Confidence intact, Cougars say

Provo » Two weeks ago, it was assumed that the BYU Cougars were facing a difficult game and a not-so-tough one to start the month of November, followed by the two season-ending showdowns with always-difficult Air Force and Utah.

That happened, but not in the order most anticipated.

The Cougars (8-2), who are ranked No. 19 in the latest Associated Press Top 25, blew out the team they were supposed to struggle with, Wyoming, and struggled with the team they were supposed to blow out, New Mexico.

So what happens now?

The players say they will need a performance similar to the one against Wyoming, now 5-5, rather than the sloppy outing against New Mexico (0-10) if they hope to ground the Falcons (7-4), who have to be brimming with confidence after rolling up 557 yards in a 45-17 win over UNLV on Saturday.

Air Force is "a totally different team," defensive end Jan Jorgensen said. "We have to come in this week and put that [New Mexico] game behind us, and turn to Air Force. Because what they run is completely different than what anyone else runs. Especially as a defense, we need to get ready to get out there and be ready to battle for 60 minutes against those guys."

Seemingly, the lackluster 24-19 win would nick most teams' confidence, but quarterback Max Hall said the Cougars' faith in themselves is still intact.

"If anything, it is motivating," Hall said, after throwing

for 314 yards and two touchdowns against New Mexico. "We kind of got a kick in the butt. Now we gotta get better. So we can't take plays, days, games off. We will get better from it. I am actually kind of happy because I think we are going to learn from it, and we are going to finish off strong."

The Cougars have defeated Air Force five straight times, but this AFA defense is easily the best one they will have faced. It held UNLV to 282 yards in wintry Colorado Springs.

Meanwhile, the Air Force offense played arguably its best game of the season, albeit against a UNLV defense that hasn't been able to stop the run all season, including against BYU.

The Cougars will need a healthy Harvey Unga, who was held out of the last quarter and a half against New Mexico due to a sprained ankle.

For sure, BYU will be without one of its emotional leaders. Linebacker Terrance Hooks ruptured a patella tendon making a cut in open space and is lost for the season.

"Terrance is a great player," Jorgensen said. "And not only is he a great player, he's a great leader. He does a lot for our emotion out there, and just everything he does helps our team. We will miss him."

drew@sltrib.com