September 10, 1998
Current Record: UNLV (0-1, 0-0 WAC)
Opponent: AIR FORCE (1-0, 0-0 WAC)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 12, 1998
Kickoff: 7:05 pm PDT
Site: Sam Boyd Stadium (35,000/Artificial) Las Vegas
TV: None
Radio: KXNT-840 AM, 6:30 pm PDT (Tony Cordasco & Hunkie Cooper)
GAME PREVIEW UNLV (0-1, 0-0) opens its third and final Western Athletic Conference schedule by hosting the Air Force Academy (1-0, 0-0) this Saturday ... The Rebels are 21-9 in home openers (.700) ... UNLV is 0-2 in WAC openers but 8-8 all-time in league lid-lifters dating back to its joining the Big West Conference in 1982 ... UNLV is looking for its first win of 1998 after falling at Big Ten power Northwestern last week 41-7 ... The Falcons enter the game on a roll after debuting the season with a 42-0 home whitewashing of ACC member Wake Forest on national television ... AFA will make an appearance at Sam Boyd Stadium for the third straight year after playing in last seasons Las Vegas Bowl, a 41-13 loss to Oregon ... UNLVs 1998 National Champion golf team will be honored at halftime of this weeks game.
SERIES NOTES Although the two schools are in the same WAC quadrant, this is only their fourth-ever meeting and third in Las Vegas ... AFA leads the series 2-1 ... Air Force is the only service academy team UNLV has ever faced ... Both teams will leave the WAC next year to help form a new eight-team league ... The Rebels took a 24-21 decision over AFA in the teams first meeting on Nov. 21, 1981, in the then-named Silver Bowl. The Rebels closed out the season 5-6 behind Sam Kings 26-40 passing for 311 yards in what would be Head Coach Tony Knaps final home appearance ... 15 years later the Falcons evened the series by spoiling UNLVs WAC debut with a resounding 65-17 win at Sam Boyd Stadium ... Last year, UNLV took a 14-3 halftime lead and nearly pulled off the upset before being nipped 25-24 in what would have been the Rebels first-ever WAC road win ... In its 30-year history, UNLV has played four teams from the state of Colorado (AFA, Colorado State, Northern Colorado and Southern Colorado).
SERIES SCORES:
DATE SITE RESULT11-21-81 Las Vegas UNLV, 24-21 9- 7-96 Las Vegas AFA, 65-17 9-13-97 Colorado Springs AFA, 25-24
SERIES RECORD: AFA leads 2-1
LAST MEETING: 1997 (AFA, 25-24)
AFA at UNLV RECORD: 1-1
UNLV at AFA RECORD: 0-1
UNLVs BIGGEST WIN: 3 (24-21 in 1981)
AFAs BIGGEST WIN: 48 (65-17 in 1996)
INJURY UPDATE Head Athletic Trainer Kyle Wilson reports four Rebels who appeared on the preseason two-deep -- Amar Brisco, Brandon Ellena, Dusty Pearce and Mike Reily -- are again listed as Out for this weeks game because of injury. Also, two true freshmen -- DeJhown Mandley (Foot) and Allen Williams (Wrist) are out for the season and will redshirt.
Following is a list of injured players and their status for the Air Force game:
PLAYER, POS. (INJURY) STATUSAmar Brisco, DB (Knee Surgery) OutErnie Calanche, OL (Elbow Surgery) OutBrandon Ellena, OL (Knee Sprain) OutDeJhown Mandley, TE (Foot Fracture) Out-SeasonNick Palmer, WR (Arm Stress Fracture) OutDusty Pearce, LB (Knee Surgery) OutMike Reily, OL (Knee Sprain) OutAllen Williams, OL (Wrist Fracture) Out-Season
REBEL MEDIA POLICIES With UNLV opening its home campaign this week vs. Air Force, a note to all media: Rebel players are available for both phone and live interviews on Tuesday and Wednesday each week. Please remember that the team no longer practices on Mondays. Coach Horton is generally available throughout the week. Please call Football SID Mark Wallington (702) 895-4472 with any requests. Please Note: The team will practice either Wednesday or Thursday at Sam Boyd Stadium. As always, Friday home walk-throughs are not open to the media.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- (Sept. 13, 1997) -- AIR FORCE 25, UNLV 24 UNLV (0-2) opened its second year of WAC play as big underdogs on the road at powerful Air Force (3-0) and finished just a couple plays away from earning a stunning upset before falling 25-24. In what was its first-ever appearance at the Academy, UNLV took a 14-0 lead on two Jon Denton touchdown passes, including an 82-yard strike to Len Ware, and led 14-3 at halftime. The three points marked the lowest first-half output for a Rebel opponent since 1994. It was a blocked kick, however, that changed the game in the second half. With the score at 14-11, Falcon cornerback Tim Curry, who had already blocked a first-quarter field goal attempt, blocked Joe Kristosiks punt attempt and recovered it at the UNLV 8-yard line. The punt block, the first against UNLV since 1992, led to the Falcons go-ahead TD. UNLV responded with 10 consecutive points but AFA QB Blane Morgan led a 15-play scoring drive with under three minutes remaining to thwart what would have been the Rebels first-ever WAC road win.
