Air Force Academy – It would have been nice, as Air Force offensive coordinator Chuck Petersen said Sunday, but this time the Utah Utes didn’t cooperate on the last offensive play of the game as they did in 2001.
“I thought the same thing was happening,” Petersen said Sunday after the Falcons completed a short practice session. “Unfortunately it didn’t. It was really eerie. It was at the same part of the field. I’m sitting on the headset saying, ‘It’s going to happen again.”‘
The play Petersen and a number of Air Force players were talking about happened in the fourth quarter on a running play. Running back Darryl Poston carried the ball with the clock ticking dangerously close to 0:00 and the game tied 14-14. Poston was downed and the Utes (7-4, 5-2 Mountain West Conference) called timeout with three seconds left, allowing kicker Louie Sakoda to get on the field to make the game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired.
In 2001, a final play to get in better field-goal range ended with the Utes running out of time, with a boost from Air Force linebacker Anthony Schlegel knocking the ball carrier out of bounds as time expired allowing Air Force to win 38-37.
“We were talking about it,” sophomore defensive end Jake Paulson said. “We tried to do everything we could to keep the ball alive so time would run out. Everyone knew time was about to run out. They had that last timeout left and they did a good job executing that last play. It was close.”
After Utah took the timeout, the Falcons’ (4-6, 3-3) attention quickly turned to an attempt to block Sakoda’s field goal.
“We have a lot of confidence in our field-goal blocking team,” Paulson said. “We blocked two extra points against Notre Dame and we almost got a block on the field goal Saturday night.”
The loss was Air Force’s fourth this season by seven points or fewer.
“Close games are always nail-biters,” Paulson said. “Sometimes the ball rolls your way and sometimes, it doesn’t.”
Air Force gets back to the field a day earlier this week, playing Nevada-Las Vegas on Friday night in Las Vegas. Then it’s on to Texas Christian on Dec. 2.
The Falcons need victories in both to finish at 6-6, which would be the minimum wins required to be eligible for a bowl game.
EYE ON … The Rebels
AIR FORCE AT NEVADA-LAS VEGAS, 5 p.m., Friday
For the record: UNLV is 1-10 overall and 0-7 in the Mountain West Conference.
Streaking: Wide receiver Casey Flair has caught at least one pass in each of 22 games, and he has caught at least three passes in all 11 games this season.
Who’s hot: Kip Facer is seventh nationally in punting and leads the MWC at 45.2 yards per kick.
Who’s not: The Rebels’ running game has managed 100 yards only twice this season and needs 61 yards to avoid having the worst rushing season in school history.
Key stat: The Rebels have been outscored in the first and third quarters by a combined 191-23.
FYI: In Friday games, the Rebels are 5-1-1 all time.
Injury report: Star linebacker Beau Bell (ankle, questionable) has missed the last four games.
Coachspeak: “We climb the mountain but can’t get over it and always slip back.” – UNLV coach Mike Sanford, after the Rebels lost 34-26 to visiting Wyoming for their 10th loss in a row
EYE ON … The Horned Frogs
TCU AT COLORADO STATE, 5 p.m., Saturday
For the record: TCU is 8-2, 4-2 in the Mountain West Conference.
Streaking: TCU scored on eight straight possessions against San Diego State in a 52-0 victory.
Who’s hot: Quarterback Jeff Ballard completed 20-of-23 passes for 288 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns.
Who’s not: Hard to find a weakness in such a one-sided game, but TCU didn’t have a 100-yard rusher.
Key stat: TCU leads the Mountain West and ranks sixth nationally in scoring defense, giving up 12.5 points a game.
FYI: This is the first time CSU plays TCU at home since a 42-21 victory in 1998 and LaDainian
Tomlinson gained 36 yards on five carries.
Coachspeak: “He’s just one of those guys, because he’s not flashy, who surprises you.” – TCU coach Gary Patterson, on Ballard
– Natalie Meisler
