Falcons fall in triple overtime

  • Published
  • By John Van Winkle
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  A quarterback’s slip on the turf and a tight end’s first career pass led to the Air Force Academy’s third loss of the season, as the University of Utah edged the Falcons 45-43 in triple overtime Nov. 1.

Entering the third overtime period, the Falcons held the ball first. Driving down to the 4-yard line, halfback Anthony Butler dove in for the touchdown, putting the Falcons up 43-37.

NCAA rules require teams to go for a two-point conversion, once the game reaches the third overtime period.

The Falcons went option left with quarterback Chance Harridge carrying the ball.

But Harridge, who had already run for three touchdowns and passed for a fourth, slipped on the ice-soaked grass as he tried to cut upfield with a clear path to the end zone in sight.

“The way we had the blocking set up, he could’ve walked into the end zone,” said Fisher DeBerry, Falcons head coach. “He goes in the end zone if he doesn’t slide. It’s the turn that got him.”

The Falcons were up by only six as Utah began its overtime possession.

When Utah got the ball for the next series tight end Ben Moa scored the tying touchdown run, then lined up for a direct snap in an empty backfield. As he lined up, the sophomore saw a run-heavy Falcon five-man front with three linebackers in tight.

Moa tucked the ball low and stepped forward as if to run. Then he stopped and lobbed the ball over the dueling linemen to open tight end Matt Hansen for the two-point conversion and the Utah win.

“We played what we thought they had success doing,” DeBerry said. “Moa had lined up and taken the direct snap several times, running for 26 yards and three touchdowns, but had never even hinted at passing the ball,” he said.

“You've got to give the Utah team a lot of credit. They certainly made a lot of plays there whenever they had to,” DeBerry said. “Not many people come in here and beat us, especially in triple overtime.”

The loss drops the Falcons to third place in the Mountain West Conference standing with a 3-2 conference record and 6-3 overall. Utah moved into first place, followed by New Mexico. Utah and New Mexico each have a single conference loss with two MWC games remaining to help decide the conference title.

“I don’t think we helped ourselves today, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of it. We’ve just got to take care of business,” DeBerry said about the MWC title. “(There are) a lot of people who say the winner of this conference could have two losses -- and that’s a distinct possibility.”

The Falcons next host service academy rival Army on Nov. 8. The Falcons wrap up the regular season with away games against conference foes New Mexico and San Diego State.