Nov 2, 2002
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LAS VEGAS (AP) - Jason Thomas ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more, including a game-winning 25-yard pass to Steven Costa in overtime that led UNLV past Wyoming 49-48 Saturday night.
The win helped the postseason chances for the Rebels (4-5, 2-2 Mountain West), who need to win two of their last three to be bowl eligible. The loss knocked the Cowboys (2-7, 1-3) from bowl contention.
The final touchdown pass came on the first play from scrimmage as Thomas found Costa down the left sideline. Dillon Pieffer's extra point provided the winning margin.
Thomas was 20-for-25 with 329 yards passing and ran for 58 yards. He scored three first-quarter touchdowns on runs from 3, 15 and 1 yards.
The Rebels, who had 644 total yards, benefited in overtime as Wyoming's Scott Parker missed an extra point wide right after the Cowboys took a 48-42 lead on Kit Bradshaw's 2-yard run.
Wyoming quarterback Casey Bramlet threw five touchdown passes and amassed 420 yards in the air.
Bramlet tied the game as regulation expired with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Scottie Vines. He then ran in the 2-point conversion to force overtime.
Wyoming rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit as Bramlet converted a 6-yard pass to Malcom Floyd with 5:04 left in regulation to make it 42-34. But Floyd was called for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play, and Parker's kick was blocked, setting up the 8-point deficit.
