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UNLV (0-3, 0-0 MOUNTAIN WEST)
vs.
#20 BYU (3-0, 0-0 MOUNTAIN WEST)
DATE: Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001KICKOFF:4:00 pm PDTSITE: Sam Boyd Stadium (36,800/Grass) Las VegasTV: ABCRADIO: ESPN 920 AM
GAME PREVIEW
UNLV (0-3) looks to snap its three-game losing streak by hosting No. 20 BYU (3-0) ... Despite three weeks between games, this will mark the first time in history that ranked teams will come to Sam Boyd Stadium back-to-back as No. 16 Northwestern visited on Sept. 7 ... Including this week, only seven ranked teams have taken on UNLV in Las Vegas and four of those were Cougar squads ... The Rebels are 1-11 all-time vs. ranked opponents ... UNLV has not won a conference opener since downing Arkansas State 28-23 in 1995 to kick off Big West play ... All-time, UNLV is 8-11 in league openers (.421) but 6-5 when they have taken place at home ... Sept. 29 marks the Rebels' latest league lidlfiter since 1993 ... UNLV is coming off a 38-21 loss to Arizona ... BYU will have had 21 days since its last game, a 44-16 drubbing of Pac-10 member California on Sept. 8 ... The game will be broadcast by ABC on a regional basis and marks UNLV's third apperance on the network in the last 14 games ... Including last December's Las Vegas Bowl victory, this marks the fourth time in five games that UNLV will appear on network TV ... UNLV looks to avoid starting a season 0-4 for the fourth time in school history (1998, '96 & '82) ... UNLV needs a victory Saturday to avoid becoming the first-ever football team, college or NFL, under head coach John Robinson to start the season with four losses.
SERIES NOTES
BYU leads the series 7-1, including five straight wins ... This will mark the first time UNLV faces BYU without LaVell Edwards leading the Cougars ... Two former UNLV coaches are now BYU assistants: TE coach Mike Empey (1997-98) and Special Teams Coordinator Barry Lamb (1981-86) ... The schools first met in the Nikkan Yokohama Bowl on Dec. 2, 1978. The Cougars prevailed 28-24 in Japan in what was billed as the "Unofficial WAC Championship" ... The Rebels' only win in the series was also their only win over a ranked opponent as they stunned then-No. 8 BYU in Provo exactly 20 years ago, 45-41 ... UNLV has one player from Utah -- DE Anton Palepoi from Salt Lake City -- while BYU lists two Nevadans on its roster -- soph. LB Brent Carlson from Durango HS in Las Vegas and freshman LB Moa Peaua of Reno.
SERIES RECORD: BYU leads 7-1LAST MEETING: 2000 (BYU 10-7)UNLV at BYU RECORD: 1-3BYU at UNLV RECORD: 3-0UNLV at NEUTRAL SITE: 0-1UNLV's LARGEST WIN: 4 (45-41 in 1981)BYU's LARGEST WIN: 40 (54-14 in 1980)
DATE SITE RESULT12-2-78 Japan BYU, 28-2411-29-80 Las Vegas BYU, 54-1410-10-81 Provo UNLV, 45-419-2-82 Las Vegas BYU, 27-010-12-96 Provo BYU, 63-2810-10-98 Provo BYU, 38-1410-23-99 Las Vegas BYU, 29-09-23-00 Provo BYU, 10-7
UNLV (0-3)
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 4 pmO. 6 at Nevada, Reno KLAS 1 pmO. 13 SAN DIEGO STATE ABC 4 pmO. 20 COLORADO STATE TBA TBAO. 27 at Wyoming TBA TBAN. 3 UTAH TBA 1 pmN. 10 at New Mexico KLAS 4 pmN. 17 at Air Force TBA TBA
BYU (3-0)
Date Opponent Result (MT)A. 25 TULANE W, 70-35S. 1 UNR W, 52-7S. 8 at California W, 44-16S. 29 at UNLV 5 pmO. 5 UTAH STATE 7 pmO. 13 at New Mexico TBAO. 20 AIR FORCE TBAO. 27 at San Diego St 5 pmN. 1 COLORADO STATE 7:45 pmN. 10 at Wyoming TBAN. 17 UTAH TBAD. 1 at Hawaii 9 pm
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: 113-70-3 (30th season)All-Time Record: 186-182-4 (34th season)All-Time vs. MWC: 23-33-1Head Coach: John RobinsonRecord at UNLV: 11-16 (.407/3rd year)Record Overall: 115-51-4 (.688/15th year)2000 Record: 8-5/4-3 (T3rd MWC)Offense: MultipleDefense: 4-3
LAST TIME THEY MET
BYU 10, UNLV 7
CHILLY UPSET BID FALLS SHORT
PROVO, Utah -- (Sept. 23, 2000) UNLV (1-2) dropped its fifth-straight conference opener by falling 10-7 in a rainy defensive battle with BYU (2-3). The 60,191 at Cougar Stadium and viewers across the ESPN Regional network saw BYU take an early lead and barely hold on during a Rebel rally. With gametime temperatures dipping below 40 degrees, BYU's Brian McDonald ran in a 25-yard touchdown and Owen Pochman booted a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter. The Cougars, however, were foiled by a 66-yard punt by Ray Cheetany in a game that became dominated by field position. The closest anyone came to scoring in the next two quarters came on a 72-yard run by UNLV QB Jason Thomas (the longest for the school since 1989) to the BYU 13. A subsequent field goal attempt, however, was blocked and the game remained 10-0 into the fourth quarter. Thomas, who was under intense pressure all day from a nearly constant Cougar blitz, finally hit another big play with