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Air Force fails on last-minute 2-point conversion, loses 42-41 to Toledo
Back-and-forth Military Bowl goes to Rockets over Falcons
WASHINGTON – David Baska leaned against the wall outside Air Force’s locker room, wondering aloud what more he could have done in Air Force's 42-41 loss.
Baska is Air Force’s punter, holder on extra points and one of the Falcons’ most athletic players. During the week coach Troy Calhoun let the players know, if there was a chance late in the Military Bowl to go for a 2-point conversion and the win, they were running a fake extra point.
Toledo’s tendency was to shift to the right side of the kicking team, so the Falcons would run left. Kicker Parker Herrington’s only job was as a decoy, to make the outside linebacker go wide with him. Baska wasn’t supposed to pitch the ball – it was all on him.
With 52 seconds left, Air Force scored a touchdown to cut Toledo’s lead to 42-41 and called the fake, but Baska never made it. Toledo defensive end Jayrone Elliott came flying from the middle of the formation, hit Baska and knocked the ball loose before he could dive and stretch for the end zone. The ball rolled to Herrington, who was all by himself. He reached out for the ball, knocked it down with his hand and inadvertently kicked it.
The ball rolled painfully to the sideline and out of bounds, giving Toledo a thrilling victory Wednesday at RFK Stadium.
“We knew we were going to run it. And I didn’t make the play,” Baska said. “It’s my responsibility to get in the end zone. The coaching staff and my teammates trusted me. You’re down by one and they trust you to make the 2-point conversion. I lost the game.”
Baska took the loss hard, but he was a victim of a great play. Toledo lined up eight players to the right of Air Force’s left guard, which is what the Falcons were banking on. There were only three defenders in the area the Falcons wanted to run Baska through. But Elliott sniffed out the play from the middle of the defense, running down Baska.
“I thought we had an excellent chance to maybe seal it and win the game right there,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said. “It didn’t work out.”
There was plenty more to game than the play, or even the call by Calhoun to go for the win in regulation. The Falcons made plenty of mistakes to dig a hole, but also refused to go away.
Air Force trailed 14-0 and 21-7, thanks to some special teams gaffes, but rallied to tie the game at halftime. When Toledo returned a third-quarter interception for a touchdown, Air Force came right back and tied it on fullback Mike DeWitt’s second touchdown.
Toledo receiver Bernard Reedy ran through missed tackles by cornerback Josh Hall and outside linebacker Jamil Cooks for a 33-yard touchdown with 5:01 left in the fourth quarter to put Toledo ahead by seven. Air Force had one more comeback in it.
The Falcons’ 12-play, 78-yard drive featured completions for first downs by Jefferson on third and 11 and fourth and 5 and a 33-yard touchdown to Zack Kauth on fourth and 3. Then came the 2-point try that will be discussed for a long time.
The Falcons finish the season 7-6, and while the loss was heartbreaking, the players were proud in defeat.
“We gave it our all,” safety Jon Davis said. “I’m glad we didn’t go and lay down on the ground. We played great football. We just messed up a couple times.”
“We’re a little disappointed by the outcome, but we have a lot to be proud of,” senior receiver Jonathan Warzeka said. “This group of seniors, it was an honor to play with them.”
