Nov. 19, 2005
Recap | Box Score | Quotes
UNLV vs. COLORADO STATE Game Notes
With the 31-27 loss, UNLV ended its season 2-9 for the second straight season.
UNLV wore all-red uniforms for the first time since 1998.
19 Rebel seniors were honored before the game.
CSU improved to 5-0-1 vs. UNLV in Las Vegas.
The last three game played between these two teams in Las Vegas were decided by a total of seven points (2,1,4).
UNLV senior safety Joe Miklos turned in a game-high 15 tackles, which gave him 98 on the year, which led the team. He finished his career with 267.
Senior Greg Estandia caught his seventh TD of the season in the second quarter, breaking the school record for touchdown receptions in a season by a tight end and tying for the ninth most all time for any Rebel.
With two more catches Saturday, Estandia became the first tight end to lead UNLV in receptions for a season (49) since Jack Hansen had 38 in 1972. Estandia also paced the team with 563 receiving yards.
UNLV RB Erick Jackson's 18 carries for 101 yards marked the junior's second 100-yard rushing game of the season and career but first since Game Six vs. SDSU. QB Shane Steichen, who finished with 104 vs. Idaho, was the only other Rebel to rush for 100 yards in a game in 2005.
UNLV out-rushed CSU 190-135, which marked the first time the Rebels out-rushed an opponent since Game Six vs. SDSU. The Rebels had rushed for a total of just 126 yards in the previous four games.
CSU had two turnovers to UNLV's 1, which marked the first time the Rebels won the turnover battle since Game Six vs. SDSU. UNLV entered the game ranking 109th in the nation in turnover margin at minus-9.
The game marked the first time UNLV finished its regular season schedule at home since 1999. The Rebels fell to 4-3 in season-enders since joining the MWC and 15-21-2 all-time.
The Rebels have now lost six straight games in the month of November, dating back to a 35-24 victory at Wyoming to close the 2003 season.
By completing 215 of 394 pass attempts on the season, UNLV finished with its highest passing percentage (54.56) since a 55.0 clip in 1990.
Even though he came back to play after missing the last six games because of a broken finger, UNLV QB Shane Steichen rushed for 80 yards vs. CSU to give him 324 on the year, which ranked second on the team.
After getting no picks vs. CSU, UNLV set a school record for least interceptions in a season with five. The previous record of six was set three times (2004, 1996 and 1989).
Leon Moore had two tackles for loss, which gave the senior a team-leading 12.5 on the year.
UNLV gave up a punt return for a touchdown for the first time since SDSU took one back on Oct. 26, 2002.
UNLV head coach Mike Sanford successfully challenged a play, throwing the red flag after CSU appeared to have thrown a TD pass into the back of the end zone in the game's opening drive. The call was reversed and CSU had to settle for a field goal. It was the first time that Sanford had successfully challenged a call since the season opener at New Mexico. Overall, Sanford saw two of his six coach challenges overturned in his favor in the first year of instant replay.
With his 39-yard FG in the opening quarter and 24-yarder in the second, UNLV place-kicker Sergio Aguayo improved to 12-16 on the season. Even including a second-quarter 42-yard attempt that was blocked, the sophomore has now made 20 of his last 25 attempts dating back to last season.
