Air Force Falcons Encounter Second Straight Defeat Against Hawaii, Playoff Aspirations Fading
Air Force Falcons endured another setback as they suffered their second consecutive loss to Hawaii, significantly diminishing their hopes of making it to the playoffs. The Falcons, previously unbeaten with a No. 17 national ranking, had their dreams of a New Year’s Six Bowl shattered after a disappointing 27-13 defeat against the Rainbow Warriors on Saturday night. This defeat comes on the heels of a 23-3 loss to Army last week, marking a worrying trend for the Falcons.
The Air Force Falcons’ trademark playing style, which involves wearing down defenses with their offense and getting the opposition off the field with their defense, was absent in both games. Against Hawaii, they struggled to contain the Rainbow Warriors’ offense, allowing them to sustain drives that lasted over five minutes and more than nine plays until the fourth quarter when Hawaii punted for the first time. On the offensive end, the Falcons faced challenges with quarterback Zac Larrier suffering an injury early in the game, while fullback Emmanuel Michel and receiver Dane Kinamon were also absent throughout the night. The Falcons managed just one touchdown-scoring drive and committed four turnovers in the final five possessions.
The Falcons’ once formidable team has lost its spark, evident in their first-half performances. They have been outscored 36-6 in the opening halves of their two recent losses while also turning the ball over 10 times in the past two weeks. This drastic slump has left the team in a state of disappointment, with junior receiver Cade Harris admitting that the team may have taken their early success for granted and needs to refocus on their identity to finish the season strongly.
Hawaii’s quarterback, Brayden Schager, had an impressive outing, completing 22-of-29 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. He also contributed 57 rushing yards and a touchdown, further highlighting the challenges faced by the Falcons’ defense.
The loss effectively extinguishes any hopes of the Falcons reaching a New Year’s Six Bowl. However, they still have a chance to host the conference championship game as they are currently tied with UNLV atop the conference standings. Their upcoming game against the Rebels on Saturday at Falcon Stadium will be crucial for their aspirations.
The primary concern now lies in understanding what has led to this decline in performance for a team that was previously operating so effectively. Losing to teams they were expected to defeat comfortably by more than two scores has raised questions about the Falcons’ abilities. Safety Jayden Goodwin expressed his motivation to keep pushing forward, praising the team’s resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
The game against Hawaii took place at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex, with an attendance of 10,777 since the closure of Aloha Stadium in 2020.
Air Force senior Jensen Jones replaced the injured Zac Larrier and showed promise, completing 3-of-7 passes for 114 yards. However, he did throw an interception and lost a fumble. Jones also contributed 56 rushing yards on 14 carries, gaining valuable experience in the process.
The rushing attack for Air Force was led by Dylan Carson, who accumulated 87 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown run.
As the season progresses, the Falcons must find a way to regain their winning form and address the issues plaguing their performances. With the conference championship game still within reach, the team must come together and rediscover their winning formula.
