Query over Morgan’s ankle continues

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998 | 11:18 a.m.

If Air Force starting quarterback Blane Morgan has heard it once, he has heard it a hundred times this week.

"How's your ankle, Blane?"

Morgan, a 5-9, 192-pound senior who has compiled a remarkable 19-3 record as a starter for the Falcons, had to leave Air Force's Mountain Division-clinching 22-16 victory over Rice two weeks ago after reinjuring his sprained ankle.

And both Morgan and Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry say it could be a game-time decision on whether Morgan can start Saturday morning's WAC Championship game against BYU at Sam Boyd Stadium.

So Blane, how's your ankle?

"It's doing better than I thought it would be doing," Morgan said Wednesday. "It seems to be making progress."

Morgan, who was selected to the WAC Mountain Division's first team, was asked what percentage he felt his ankle was at.

"Right now, it's hard to put a number on it," he said. "But if there is any way I can possibly go, I'll be on that field on Saturday."

If Morgan, who has passed for 1,054 yards and nine touchdowns and run for another 528 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, can't go Saturday, the Falcons have a capable backup in junior Cale Bonds.

The 6-0, 155-pound Bonds was named the WAC's Mountain Division offensive player of the week after guiding Air Force to a 49-7 victory over Navy on Oct. 10. He also came off the bench to rally the Falcons in their come-from-behind win over Rice.

Despite his limited playing time, Bonds has put up some impressive numbers, completing 19 of 34 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 344 yards and three touchdowns on just 56 carries.

"He's really done a good job for us," Morgan said. "Last week (against Rice) he came in and put together a couple of key drives for us. He has been very consistent and continues to improve."

"Cale understands what we're doing," DeBerry said. "We think there's not a big dropoff between (Morgan) and Cale."

"It would be a loss for us if Blane can't play," Falcon running back Jemal Singleton said. "But I don't think our offense would slow down one bit because Cale Bonds can step right in. That's what keeps this offense going. If one guy goes down, we have another who can come right in and keep us going."