Sept. 13, 1999

LAS VEGAS - UNLV sophomore defensive back Kevin Thomas has been named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Thomas returned a fumble 100 yards for a game-winning touchdown at Baylor Saturday.

Down 24-21, UNLV forced the Bears to fumble near the goal line. Thomas then picked up the football in the end zone and ran untouched the length of the field as time expired. The Rebels won the game 27-24.

It was only the third time in NCAA Division I-A history that a fumble was returned 100 yards for a score.

Thomas, a graduate of Foothill High School in Sacramento, Calif., also had six unassisted tackles and two pass breakups in the game. It was the second defensive score this year for Thomas after he opened the year on Sept. 2 with a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Monday marked the first time in five years that a UNLV player earned defensive player of the week honors. In 1994, linebacker Rossie Johnson was honored by the Big West Conference following the Rebels' victory over UNR. The last UNLV defensive back to win the award was Rodney Mazion in 1993.