GAME ONE IN REVIEW
WILDCATS WIN GOING AWAY IN SEASON DEBUT
REBEL WILLIAMS SETS SCHOOL RECEIVING RECORD
NORTHWESTERN 41, UNLV 7
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern preseason All-America wide receiver DWayne Bates had nine receptions for 156 yards and two scores as the Wildcats (1-0) scored 31 straight points in just over two quarters to defeat UNLV (0-1) 41-7. It was the first-ever meeting between the schools and NU was only the second Big-Ten team to ever take on UNLV. The Rebels fell to 16-15 in season debuts and just 3-10 on the road in opening games. UNLV fought toe-to-toe early as the Cats held just a 3-0 lead after the first quarter. Then after an NU score, UNLVs fifth-year senior quarterback Kevin Crook, making his fourth career start, hit Len Ware for a 77-yard touchdown to pull his team to within 10-7. That would be all the scoring for the visitors, however, as the Cats went on to post their most points in a season opener since 1962. Ware led the Rebels with 136 yards on eight catches while senior Damon Williams broke the UNLV record for career receptions by grabbing five balls for a total of 161.
HELLO, MY NAME IS... UNLV welcomed three new coaches to the sidelines this fall -- all on offense. That means the school boasts a completely new nine-man staff since Jeff Hortons first year in 1994. In fact, all but one current assistant is in his first or second year. Secondary coach Mike Bradeson is the veteran of the staff by heading into his third season with UNLV. This years Rebel rookies are:
POSITION COACH SCHOOL LEFTOffensive Coordinator Buzz Preston Washington StateWide Receivers DelVaughn Alexander USC Running Backs Tim Drevno Montana State
CAPTAINS NAMED For the second year in a row, UNLV will use permanent captains this fall. Six players -- three on offense and three on defense -- were voted on by the team. The 1998 Rebel captains are:
(Defense) (Offense)Greg Gales LB Senior Kevin Crook QB SeniorTalance Sawyer DE Senior Bubba Gonzalez C SeniorJames Sunia LB Freshman-RS Damon Williams WR Senior
ON THE OFFENSIVE.. Damon Williams became the schools career leader in receptions with 161 after catching five balls at Northwestern ... The senior broke the record of former Rebel great Henry Bailey, a Chicago native and current Pittsburgh Steeler, who was able to be in attendance vs. the Wildcats because of a season-ending injury ... With Len Ware picking up 136 yards last week, at least one UNLV WR has earned at least 100 yards receiving 13 times in the last 16 games ... UNLV has thrown for at least one touchdown pass in 21 of its last 22 games ... Wares 77-yard touchdown gave the junior his third score of more than 75 yards in three years ... Ware had an 82-yard touchdown in both of his first two years ... TE Sam Mineo, who earned second-team All-WAC honors in 1997, ranked 12th for receptions for a returning tight ends with 15 in 97 and was tied for 22nd for yards with 116 ... UNLV had six players, including quarterback Kevin Crook, record a rush at Northwestern but only four players posted a reception ... Senior WR Carlos Baker had his streak of games catching at least one pass snapped at 28 after being shut out at Northwestern.
FOR THE DEFENSE... The Rebels first interception of the year came from an unlikely source -- 290-pound senior defensive lineman Robin Maile, who made a nice play to grab a deflected pass at Northwestern ... 1998 Preseason honorable mention All-American DE Talance Sawyer, who led the WAC in tackles for loss last season with 18, had two last week against the Wildcats ... A pair of defensive backs led UNLV in tackles in the season opener: nickelbacker Randy Black recorded 14 while free safety Quincy Sanders totaled 13 takedowns.
