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UNLV (2-4, 1-1 MOUNTAIN WEST)
vs.
COLORADO STATE (2-4, 1-1 MWC)
DATE:       Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001
KICKOFF:    4:07 pm PDT
SITE:       Sam Boyd Stadium (36,800/Grass)
TV:     SportsWest/KLAS               (Dave McCann and Blaine Fowler)
RADIO:      ESPN 920 AM               (Tim Neverett and Tony Cordasco)

GAME PREVIEW

UNLV (2-4) plays back-to-back home games for the only time this season by hosting Colorado State (2-4) Saturday ... The Rebels look to break a five-game losing streak to the Rams in a game that was originally scheduled to take place Friday, Sept. 14, on ESPN ... The game, which will now instead be shown by SportsWest in Las Vegas and Denver, was postponed because of the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. ... The match-up features the top two vote-getters in the preseason media poll (CSU first with 11 first-place votes and UNLV second with four) ... Although the two teams have identical records, UNLV has won two straight and CSU has lost its last two ... The Rebels are coming off a 31-3 homecoming victory over SDSU while the Rams fell in their first-ever overtime game, 25-22, to then-No. 10 Fresno State in Fort Collins ... The four teams that have defeated UNLV boast a combined record of 16-7 and two are ranked in the coaches' poll this week (No. 13 BYU and No. 20 Northwestern) ... The four teams that defeated CSU this fall stand 18-6 ... CSU is one of only two MWC teams, along with BYU (0-3) that UNLV head coach John Robinson has not defeated in his career.

SERIES NOTES

CSU leads the all-time series 5-3-1, including five straight wins in as many years ... UNLV is looking for its first victory over the Rams in Las Vegas and first overall since 1982 ... The Rebels jumped out to a 3-0-1 lead over CSU while playing in the late 1970s and early '80s when UNLV first thought itself heading into the Western Athletic Conference, where the two schools finally did join each other from 1996-98... UNLV has two players on its roster from the state of Colorado -- sophomore kicker Dillon Pieffer of Colorado Springs and QB Kurt Nantkes of Aurora ... CSU head coach Sonny Lubick once coached at nearby Beatty (Nev.)High School, which plays eight-man football.

SERIES RECORD:          CSU leads 5-3-1LAST MEETING:           2000 (CSU 20-19)UNLV at CSU RECORD: 3-3CSU at UNLV RECORD: 2-0-1UNLV's LARGEST WIN: 41 (56-15 in 1980)CSU's LARGEST WIN:  26 (45-19 in 1997)

DATE            SITE            RESULT
10-21-78    Fort Collins    UNLV, 33-611-17-79    Las Vegas   TIE 21-219-27-80         Fort Collins    UNLV, 56-1511-6-82         Fort Collins    UNLV, 36-319-21-96         Fort Collins    CSU,  35-1611-1-97         Las Vegas   CSU, 45-199-26-98         Fort Collins    CSU, 38-1611-27-99    Las Vegas   CSU, 35-1710-14-00    Fort Collins    CSU, 20-19
UNLV (2-4)
Date    Opponent    TV     Result
A. 30   at Arkansas     ESPN    L, 14-10S. 7    NORTHWESTERN    ESPN    L, 37-28S. 22   at Arizona  KFBT    L, 38-21S. 29   BYU     ABC L, 35-31O. 6    at Nevada, Reno KLAS    W, 27-12O. 13   SAN DIEGO STATE ABC W, 31-3O. 20   COLORADO STATE  KLAS    4 pm PTO. 27   at Wyoming  LV One  3 pm PTN. 3    UTAH            TBA 1 pm PTN. 10   at New Mexico   KLAS    4 pm PTN. 17   at Air Force    TBA TBA
COLORADO STATE (2-4)Date   Opponent         Result (MT)
S. 1    vs. Colorado    L, 41-14S. 8    UNR         W, 35-18S. 22   SAN DIEGO STATE L, 14-7S. 29   at Wyoming  W, 42-14O. 4    at Louisville   L, 7-2O. 13   FRESNO STATE    L, 25-22 (OT)O. 20   at UNLV         5 pmO. 27   UTAH            TBAN. 1    at BYU          7:45 pmN. 8    AIR FORCE   5:30 pmN. 17   at New Mexico   4 pm
UNLV QUICK FACTS
Location:               Las Vegas, NV  89154Founded:            1957Enrollment:         23,000Nickname:           Rebels (Not Runnin')Colors:             Scarlet & GrayPresident:          Dr. Carol C. HarterDir. of Athletics:  Charles CavagnaroFaculty Representative: Dr. Hal K. RothmanConference:         Mountain WestStadium/Opened:         Sam Boyd/1971Capacity/Surface:   36,800/Natural GrassRecord in Stadium:  114-71-3 (30th season)All-Time Record:    188-183-4 (34th season)All-Time vs. MWC:   24-34-1Head Coach:             John RobinsonRecord at UNLV:         13-17  (.433/3rd year)Record Overall:         117-52-4 (.688/15th year)2000 Record:            8-5/4-3 (T3rd MWC)Offense:        MultipleDefense:        4-3

