Aug. 18, 2002
LAS VEGAS - Preseason All-MWC quarterback Jason Thomas looked sharp in leading the UNLV offense on two touchdown drives to highlight the Rebels' team scrimmage before a crowd of approximately 700 fans at Sam Boyd Stadium Saturday.
Thomas, who will enter his third season as the program's starter later this month, completed 9 of 13 pass attempts for 108 yards and no interceptions. His night included a 30-yard touchdown pass to fullback Steven Costa and a lateral pass to tailback Joe Haro, who took it in for a seven-yard score. Thomas also finished with nine yards on three rushes.
Haro led all runners with 26 yards on six carries, including the TD. Former Arizona starter Larry Croom, who sat out last year per NCAA transfer rules, gained 20 yards on just four attempts as six Rebel running backs got at least one carry.
Costa added a four-yard catch to lead all receivers with 39 yards on two grabs while sophomore Earvin Johnson hauled in two for 33 yards. Seven other Rebels had one reception each.
UNLV also was impressive on special teams as punter Gary Cook averaged 43 yards on three attempts and place-kicker Dillon Pieffer hit four of six long field goal attempts, including a 47-yarder.
Defensively, senior safety Ross Dalton led the team with five tackles while safety Connie Brown added four. Three players - tackle Dietrich Canterberry, end Leon Moore and linebacker Alonzo Freeman - recorded one quarterback sack each.
After a Sunday evening-only practice, preseason two-a-days continue this week through Wednesday. The squad generally meets at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day at Rebel Park on campus. The Rebels open the season by hosting Wisconsin on August 31 beginning at 5:45 p.m. Tickets to that game and every individual game, as well as season tickets, are on sale now by using four easy options:
1. Log on to www.unlvtickets.com
2. Call 739-FANS
3. Visit our outlets at all Station and Fiesta casinos, Galleria at Sunset, Boulevard Mall and Meadows Mall
4. Visit the Thomas & Mack Box Office
PRESEASON SCRIMMAGE STATS
SCORINGHaro, 7-yard TD run (lateral from Thomas)Costa, 30-yard TD reception from Thomas
PASSING ATT CMP YDS INT TDThomas 13 9 108 0 1 (30)Nantkes 7 2 15 0 0
RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TDHaro 6 26 4.3 1 (7)Croom 4 20 5.0 0Dorsey 2 11 5.5 0Jackson 4 11 2.8 0Thomas 3 9 3.0 0Boone 2 1 0.5 0Burnett 5 1 0.2 0Arciaga 1 0 0.0 0Nantkes 4 -11 -2.8 0Turner 1 -11 -11.0 0
RE1CEIVING REC YDS AVG TDCosta 2 39 19.5 1 (30)E. Johnson 2 33 16.5 0M. Johnson 1 12 12.0 0Deon Barnes 1 10 10.0 0Perkins 1 10 10.0 0Relf 1 7 7.0 0Harris 1 5 5.0 0Mandley 1 4 4.0 0Croom 1 3 3.0 0
FIELD GOALS FGA FGM LGPieffer 6 4 47 Made: 41, 41, 47, 38 Missed: 41, 47
Preston 1 1 37 Made: 37
PUNTING NO YDS AVG LGCooke 3 129 43.0 49
TACKLESDalton 5Brown 4David Olsen 3Jones 3Dodd-Masters 3Wynn 3Bell 2Derek Olsen 2Lawless 2Moore 2Reed 2Young 2Seward 2Brimmer 2Nine Tied With 1