SPECIAL (TEAMS) DELIVERY... Senior punter Joe Kristosik showed signs of returning to form after a down junior campaign. His 43.9 average at Northwestern came on eight punts and included a long of 57 ... Returning PK Tim OReilly led last years Rebels in scoring with 59 points and ranked 18th in the WAC with a 5.36 PPG average.
MESQUITE SHOOTING The UNLV football team spent its second consecutive fall camp in the town of Mesquite, Nev., which is located just over an hour northeast of Las Vegas on the Utah border. Nicknamed Camp Mesquite, the 12-day period sees the school move all of its preseason operations up the road to train at Virgin Valley High School and lodge at Si Redds Oasis Resort, this year until August 25. Training in Mesquite was the best thing we have done here as a program, Horton, who wants to make the trip an annual event, said. The people in Mesquite were awesome to us and we really came together as a football team. It will become more important as we improve each year as a program.
PARDON OUR DUST! 27-year-old Sam Boyd Stadium began undergoing renovations this summer as part of a year-long major project that will transform it into one of the nations top football facilities. More than $18 million is earmarked to overhaul SBS, including a new grass playing field, an expanded concourse and a state-of-the-art press box and luxury suites. Capacity will rise to 35,000 this year with the addition of north-end seating. Overall seating will be at 40,000 in time for the 1999 kickoff.
FRESH FACES Three true freshmen made their debuts for the UNLV vs. Northwestern: LB Bill Cofer, DL Laanui Correa and RB Joe Haro all got playing time vs. the Wildcats, mainly coming on special teams. Haro also recorded his first career carry -- good for one yard.
REMEMBERING WILDCAT The UNLV football team is dedicating its 1998 season to longtime supporter and UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame member Bill Wildcat Morris, who died this summer after a long illness. A round, black sticker with the initials BM now adorns the back of every players helmet. The Rebels practice field on campus has long been known as Bill Wildcat Morris Park.
CROOK GETS TIME With UNLV Head Coach Jeff Horton announcing on June 26 that former All-WAC quarterback Jon Denton would not be returning to the Rebel squad, fifth-year senior signal-caller Kevin Crook became the unquestioned starter. Denton, who was serving his second suspension and missed all of spring practice, transferred to Div. I-AA Eastern Kentucky during the summer and will have two years remaining. Crook, who started two games last fall during Dentons first suspension, finally will get his chance to run the Rebels over a full season.
UP YOUR SCHOLARSHIP NUMBERS The Rebels, who have been steadily rebuilding during Hortons four years, welcomed 78 scholarship players this fall just seven under the amount allowed per NCAA rules. Hortons 1994 squad listed just 55 scholarship players and last years number capped at just over 70.
THE CENTERS OF LAS VEGAS Senior center Bubba Gonzalez is starting at the position for the third consecutive year for UNLV, which marks the fifth-consecutive year a Gonzalez has lined up over the ball in Las Vegas. Bubba, who transferred to UNLV after one year at Saddleback Community College in California, followed in his older brothers footsteps. Jose Gonzalez was the starting center for the Big West Champion 1994 squad as well as the 1995 team.
PRO-REBEL FORCES Seven UNLV alumni were with NFL teams to open the season, including Henry Bailey who is on injured reserve for Pittsburgh after a season-ending injury in the exhibition season.
PLAYER POS CURRENT NFL TEAMHenry Bailey (ir) WR/KR Pittsburgh SteelersRandall Cunningham QB/P Minnesota VikingsCharles Dimry DB San Diego ChargersKeenan McCardell WR Jacksonville JaguarsLonnie Palelei OL New York GiantsJerry Reynolds OL New York GiantsKeith Washington DL Baltimore Ravens
FARM HANDY UNLV senior offensive guard Jerald Pierucci was named a member of the 1998 All-American Farm Football Team. Pierucci, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., was named to the first team by Successful Farming magazine in a story that appeared in the publications September 1 issue. Pierucci, who is a four-year starter on the Rebels offensive line, will have a $500 scholarship donated to the universitys general scholarship fund in his name. Only student-athletes who have a background in farming and or ranching were eligible. Pieruccis parents, Roy and Gail Pierucci own 1,500 acres of farmland in central California. The familys crops include cotton, grapes, almonds, carrots and sugar beets.
