Aug. 16, 2003
LAS VEGAS - UNLV's offense scored six touchdowns by six different players as the Rebel football team played its first scrimmage of preseason camp Saturday night at Ernie Becker Sr. Football Fields at Bill "Wildcat" Morris Park.
Playing before a crowd of more than 300 fans in unusually mild temperatures just before a severe lightning storm hit the area, junior quarterback Kurt Nantkes looked sharp in completing 7-11 pass attempts (despite three drops by receivers) for 191 yards, two scores and no interceptions. The other passing touchdown came from Tyler Arciaga to Royce Boone, who twisted his way into the end zone from 31 yards out.
While senior Michael Johnson paced the unit with three receptions, junior-college transfer tight end Greg Estandia led all players in receiving yards with 86 on two grabs, including a play-action Nantkes pass over the defense that went for 70 yards. Estandia, who stands 6-foot-8, also earned notice by blocking two of the Rebels' four field goal attempts on the night. Redshirt freshman receiver Tremayne Kirkland also had a huge night with two catches for 44 yards, including a 32-yard score from a Nantkes pass, to go along with a sensational 33-yard kick return.
Highly touted junior-college transfer running back Alvin Marshall was also impressive in rolling up 78 yards on 10 carries, including a four-yard touchdown burst. However, leading all runners was redshirt freshman Erick Jackson. His 91 yards on just eight carries included a stunning 48-yard score. Senior Deon Burnett added the third rushing touchdown with a five-yarder.
Defensively, defensive back Aaron Miller led the way with five tackles while linebacker John Andrews had two tackles for loss and one of the squad's two sacks. Also, 2003 Preseason Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year Jamaal Brimmer had the night's only interception.
The Rebels will hold nine more practices until school begins on August 25. The team kicks off the season by hosting Toledo on Friday, August 29 at 6 p.m. PT. Season and single-game tickets are now available by calling (702) 895-UNLV.
UNLV FOOTBALL
PRESEASON SCRIMMAGE STATISTICS
August 16, 2003
SCORING(RECEIVING)
TE Greg Estandia, 70-yard pass reception from QB Kurt NantkesWR Tremayne Kirkland, 32-yard pass reception from QB Kurt NantkesRB Royce Boone, 31-yard pass reception from QB Tyler Arciaga
(RUSHING)
RB Erick Jackson, 48-yard rushRB Deon Burnett, 5-yard rushRB Alvin Marshall, 4-yard rush
RUSHING ATT YARDS AVG TD
Erick Jackson 8 91 11.4 1Alvin Marshall 10 78 7.8 1Deon Burnett 9 25 2.7 1Dyante Perkins 5 23 4.6 0Royce Boone 1 17 17.0 0Shane Steichen 2 -13 -6.5 0TOTAL 35 227 6.5 3
PASSING A-C-I YARDS TD
Kurt Nantkes 11-7-0 191 2Tyler Arciaga 7-4-0 69 1Shane Steichen 10-6-1 59 0TOTAL 28-17-1 319 3
RECEIVING NO YARDS AVG TD
Michael Johnson 3 52 17.3 0Greg Estandia 2 86 43.0 1Tremayne Kirkland 2 44 22.0 1Earvin Johnson 2 30 15.0 0Donell Wheaton 2 26 13.0 0Royce Boone 1 31 31.0 1Erick Jackson 1 14 14.0 0David Relf 1 12 12.0 0Deon Burnett 1 12 12.0 0Shelvion Williams 1 7 7.0 0Michael Freund 1 5 5.0 0TOTAL 17 319 18.8 3
PUNTING NO YARDS AVG LONG
Gary Cook 3 157 52.3 60Bryan Cortney 1 20 20.0 20TOTAL 4 177 44.3 60
FIELD GOALS ATT MADE
Dillon Pieffer 32,37,47 32,37Sergio Aguayo 25 0
PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LONG
Tremayne Kirkland 1 33 33.0 33Alvin Marshall 1 -2 -2 -2TOTAL 2 31 15.5 33
BLOCKED FIELD GOALS TOT
Greg Estandia 2
TACKLE LEADERS TT TFL INT SACKS
Aaron Miller 5 0 0 0Faauo Faga 4 0 0 0Mike Frazier 4 0 0 0John Andrews 3 2 0 1Zach Bell 3 1 0 1
PASS BREAKUPS PBU INT
Jamaal Brimmer 1 1Aaron Miller 1 0Leon Moore 1 0Shannon Nowden 1 0Zach Bell 1 0Brian Nicholson 1 0
