game is a pivotal game for us,” quarterback Shaun Carney said. “We’re still very positive. I never like playing a Thursday game after a Saturday game. We had an emotional loss, but it’s over. We don’t have time to sit around and mope about it.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
EYE ON … The Rams
For the record: CSU 4-1, 1-0 in the Mountain West Conference
Streaking: The Rams are off to their best start since 2002.
Who’s hot: Junior quarterback Caleb Hanie ranks 20th nationally and is second in the MWC in pass efficiency with a 154.4 rating. He’s thrown four touchdown passes in the past two games.
Who’s not: Sophomore kicker Jason Smith is 2-of-5 on field-goal attempts.
Key stat: CSU averages a five-minute advantage in time of possession.
FYI: CSU has rushed for only 412 yards, but opponents have combined for 375.
Injury report: Senior guard Josh Day (ankle) and junior cornerback Joey Rucks (ankle) are questionable.
Coachspeak: “I don’t think we’ve played this well (on defense) since I’ve been here.” – CSU coach Sonny Lubick
– Natalie Meisler