UNLV vs. AFA TENTATIVE TWO-DEEP
REBEL OFFENSEH 8 DAMON WILLIAMS (6-4, 225, SR-3L) 16 Duane James (5-9, 175, FR-RS)
LT 72 JOHN GREER (6-5, 290, SO-1L) 67 Robert Grundy (6-5, 315, JR-TR)
LG 64 JERALD PIERUCCI (6-5, 290, SR-3L) 66 Danny Pacheco (6-2, 295, SO-1L)
C 76 BUBBA GONZALEZ (6-2, 260, SR-2L) 66 Danny Pacheco (6-2, 295, SO-1L)
RG 71 GLENN PILAROWSKI (6-3, 295, JR-TR) 77 Blake Livingood (6-8, 330, SO-SQ)
RT 54 BRIAN HART (6-5, 280, SO-SQ) 71 Glenn Pilarowski (6-3, 295, JR-TR) TE 89 SAM MINEO (6-3, 250, SR-3L) 83 Mike Leatham (6-4, 230, SR-1L)
QB 5 KEVIN CROOK (6-3, 200, SR-3L) 11 Chris Hayward (6-4, 210, FR-RS)
WR (Z) 82 CARLOS BAKER (5-10, 195, SR-3L) 16 Duane James (5-9, 175, FR-RS)
WR (X) 3 LEN WARE (6-1, 185, JR-2L) 42 Sam Brandon (6-3, 180, SO-SQ) RB 33 JAMES WOFFORD (6-0, 200, SO-1L) 4 Coury Hankins (5-9, 185, JR-2L) REBEL SPECIALISTSKO 13 DANA BARSUHN (5-10, 175, JR-TR)PK 17 TIM OREILLY (6-0, 205, JR-2L)HOLD 5 KEVIN CROOK (6-3, 200, SR-3L)LS 83 MIKE LEATHAM (6-4, 230, SR-1L) REBEL DEFENSELE 10 RODERICK JONES (6-2, 235, JR-2L) 58 Laanui Correa (65-3, 230, FR-HS)
LT 98 TROY KIRKPATRICK (6-5, 255, SR-1L) 91 Robin Maile (6-1, 290, SR-1L)
RT 99 TED DARNELL (6-5, 270, SR-3L) 92 Derrick Monroe (6-2, 285, SR-3L) RE 9 TALANCE SAWYER (6-2, 290, SR-3L) 49 Alonzo Jones (6-2, 220, SR-3L) WILL 55 JERRAD PIERUCCI (6-2, 225, JR-2L) 25 A.C. Smith (6-1, 210, JR-1L)
MIKE 43 JAMES SUNIA (5-10, 240, FR-RS) 95 Bret Gilbert (6-2, 230, SR-3L) BANDIT 44 GREG GALES (6-2, 235, SR-2L) 48 Tyler Brickell (6-4, 230, SO-1L) LC 23 JAMES TEELE (5-10, 180, SR-1L) 26 Andre Hilliard (5-8, 155, JR-TR)
NICKEL 22 RANDY BLACK (6-0, 200, SO-1L) 20 Kawika Batoon (5-10, 175, SO-1L)
FS 2 QUINCY SANDERS (6-3, 200, SR-3L) 36 Anthony Brown (6-0, 205, SR-2L)
RC 28 KEVIN THOMAS (5-11, 165, FR-RS) 46 Breynan Hammons (5-9, 175, SO-TR) REBEL SPECIALISTSPUNT 97 JOE KRISTOSIK (6-3, 220, SR-3L) 17 Tim OReilly (6-0, 205, JR-2L)KOR 16 DUANE JAMES (5-9, 175, FR-RS) 3 Len Ware (6-1, 185, JR-2L)PR 16 DUANE JAMES (5-9, 175, FR-RS) 3 Len Ware (6-1, 185, JR-2L)POS RETURNING LOSTH Damon Williams LT Ben GlidewellLG Jerald PierucciC Bubba Gonzalez RG Mike Reily RT John GreerTE Sam Mineo QB Jon Denton WR Todd FloydWR Carlos BakerRB James WoffordPK Tim OReillyPOS RETURNING LOST LE Talance Sawyer LT Charles FisherRT Derrick MonroeRE Roderick JonesMLB Greg GalesWLB Scott PattonLC Amar BriscoNICK Randy BlackFS Quincy Sanders RC Mark HaysP Joe Kristosik