a 49-yard strike to Troy Mason that led to Thomas taking it in from a yard out. Down 10-7, UNLV continued its rally by forcing a BYU punt and then rolling down field on two big pass plays to face first down at the Cougar 25 with under five minutes remaining. The BYU defense, however, rallied to stuff a Jeremi Rudolph run, then sack Thomas for five- and 13-yard losses to turn a sure field-goal attempt into a punt. BYU then simply ran out the remaining 2:40 to earn the victory. Thomas, who was sacked four times but still led the team in rushing with 51 net yards, earned his first 200-yard passing day by finishing 11-17 for 202 yards and one pick. Mason hauled in five balls for 102 yards -- his first career century-mark game -- and Cheetany had a huge game by averaging 45.5 yards on eight kicks. The Cougars, who struggled to pass the ball (157 yards), were led by Luke Staley's 167 yards on 28 carries. The UNLV defense, which shut out its opponent for seven of its last eight quarters, had one interception and recorded five sacks, including two each by James Sunia and Anton Pelepoi.
LAST WEEK IN REVIEW
ARIZONA 38, UNLV 21
ARIZONA ROMPS REBELS IN FIRST-EVER MEETING
TUCSON, Ariz. -- (Sept. 22, 2001) UNLV became the first college team under John Robinson to begin a season 0-3 as it was dominated by Pac-10 Conference member Arizona (3-0) in both teams' first game since the terrorist attacks hit the U.S. Wildcat QB Jason Johnson was sharp while throwing for 247 yards and three scores in front of 47,031 at Arizona Stadium. After UA scored first and was driving, UNLV tied things as Ahmad Briggs picked up a fumble and ran it in 30 yards for the team's first defensive score of the season. UNLV showed life after blocking a Wildcat field goal attempt and driving to the Arizona 24. Rebel PK Dillon Pieffer, however, missed his third consecutive FGA of the season and UNLV never challenged again as the Cats built a 24-7 lead capped off by an 80-yard TD run by Tremaine Cox before halftime. The lead bulged to as high as 31-7 before UNLV scored its only two offensive touchdowns on a Joe Haro 7-yard run and a Bobby Nero 15-yard scoring catch from Kurt Nantkes, who was making his collegiate debut in relief of Jason Thomas. Arizona's final score came via a 40-yard fumble return for a TD as UNLV's all-time record vs. Pac-10 teams fell to 3-8
TACKLE ELIGIBLE
Last season, senior strong safety Randy Black became his school's all-time tackle leader with 294 in four years. Now, one of Black's former teammates looks to push that total down to No. 2 on the list. Black was battling linebacker James Sunia to see who would finish 2000 as the UNLV Takedown King before Sunia suffered a season-ending knee injury in Game Five. After missing eight games, including the Las Vegas Bowl, Sunia re-injured his ACL/MCL just before spring practice kicked off and the Hawaii native was back in rehabilitation mode. Sunia gradually made his way back into practice and played for the first time in 11 games last week at Arizona. His four tackles vs. the Wildcats moved Sunia up one spot into a tie with former teammate Jerrad Pierucci in eighth place on the all-time list. After leading the team in tackles both of his first two seasons, Sunia was averaging 10.6 takedowns per game. However, after registering just 26 tackles last fall, Sunia needs 31 tackles in his final eight games to break Black's record.
UNLV CAREER TACKLE LEADERS
PL PLAYER (POS) YEARS TOT1. Randy Black (DB) 1997-00 2942. Darnell Pickens (LB) 1984-87 2893. Doc Wise (DL) 1986-89 2804. Greg Gales (LB) 1996-98 2775. Jason Davis (DB) 1991-94 2766. Harvey Allen (DB) 1982-85 2727. Quincy Sanders (DB) 1995-99 2708. James Sunia (LB) 1998-PR 264 Jerrad Pierucci (LB)1996-99 26410. Jody Reinoehl (LB) 1987-90 260
REBELATIONS
ON THE OFFENSIVE: Eight Rebels have caught at least one pass through three games ... Despite winning neither game, UNLV outgained both of its first two opponents in 2001 (298-114 at Arkansas and 453-411 vs. Northwestern) ... 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 ... When RB Joe Haro gained 104 yards on the ground vs. NU it marked UNLV's 16th 100-yard rusher in the last 14 regular-season games ... What's more, Haro's 131 yards and QB Jason Thomas' 103 at Arkansas marked the fourth time in nine games that the Rebels boasted two players over the century mark ... A week after UNLV threw for the second-least yards in school history with 40 vs. the Razorbacks, Thomas rebounded to toss for a career-high 304 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Wildcats. It marked the first 300-yard game for a UNLV quarterback since Jon Denton threw for 401 vs. San Jose State in 1997 ... The Rebels are a stunning 0-7 on fourth-down attempts this fall after being 7-13 on such plays a year ago.