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

COLORADO STATE 20, UNLV 19

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- (Oct. 14, 2000) UNLV (3-3) missed two extra point attempts, including one that was blocked with under a minute remaining, as Colorado State (5-1) managed to remain unbeaten in the conference with a 20-19 victory in front of 31,700 fans and a national TV audience via ESPN2. The Rebels lost their fifth-straight road game dating back to 1999 after losing their star QB to injury in the second quarter. Sophomore Jason Thomas, who led the team in rushing and passing for the season, suffered a sprained right foot just before halftime and would watch the rest of the game on crutches from the sideline. The Rams struck first with a nine-yard touchdown run by Cecil Snapp before Thomas found Troy Mason from 23 yards out on what would be JT's only completion of the game in just three attempts. CSU then hit a 45-yard field goal to pull ahead 10-7 at the break. UNLV's Randy Black forced a fumble on the third-quarter kickoff and the Rebels got Jeremi Rudolph into the end zone behind relief QB Jason Vaughan. Ray Cheetany, however, pushed the ensuing extra-point attempt to the right to make it 13-10. The Rams scored the next 10 points to take a late seven-point lead. The Rebels got the ball back with just over two minutes and unleashed an 86-yard drive that culminated with a Vaughan to Nate Turner 11-yard TD pass with 34 seconds left. After threatening to go for two points and the potential victory in regulation, head caoch John Robinson decided during a CSU timeout to finally send in the kick team. The would-be tying PAT was blocked, however, by Rhett Nelson and UNLV lost its fifth straight game to CSU. Leading the way for the Rebels was Kevin Brown who picked up 134 yards on 17 carries, including a key 45-yard rumble during the final drive. The defense was paced by LB Ryan Claridge's 12 tackles in his first career start.

CENTURY-MARK CENTER

Under the guidance of John Robinson and running coordinator John Jackson, UNLV has had 18 100-yard rushing efforts in the last 18 regular-season games, which were turned in by six different players.

PLAYER          ATT-YD  OPP (YR)
Jason Thomas 27-107  at Iowa State ('00)Kevin Brown   9-103   NORTH TEXAS ('00)Kevin Brown   16-104  UNR ('00)Jeremi Rudolph 13-103  UNR ('00)Kevin Brown   17-134  at CSU ('00)Jeremi Rudolph 11-102  WYOMING ('00)James Wofford   10-138  at Ole Miss ('00)Jeremi Rudolph 17-107  at Ole Miss ('00)Jeremi Rudolph 16-110  at Utah ('00)Jeremi Rudolph 19-106  NEW MEXICO ('00)Jeremi Rudolph 26-159  at Hawaii ('00)Kevin Brown   19-139  at Hawaii ('00)Jason Thomas 10-126  at Hawaii ('00)Joe Haro 24-131  at Arkansas ('01)Jason Thomas 12-103  at Arkansas ('01)Joe Haro 25-104  NORTHWESTERN ('01)Dominique Dorsey18-180  at UNR ('01)Joe Haro 23-136  SDSU ('01)

