Sept. 23, 2000

Box Score

By MATTHEW OTT
Associated Press Writer

PROVO, Utah - Luke Staley ran for 166 yards and BYU's defense turned back a late UNLV surge as the Cougars held off the Rebels 10-7 on Saturday.

With rain falling and a kickoff temperature of 42 degrees, BYU (2-3, 1-1 Mountain West Conference) got its scoring out of the way early and gave Staley the ball 28 times to help keep UNLV (1-2, 0-1) quarterback Jason Thomas off the field.

Thomas scored UNLV's only touchdown, with a 1-yard run to bring the Rebels within three points with 12:25 left in the game.

After a BYU punt, UNLV appeared poised to tie or win the game. Thomas found Nate Turner on first down for a 26-yard gain, then hit tight end DeJhown Mandley for 40 yards to take the Rebels to BYU's 25.

That's when the Cougars' defense came together, forcing UNLV into three consecutive yardage-losing plays and a punt. The Rebels wouldn't see the ball again as Staley pounded away through the line and ran out the clock.

BYU quarterback Bret Engemann left the game in the third quarter after re-injuring his ankle when he was hit by James Sunia. Charlie Peterson finished the game for BYU.

Both teams turned the ball over on their first possession, with UNLV cornerback Kevin Thomas intercepting Engemann on the fourth play of the game.

His return gave UNLV field position at BYU's 38-yard line. After no gain on the first play from scrimmage, Rebel halfback James Wofford tried a pass, but was hit by Isaac Kelley as he prepared to throw and senior defensive tackle Hans Olsen recovered the fumble.

With the ball at its own 45, BYU drove to the Rebels' 25, where Brian McDonald took it through the left side of the UNLV defense to make it 7-0. Owen Pochman added a 42-yard field goal with 1:42 left in the first quarter, which would be the last time the Cougars scored.