FOR THE DEFENSE: With the return of senior MLB James Sunia, senior Scott Parkhurst, who started the first two games at strongside linebacker, moved back to the defensive line in time for the Arizona game while freshman Adam Seward moves over to back up LaMar Owens at SLB ... UNLV held Arkansas to only 114 yards in Game One, which broke the school record of 131 yards by Cal State Fullerton in 1983 ... The Rebels held their opponent to under 200 yards rushing for the 12th consecutive game vs. Arizona ... Ahmad Briggs picked up a fumble on a botched option play at Arizona and returned it 30 yards for UNLV's first defensive TD of the year ... Thanks to a Anton Palepoi pass deflection, Shanga Wilson hauled in his first career interception at Arkansas, which led to UNLV's only touchdown.
SPECIAL (TEAMS) DELIVERY: At Arizona, Anton Palepoi gave the team its second blocked field goal attempt in the last four regular-season games ... UNLV ranks fourth in the nation in kickoff return average with 34.78 and the Rebels' nine attempts are the most among the top-10-ranked teams ... Freshman Dominique Dorsey is averaging 55 yards on three kickoff returns but needed one more return to be eligible for the MWC and NCAA rankings. His 87-yard return on his first attempt vs. NU was the fourth-longest in UNLV history and fifth-longest in MWC history ... Freshman Gary Cook, who was the team's fourth different starting punter in as many season openers (1998: Joe Kristosik, 1999: Ryan McDonald, 2000: Ray Cheetany), turned in his best day at Arizona when he earned a career-long 51 yarder and also placed five of nine boots inside the opponent's 20 ... UNLV made its first field goal attempt of the season in the first quarter at Arkansas but PK Dillon Pieffer has since missed all three attempts.
JERSEY JOE
UNLV junior Jersey Joe Haro has 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. He again led his team in rushing with 71 yards on 15 carries and a score at Arizona in Game Three. Haro currently ranks 29th in the nation and fifth in the MWC with 102.0 yards per game.
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Freshman Dominique Dorsey has made a big splash in his collegiate debut season. In Game Two vs. Northwestern, he ran for 18 yards on his first career rush and then took his first kickoff return 87 yards. At Arizona in Game Three, Dorsey returned a kick 55 yards and rushed for 24 yards on seven carries. Dorsey, however, is not the only Rebel rookie to already make an impact in 2001. WR Earvin Johnson earned his first catch vs. NU while Gary Cook has earned the team's starting punting job. On defense, redshirt LB Adam Seward has 11 tackles and redshirt DB Jamaal Brimmer has seven. The team's oldest rookie, 21-year-old QB Kurt Nantkes, made his collegiate debut in Tucson and completed 2 of 3 attempts for 33 yards, including his first touchdown pass on a 15-yard dart to Bobby Nero.
2001 MWC STANDINGS
TEAM CONF ALL
SDSU 1-0 1-2 BYU 0-0 3-0 Utah 0-0 2-1 Wyoming 0-0 2-1 Air Force 0-0 1-1 New Mexico 0-0 1-2 UNLV 0-0 0-3 Colorado State 0-1 1-3
LAST WEEK:
San Diego State 14, Colorado State 7 Baylor 16, New Mexico 13 (OT) Arizona 38, UNLV 21 Utah 28, Indiana 26 Wyoming 43, Utah State 42
THIS WEEK:
Air Force at San Diego State (ESPN2) BYU at UNLV (ABC) Colorado State at Wyoming New Mexico at Utah
UNLV vs. BYU
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) 83 Trevan Sorensen (6-4, 255, JR-2L)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) 32 Jabari Johnson (5-11, 200, SR-1L)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)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 13 LaMar Owens (6-2, 235, SR-1L) 37 Scott Parkhurst (6-3, 245, SR-1L)MLB 49 Ryan Claridge (6-3, 245, SO-1L) 55 Adam Seward (6-2, 235, FR-RS)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 41 Ross Dalton (6-3, 205, JR-2L) 21 Chameion Sutton (5-11, 180, JR-TR)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 34 Joe Haro (5-10, 190, JR-2L 86 Troy Mason (5-10, 170, JR-2L) 6 Dominique Dorsey (5-6, 165, FR-HS)
