Nov. 30, 1999

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Two UNLV football players received 1999 All-Mountain West Conference selections, the league announced Tuesday.

Sophomore defensive back Kevin Thomas and junior punter Ray Cheetany were both tabbed Second Team All-MWC despite leading the league in their respective statistical categories.

Thomas (5-11, 180, Sacramento, CA) led the Mountain West in pass breakups this year with 24, shattering the school record of 18 set by Anthony Blue in 1984. He led the squad, finished fourth in the league and tied for 20th in the nation with five interceptions on the season, but fell to the second team behind four seniors.

His 52 tackles were seventh best on the team. Thomas also led the Rebels with two defensive touchdowns. Following his 49-yard interception return for a touchdown in the season-opener at North Texas, he waited until the final play for an encore in game two. His 100-yard fumble return against Baylor was only the third in NCAA history and the first to win a game. He was a first team All-MWC choice by Football News.

Cheetany (5-11, 170, Cedar Rapids, IA) took over the Rebels? punting duties in game three and quickly soared to the top of the conference. His 45.38-yards-per-punt average led the league and currently stands fifth in the nation. He boomed a 67-yarder, the longest for UNLV since 1995. A stunning 25 of his 65 punts (39 percent) have gone 50 yards or longer while he has placed 28 percent of his punts (18) inside the 20-yard line, including seven inside the 10. Six punts (nine percent) have traveled 60 yards or longer. He also handled the kickoff duties for the Rebels all season.

Colorado State senior Deone Horinek earned first team honors after finishing third in the conference in punting with a 42.0-yards per punt average on only 56 kicks.