Sept. 14, 2012
WASHINGTON STATE AT UNLV GAME NOTES
Sept. 14, 2012 at Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Washington State, which had not played in Las Vegas since 1991, improved to 6-0 all-time vs. the Rebels with a 35-27 final.
UNLV fell to 6-2-1 all-time in games played on Fridays, losing for the first time on the day since Sept. 7, 2001, vs. Northwestern.
The Rebels have lost three straight games by single digits (3 points, 3 points and 8 points) for the first time since John Robinson's squad lost four such games to open the 2001 season (4 points, 9 points, 7 points and 4 points).
The game was televised by ESPN, which marked the first time the network showed a UNLV football game from Las Vegas since 2003.
John Lotulelei's first interception as a Rebel halted Washington State's opening drive. UNLV would also get a second-half pick from Tajh Hasson to give them the overall turnover battle, 2-1.
Washington State's four-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter marked the first time in 2012 that UNLV's opponent scored first.
After WSU took a 14-0 lead, UNLV responded with a scoring drive of its own that culminated with Nick Sherry throwing his second career touchdown pass. He would go on to throw a total of three.
Offensive tackle Ron Scoggins Jr. became the fourth true freshman to play for UNLV this season, starting in place of Brett Boyko. He is the son of former lineman Ron Sr., who lettered for the Rebels from 1983-85.
That number went even higher later in the game as FB Connor Afoa made it in special teams to make it five true freshman playing in 2012
Junior quarterback Caleb Herring lined up at receiver for the first time in his career and finished with five receptions for 68 yards.
With Marquess Wilson's 81-yard TD reception for the Cougars in the second quarter, UNLV allowed a pass longer than 80 yards for the first time since UNR hit a 90-yarder on Sept. 29, 2007.
UNLV answered right back with its own long score as Marcus Sullivan took a Sherry pass in for a 75-yard TD. That marked the program's first pass for longer than 70 yards since Omar Clayton found Michael Johnson for a 75-yarder on Oct. 10, 2009 vs. BYU.
Marcus Sullivan had four catches for 126 yards in the first half alone. That made him the first Rebel to reach 100-yard mark in a game since Phillip Payne finished with 175 vs. Southern Utah on Sept. 24, 2011. The sophomore finished with 136 on six grabs to go with two touchdowns.
Nick Sherry's 351 yards passing were the most for a Rebel since Rocky Hinds threw for that same amount vs. Air Force on Nov. 24, 2006. The total also tied for the 18th-most in school history.
Sherry also completed a career-high 33 passes (to 12 different receivers), which tied the school record, set by redshirt rookie Jon Denton, who also finished with 33 at San Jose State in 1996.
Tim Cornett saw his 100-yard rushing streak end at two games after he finished with 89 yards on 20 carries. His 15 yards receiving and 25-yard kickoff return gave him 129 all-purpose yards.
Freshman safety Peni Vea led the team in tackles for the third straight game with 10. He now has 28 in three games.
UNLV gained eight more first downs than WSU (26-18) and out-rushed the Cougars 109-83.
Senior punter Chase Lansford finished with a 40.5-yard average on four attempts. He has finished above 40 yards all three games this season.
The Rebels added two QB sacks to give them seven through three games after recording a total of just 14 in 2011.