REBELATIONS

ON THE OFFENSIVE: Since going into the locker room down 6-0 at UNR in Game Five, UNLV has outscored its opponents 58-9 in the last six quarters ... The Rebel offensive line has not allowed a sack in the last two games and only six in six games this fall ... UNLV completed its last two fourth-down conversions after going 0-8 in the first four games. The Rebels finished 7-13 on such plays a year ago ... Sophomore WR Michael Johnson set a Mountain West Conference record with 174 yards on a career-high eight receptions vs. Northwestern. It was the 14th-best receiving day in school history and the most since Len Ware had 200 vs. SDSU in 1996 ... A week after UNLV threw for the second-least yards in school history with 40 vs. Arkansas, Jason Thomas rebounded to toss for a career-high 304 yards and two touchdowns vs. Northwestern. It marked the first 300-yard game for a UNLV quarterback since Jon Denton threw for 401 vs. San Jose State in 1997.

FOR THE DEFENSE: UNLV has surrendered only one touchdown in the last two games ... SDSU's 3 points Saturday was the lowest total ever allowed by UNLV to a MWC opponent ... The Rebels are tied for seventh in the nation in fumbles recovered with nine ... Sophomore LB Ryan Claridge is second in the nation with six forced fumbles and is just one behind single-season UNLV record holder Bruce Gray (1970) ... The Rebels have had 10 sacks in their last three games ... The defensive line has already contributed six pass breakups this fall ... FS Sam Brandon, who had a team-season-high 12 tackles at UNR, has led his team in takedowns in all but two games in 2001 ... Despite missing last week with a sprained knee, Lombardi Award candidate Anton Palepoi stands third in the MWC with 3.5 QB sacks ... Senior Scott Parkhurst, who started the first two games at LB, moved back to the line in time for the Arizona game while Adam Seward moved over and now is the starter on the strong side ... UNLV held Arkansas to only 114 yards in Game One, which broke the school record of 131 yards by Cal State Fullerton in 1983.

SPECIAL (TEAMS) DELIVERY: PK Dillon Pieffer had made four consecutive field goals, including a career-long 41-yarder at UNR, before missing a 29-yarder last week ... The Rebels have a new kickoff man in the form of import Hubi Schulze Zumkley, a freshman from Herbern, Germany, who took over the duties beginning in Game Four ... Kick coverage ace Derek Olsen earned his first career score when he scooped up a BYU fumble on the opening kickoff and ran 22 yards for a TD ... UNLV ranks first in the MWC in both kickoff returns (2nd NCAA with 31.4) and punt returns (12th NCAA with 12.8) ... Freshman Dominique Dorsey dropped to second the nation in kickoff returns with 46.7 on six attempts. The NCAA did not list Dorsey in this week's rankings because of a clerical error but the rookie will need two returns vs. CSU Saturday to show up in next week's rankings.

NOW WE'RE COOK-IN'

Rookie punter Gary Cook, who was the team's fourth starting punter in as many seasons, was named Mountain West Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for UNLV's first honor of the season on Oct. 8. Cook, out of Truckee, Calif., may be the Rebels' most improved player since the season opener. After kicking for no better than a 35.5-yard average in his first three games as a collegian, Cook hit for 39.8 vs. BYU in Game Four and then at UNR, totaled a career-high 45.3 on six attempts. His day featured four boots 42 yards or longer, including a career-long 64-yarder. Cook was the third punter in school history to win such a conference kudo joining Ray Cheetany on Oct. 9 last season and Joe Kristosik playing in the WAC in 1998 (Sept. 28 and Oct. 12). He was the first UNLV freshman to be honored by his league since quarterback Jon Denton in 1996.

JERSEY JOE

UNLV junior Jersey Joe Haro burst into the starting tailback spot after a long journey back and forth across the line of scrimmage. An all-state performer out of Clifton, N.J., Haro joined the Rebels in 1998 and earned a medical hardship after rushing for four yards on two carries. He carried the ball only eight times in 1999 but still managed to be his team's leading rusher vs. BYU with 59 yards on just four carries. With a senior logjam at the UNLV tailback spot in 2000, Haro moved to defensive back but fractured his right fibula in Game Two and missed the remainder of the season. Haro moved back to offense during bowl-game practices last December and earned the No. 2 tailback spot heading into the season opener. During halftime at Arkansas, Haro had five carries for zero yards, but then Jersey Joe exploded to finish with a game-high 131 yards on 24 total carries. Starting his first game vs. Northwestern the following week, Haro proved his gutty rushing style was no fluke as he gained 104 yards on 25 carries, including his first career touchdown run of 10 yards. Haro turned in a career-best performance last week vs. SDSU with 136 yards and currently ranks 33rd in the nation and fifth in the MWC with 96.3 yards per game.

