Sept. 16, 2000

Box Score

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Jason Thomas had 203 total yards and three touchdowns as UNLV beat North Texas 38-0 on Saturday night for their first shutout in nearly 17 years.

Thomas, a sophomore transfer from Southern Cal, completed 6 of 11 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 10 times for 74 yards and a score.

The Rebels (1-1) snapped a six-game losing streak and a 12-game home losing streak that dated to October 1997. North Texas (0-3) lost its seventh straight game.

North Texas twice drove as far as the UNLV 2, including at the end of the game. When a pass from Spencer Stack fell incomplete at the goal line on the final play, the Rebels had their first shutout since a 13-0 victory over Cal-State Fullerton in November 1983.

UNLV did the bulk of the damage in a school-record 31-point second quarter, scoring on all five of its possessions, including three touchdowns in five minutes.

After a scoreless first quarter in which North Texas outgained the Rebels, Thomas took control, connecting with Nate Turner for a 57-yard touchdown pass just three plays into the quarter.

On the first play after the kickoff, UNLV forced a fumble that was recovered at the Eagles' 21. Three plays later, Jeremi Rudolph, scored on a 7-yard run. He finished with 87 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

After the Rebels defense forced a punt, Thomas quickly struck again. This time on first down, he found Charles James alone in the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown play.

North Texas drove to the 2 in the fourth quarter, but Stack fumbled at the goal line.