Nov. 27, 2006

LAS VEGAS - UNLV quarterback Rocky Hinds saved his best for last this season and the sophomore's efforts in helping the Rebels upset Air Force 42-39 in their season finale on Friday were rewarded by the Mountain West Conference today.

Hinds has been named the MWC Co-Offensive Player of the Week along with BYU signal caller John Beck. It marks the first and only weekly honor earned by a Rebel player this season and is UNLV's first player of the week on the offensive side of the ball since running back Larry Croom on Dec. 2, 2002.

Hinds completed a career-high 24 passes in 36 attempts for a career-high 351 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for a career-best 45 yards on just five carries in the victory over the Falcons. The former USC transfer finished 2006 with 2,148 yards, which made him UNLV's first 2,000-yard passer since Jon Denton in 1997.

Hinds' nod made sure UNLV, which has now won 32 MWC players of the week since the league formed in 1999, did not get shut out of weekly conference awards for the first time ever. The last time the Rebels only earned one such honor came in the 1997 season when the school was part of the Western Athletic Conference.

Co-winner Beck passed for 375 yards and four touchdowns in a 33-31 win at Utah. Also, New Mexico linebacker Cody Kase won defensive honors while Lobo place-kicker Kenny Byrd was named special teams player of the week.