TAKE A PEEK AT NEEK

Diminutive UNLV tailback Dominique (pronounced dom-in-NEEK) Dorsey is creating a sensation in Las Vegas. The 5-foot-6-inch, 165-pound true freshman did not even play in the season's first game but has since exploded into a versatile gridiron weapon. Dorsey gained 18 yards on his first career carry vs. Northwestern and then minutes later returned his first kickoff 87 yards. He has since returned six total kicks and skyrocketed to No. 1 in the nation with a 46.7-yard average. Dorsey broke out of the backfield vs. BYU when he gained 77 yards on 14 carries and scored his first two TDs. Then, still coming off of the bench at Nevada, Reno, "Little D" rolled up a MWC freshman-record 180 yards on just 18 carries, including a career-long 56-yarder and another score. Despite only running three times for 17 yards before leaving last week's game vs. SDSU with a sprained ankle, Dorsey currently ranks ninth in the MWC in rushing (63.6) and fifth in all-purpose yards (119.6).

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

Dominique Dorsey is not the only Rebel rookie to already make an impact in 2001. On offense, highly touted WR recruit Earvin Johnson is now fifth on the team with seven receptions for 93 yards. The team's oldest rookie, 21-year-old QB Kurt Nantkes, made his collegiate debut at Arizona and completed 2 of 3 attempts for 33 yards, including his first touchdown pass. In Game Six vs. SDSU's first unit, Nantkes completed both of his attempts, which included another short scoring pass. The two successful brief performances gave the former Oakland Athletics farmhand an astronomical QB rating of 301.04. On special teams, Gary Cook has settled into the team's starting punting job while Hubi Schulze Zumkley is the squad's new kickoff man. On defense, redshirt LB and newly installed starter Adam Seward is sixth on the team with 21 tackles and had his first career sack at UNR. Redshirt DB Jamaal Brimmer has 13 tackles while Ruschard Dodd-Masters (seven) and Zach Bell (six) also are contributing.

GAME 6 IN REVIEW

UNLV 31, SAN DIEGO ST. 3

REBELS ROLL FOR FIRST MWC WIN

LAS VEGAS -- (Oct. 13, 2001) UNLV (2-4) won its second straight game overall and evened its Mounain West record at 1-1 by routing San Diego State (2-4) before 22,100 at Sam Boyd Stadium and an ABC regional TV audience. The Rebels improved to 21-13 in homecoming games by dominating in all facets of the game. On offense, UNLV rolled to 274 yards on the ground and 427 overall. On defense, SDSU was held to 39 yards rushing, including just 46 by the nation's third-leading rusher Larry Ned. On special teams, UNLV blocked a punt, which led to a score, and returned another for a touchdown. With speedster Dominique Dorsey sidelined early with a sprained ankle, the Rebels were led by a career-high 136 yards on 23 carries by RB Joe Haro, who had his third 100-yard game by halftime. The scoring opened with an eight-yard Jason Thomas to DeJhown Mandley touchdown pass. After the Aztecs hit a 34-yard field goal, Rebel booter Dillon Pieffer kicked his fourth consecutive three-pointer from 32 yards out. With Thomas off the field with a mild concussion, a 57-yard punt return by Troy Mason set up reserve freshman signal-caller Kurt Nantkes to hit Steven Costa for a 10-yard score. Later in the quarter, UNLV blocked a punt and Thomas returned to run for an eight-yard score. With SDSU unable to move the ball with a minute to go, the Rebels called timeouts to force the Aztecs to punt -- and the decision would deliver the knockout blow. Mason caught the punt at his own 48 and, with no time on the clock, returned the ball 52 yards for a touchdown and a shocking 31-3 halftime lead -- the largest for UNLV in 17 games. With the outcome virtually decided, UNLV concentrated on running out the clock behind Haro and seven other runners. Despite emptying the bench, the Rebel defense held off all Aztec scoring threats and only a missed Pieffer 29-yard field-goal attempt dimmed the team's total effort. The game marked the first time that UNLV downed SDSU in successive seasons since 1983-84 and the 31-3 final meant UNLV held an opponent to 3 points or less for the sixth time since the school moved to Div. I in 1978.

