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A gusty wind and a gritty freshman quarterback blew the Air Force Falcons off course Saturday.
Now, after a 25-17 loss to Wyoming in blustery conditions, the Falcons find themselves in a position where they need to win out to earn a fifth straight bowl berth.
There's no longer a margin for error.
''I hope we step up,'' linebacker Alex Means said. ''This is must-win, and if we lose, we go home. If we want a bowl game, it's go time. There's no more fooling around. This is a serious time.''
The Falcons (5-5, 1-4 Mountain West) have never missed the postseason since coach Troy Calhoun took over the program. But with two of their wins over Football Championship Subdivision teams, they need to beat UNLV next weekend and Colorado State on the road to extend their bowl run.
''Obviously, we can't lose from here on out,'' said backup quarterback Connor Dietz, who stepped in when starter Tim Jefferson left in the first quarter with a concussion. ''If it is me (who is the quarterback), I'm going to do my best to make sure something like today never happens again.''
Wyoming freshman QB Brett Smith ran for two touchdowns and threw for another against a stingy Air Force defense, lifting the Cowboys to a win in a howling wind that gusted to 60 mph.
''Was it 60? That's it?'' Smith said. ''I swear I've never played in something like that.''
Smith finished with 75 yards rushing and threw for another 139 as the Cowboys (6-3, 3-1) snapped a five-game skid against the Falcons.
It was so blustery at Falcon Stadium that the goal posts were teetering, tents in the parking lot were toppled and the traditional fighter jet fly-over was scrubbed.
The wind also affected the kicking game, with Wyoming's Daniel Sullivan missing an early extra point when the wind took it wide right and Air Force punter David Baska having a kick travel just 12 yards.
Trailing 17-12 early in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys went on a 16-play drive that ended with Smith's 2-yard TD run. He had kept the drive going by hitting Mazi Ogbonna over the middle to convert a fourth-and-10.
''That fourth down was huge,'' Falcons defensive back Jon Davis said. ''If we stop them there, the game's pretty much over. Who knows what happens after that? We have to get them off the field in that situation.''
The Falcons drove the ball deep into Wyoming territory, but Mike DeWitt's fumble was recovered by Mike Purcell with 1:47 remaining. Air Force got the ball back by spending its timeouts and forcing Wyoming to punt. The Falcons moved the ball to the Wyoming 34 in the closing minute only to be pushed back by an intentional grounding penalty.
On fourth down, Brandon Hirneise caught a pass and tried to lateral it to a teammate. The ball bounced around the turf before defensive back Marqueston Huff scooped it up and raced 48 yards for a score.
Huff also had an interception on Air Force's final offensive play, a last-ditch attempt down the sideline.
''Honestly, I was just in the right spot at the right time,'' Huff explained. ''That's really it.''
Although the Cowboys won their sixth game, they aren't bowl eligible yet because two of their wins are against FCS teams. Wyoming will host New Mexico next weekend.
''Was it big? Yeah, (the win) was huge,'' Wyoming coach Dave Christensen said. ''We turned the ball over a couple times and gave away some opportunities to score some points, but in the end, our kids won the turnover battle and found a way to win the football game.''
Dietz led the Falcons in rushing with 85 yards, but only attempted five passes - completing two for minus-1 yard - in the gusting wind.
Asher Clark ran for 84 yards, while DeWitt scored twice.
''It's very disappointing, and I take full blame in the loss,'' Dietz said. ''The offense didn't move the ball nearly as well as we should have. Any time you commit turnovers, that gives momentum to the other team. We've just got to be better with the ball.''
Former Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry was honored in a halftime ceremony commemorating his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame next month.
''I'm just humbled and honored to have been selected,'' DeBerry said.
He coached the Falcons from 1984 to 2006, winning a school-best 169 games.
Lately, DeBerry's former team has been in the news as a possible fit for the Big East Conference.
''The only constant thing in football right now is change,'' DeBerry said. ''It seems that the almighty dollar dictates a lot of what is being done and the considerations that are being made.''
