Winning the last two games of the season is the priority for Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry, but he also has an interest in seeing reserve quarterback Jim Ollis in some meaningful playing time.
With the Falcons (4-6, 3-3 Mountain West Conference) in jeopardy of a third consecutive losing season, DeBerry mixed his attention on the present and the future Tuesday as he looked toward Friday’s game against UNLV (1-10, 0-7) in Las Vegas. The Falcons finish Dec. 2 at Texas Christian (8-2, 4-2).
Air Force hasn’t experienced three consecutive losing seasons since 1979-81, when the Falcons went 2-9, 2-9-1 and 4-7. The Falcons were 5-6 in 2004 and 4-7 last year.
“To win,” DeBerry answered when asked his priority for the two remaining games. “It always has been my priority, but if we get the opportunity, I’d love to play another quarterback.”
AFA junior Shaun Carney has started every game this year and 18 of 22 games in the past two seasons. However, the Falcons haven’t been able to wrest the Commander- in-Chief’s Trophy away from Navy, finish high in the Mountain West Conference race or play in a bowl game.
Carney has completed 62.4 percent of his passes this season for 937 yards and eight touchdowns. However, Carney has just 596 yards rushing in a year when DeBerry wanted to see his quarterback establish a stronger running game. Carney’s rushing total is second among the Falcons to junior halfback Chad Hall’s 699 yards.
Ollis, also a junior, has played in six games but has only 10 carries for 41 yards and is 2-of-6 passing for 23 yards.
DeBerry said a rash of injuries that have riddled the Falcons, especially on the defensive line, has allowed him to look at some young players, but out of necessity.
“We’re just trying to stay alive with the players we have,” DeBerry said. “We’ve had to play some players who weren’t even in our plans at the beginning of the season. I bet there’s not another team in the country that has lost 13 linemen. Most of the injuries were freak-type things. If Ohio State were to lose that many linemen, they’d be in big- time trouble.”
DeBerry added his team’s schedule might have taken a toll. The Falcons played only one game the first three weeks of the season, and finish against TCU after playing 11 consecutive weeks.
“That’s no excuse, but our players here have a little more to do than the typical college player,” DeBerry said. “About midyear, the academics can begin to creep up on you. If you don’t pick it up, you won’t be here the next semester.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