UNLV vs. CSU
TENTATIVE DEPTH CHART
REBEL OFFENSE
WR  86  Troy Mason (5-10, 170, JR-2L)    8   Michael Johnson (5-10, 180, SO-1L)WR  1   Bobby Nero (6-1, 180, SR-1L)    4   Earvin Johnson (6-3, 195, FR-HS)LT  69  Brandon Bair (6-6, 295, SR-2L)    67  Eddie Freas (6-2, 300, JR-RS)LG  63  Greg Hulett (6-3, 300, SR-1L)    76  Marcus Johnson (6-1, 290, FR-RS)C   61  Peter Tramontanas (6-5, 275, SR-3L)    73  Dominic Furio (6-2, 285, SO-1L)RG  70  Tony Terrell (6-4, 295, JR-2L)    60  Ernie Calanche (6-4, 290, JR-1L)RT  75  Shane Wagers (6-5, 300, SR-2L)    77  Jimy Zoll (6-6, 300, FR-RS)TE  80  DeJhown Mandley (6-4, 240, JR-2L)        84  Brad Osterhout (6-4, 245, JR-1L)QB  2   Jason Thomas (6-4, 230, JR-1L)    7   Kurt Nantkes (6-4, 215, FR-RS)TB  34  Joe Haro (5-10, 190, JR-2L)    6   Dominique Dorsey (5-6, 165, FR-HS)FB  24  Steven Costa (6-1, 225, JR-2L)    40  George Gordon (6-0, 235, JR-RS)

REBEL SPECIALISTS
PK  95  Dillon Pieffer (5-11, 180, SO-1L)KO  14  Hubi Schulze Zumkley (6-2, 215, FR-HS)HOLD    23  Toby Smeltzer (5-10, 185, JR-2L)LS  67  Eddie Freas (6-2, 300, JR-RS)
REBEL DEFENSE
LDE 47  Anton Palepoi (6-4, 275, SR-1L)    45  Steve Newton (6-3, 245, SR-2L)DT  44  Ahmad Miller (6-4, 310, SR-1L)    92  Phil Reed (6-3, 265, JR-2L)NG  91  Dietrich Canterberry (6-4, 300, SO-1L)    93  Garrett Brassington (6-2, 285, JR-TR)RDE 90  Ahmad Briggs (6-3, 230, JR-2L)    99  Adrian Watson (6-3, 240, SR-1L)    37  Scott Parkhurst (6-3, 245, SR-1L)SLB 55  Adam Seward (6-2, 235, FR-RS)    13  LaMar Owens (6-2, 235, SR-1L)MLB 49  Ryan Claridge (6-3, 245, SO-1L)    36  Shanga Wilson (6-1, 215, SR-1L)WLB 36  Shanga Wilson (6-1, 215, SR-1L)    18  Tosh Burrus (6-0, 200, JR-2L)CB  19  Jamal Wynn (6-0, 185, JR-2L)    3   Ruschard Dodd-Masters (5-11, 175, FR-RS)SS  21  Chameion Sutton (5-11, 180, JR-TR)    41  Ross Dalton (6-3, 205, JR-2L)FS  42  Sam Brandon (6-3, 195, SR-2L)    27  Jamaal Brimmer (6-1, 205, FR-RS)CB  28  Kevin Thomas (5-11, 180, SR-3L)    3   Ruschard Dodd-Masters (5-11, 175, FR-RS)
REBEL SPECIALISTS
P   16  Gary Cook (5-11, 180, FR-HS)PR  86  Troy Mason (5-10, 170, JR-2L)KR  6   Dominique Dorsey (5-6, 165, FR-HS)    86  Troy Mason (5-10, 170, JR-2L)    34  Joe Haro (5-10, 190, JR-2L)