The game mirrored the season, Air Force was up big and let it slip away.

In a battle of Mountain West co-leaders, UNLV overcame a 17-point deficit to overtake the Falcons 31-27 and wrest control of the conference away on a day 40 seniors were honored in their final home game at Falcon Stadium.

The Falcons were once 8-0, ranked 17th nationally and in firm control of Mountain West. Now, they’ve dropped three in a row and will need a long list of things to fall perfectly in line to maintain any last flicker of hope to qualify for the championship game.

“College football is crazy,” said linebacker Johnathan Youngblood, who had one of two interceptions for the Falcons during a dominant first-half stretch. “So, we’ve just got

to put it behind us and focus on the next week. That’s all I’ve got to say.”

For two weeks, Air Force had floundered in a sea of turnovers and inability to establish its typically dominant running game. That changed in the first half. After brushing off a quick start from UNLV that included a 78-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Maiava to Ricky White on the second play, the Falcons overcame their own slow start (four consecutive three-andout possessions) and found their footing. They built a 24-7 lead late in the second quarter and piled up 257 rushing yards by halftime.

“We came out and did what we need to do the first half,” said tailback John Lee Eldridge III, who ran for a 55yard touchdown. “We were happy about that, but we weren’t satisfied. We needed to come out in the second half and finish the game and we just couldn’t get that run.”

Like the season, that magic became impossible to replicate down the stretch.

UNLV, behind 351 passing yards and 114 yards on the ground, stormed into the lead and stopped the Falcons short inside their 10-yard line in the final minute.

“They spilled their heart,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said when asked about his senior class. “They have helped us win a lot of games, certainly wish that would have been the case. Yet the other team played better than we did. It was a heck of a football game, but credit to UNLV.”

The Falcons were outgained 216-112 and outscored 17-0 in the second half.

“What a great performance by our kids, the way they responded,” UNLV coach Barry Odom said. “They made some adjustments and were having success. The kids, the toughness, the resolve, overcoming some penalties, overcoming adversity. Staying in the arena is what we’ve talked about since we got started. Let’s play 60 minutes. Tonight was a really good test of that.”

The victory doesn’t guarantee a spot in the championship game for UNLV (92, 6-1 Mountain West), but it leaves the Rebels in the driver’s seat as they close the regular-season against San Jose State.

“That’s been the goal,” Rebels linebacker Jackson Woodard said. “Winning’s everything. Next week, same goal and that will get us what we want.”

The Falcons (8-3, 5-2) were without their leading passer (Zac Larrier), rusher (Emmanuel Michel) and receiver (Jared Roznos) because of injuries.

Jensen Jones made his first start at quarterback and ran for 88 yards.

“This was an amazing opportunity,” said Jones, a senior. “I looked at all my brothers, senior day, everything. Of course we wanted it to go another way at the end there. I love all my brothers. We’ve just got to come together after this.”

Air Force also lost outside linebacker Bo Richter to a targeting penalty in the second half, meaning he will also miss the first half of the next game.

The Falcons would need a win next week at Boise State and a loss from Fresno State (the Bulldogs played late Saturday) to find a way into the conference championship. But even if that happened, they would travel for it.

The team had hoped to win out and earn the right to host the title game. Instead, this was the last time many will walk off this field.

“I will say that it’s an honor playing at this stadium,” said senior safety Trey Taylor, who recorded his team-high third interception of the season. “You never want to go out like that, but I’ve had so many good experiences and memories here and I’ll never forget those. It’s all about staying positive and keeping our heads up. I can’t talk about anything in the past anymore, it’s all in the future.

“We’ve got a big week ahead of us, but I mean, that was still a special night. The memories will never be forgotten.”