Monday, Oct. 28, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
It was Homecoming Day. Fourth quarter. UNLV trailed Fresno State by seven points and the Rebels had the ball on their own 20-yard line.
All the elements for a dramatic comeback were in place ... except one.
The Rebels didn't know how to come back, and eventually lost 34-23 Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Unable to respond to the challenge, UNLV (0-9) virtually curled into a fetal position, as the offensive line did its best impression of a row of toll booths. The five blockers just watched traffic run right by.
"We were manhandled up front," UNLV head coach Jeff Horton said. "They weren't even blitzing much. We just didn't get it done."
On the first play of the key series, quarterback Jon Denton was dropped for a 10-yard loss. The next two, pressure sent him scrambling, but he was able to pick up a first down at the 31-yard line. Then a personal foul sent the Rebels back to their 18.
But instead of bucking up, the Rebels got worse. On second-and-23, Denton couldn't shake the Bulldog onslaught and fumbled. Center Bubba Gonzalez recovered on the 9, but that only set up another miserable play. Denton grounded the ball in the end zone for a safety.
"I didn't know throwing the ball away in the end zone was a safety," said Denton, who had 200 yards passing by the 8-minute mark of the second period but finished 17 of 38 for 233 yards and a touchdown. "It won't happen again, but it's exactly what I would have done if I was at midfield.
"They brought the house the first three downs. They put a lot of pressure on me."
That's why Horton wouldn't blame his quarterback for the safety.
"If you get four 270-pound guys chasing you back there, you'd get a little nervous, too," Horton said. "He wanted to get rid of the ball quicker and deservedly so."
Now down 32-23, the Rebel defense responded by stopping the Bulldogs (3-5) on their ensuing possession, and a punt gave the Rebel offense the ball on its own 13 with 4:14 on the clock.
And something familiar occurred.
Denton was harried on a third-and-15 play. Chased into the end zone, he was slammed to the turf for another safety.
"Those guys were coming like bats out of hell," Denton said. "They were coming fast. We're not a huge offensive line, and they took advantage of it."
On the day, Denton and UNLV running backs were thrown for 81 yards worth of losses.
"We have no excuses to make," Rebel left tackle Dennis Whitmore said. "They weren't as good as we made them look."
On plays here and there, UNLV's offensive line was stellar, springing backs for long gains in the first half and giving Denton enough time to lead the team to leads of 10-0, 17-7 and 20-14.
"It does make you frustrated when on one drive you can blow holes wide open in the defense and then you come back on the next series and its three (plays) and out. You wonder 'What the hell is going on?'"
Extra points
* DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT: UNLV's 1996 defense has a shot at avoiding the record books as the worst in NCAA Division I history. By surrendering only 34 points Saturday, the Rebels' points-against average fell to 48.4 per game. They have allowed 436 total in nine games. Texas-El Paso's 1973 squad owns the all-time worst defense. In 11 games, it gave up 544 points for an average of 49.5 per game. So, to avoid each mark, UNLV must limit its three remaining opponents -- Texas Christian, San Diego State and San Jose State -- to fewer than 108 points (for total points allowed) and 158 points (for average per game).
* WHEN IN DOUBT, GRUNT: Head coach Jeff Horton yanked punter Joe Kristosik because "I just didn't like the way he kicked the first one." Somehow, Horton saw something he liked from Kristosik's replacement and former Bishop Gorman teammate, Tim O'Reilly. The freshman sub averaged 35.3 yards on four punts, but that included a long of 61 yards and another that went 50 yards but into the end zone for a touchback. O'Reilly's other punts went 13 yards (out of bounds at the Rebels' 34, which set up the eventual game-winning touchdown in the third quarter) and 17 yards (with a stiff wind at his back). For the record, Kristosik punted from his own end zone and it went 42 yards to the Rebel 47. Fresno State's Brian Roberson returned it 17 yards to set up the Bulldogs' first touchdown.
* HOW SWEENEY IT IS: Bulldog mentor Jim Sweeney, who announced his retirement last Thursday, earned his 199th coaching victory. With one more win, the 67-year-old legend will become the 16th coach in Division I-A history to reach 200. The list includes Bear Bryant, Pop Warner, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Woody Hayes and Joe Paterno. Sweeney was asked what he thinks of the milestone now that he is one win away. "The players are excited, too. They want to be a part of this," he said. "Every game is a bowl game for us now."
* GRID TIDBITS: UNLV, which owns the longest current losing streak among all NCAA Div. I schools at 11, lost its seventh straight home game. ... The Rebels did not have a turnover, the first time that's happened since Nov. 16, 1991, against New Mexico State. ... Junior kicker Alan Di Leo not only made a career high three field goals Saturday, but two of his boots broke his previous long of 37 yards. His kicks were good from 21, 42 and 44 yards, although his two longest would have been good from about 55 yards. ... FSU tight end Scott Thompson, who scored the Bulldogs' third touchdown, has caught just three passes in his career. All were for touchdowns. ... The announced paid attendance was 11,319, but in house was about half of that.
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