Live Game Blog: UNLV embarrassed at Colorado State, falls to 1-6

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 | 10:50 a.m.

Updated Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 | 2:45 p.m.

Final: Colorado State 43, UNLV 10

UNLV squandered one of its best chances to grab another victory Saturday afternoon in Fort Collins.

UNLV and Colorado State both limped into the game with a 1-5 record. But the Rams stormed out with a resounding 43-10 victory against the Rebels.

Colorado State scored on each of its first five drives and established a lead UNLV could never chip into. Freshman quarterback Pete Thomas passed for three touchdowns and 233 yards on 10-for-14 passing against the Rams.

UNLV’s counterpart, Omar Clayton, had no such success. He went 15-for-23 for 114 yards. Freshman running back Tim Cornett had the Rebels only touchdown when he scored from the three-yard line in the second quarter.

Cornett finished with 67 yards on 16 carries. Deante Purvis recorded 14 carries for 85 yards for UNLV.

UNLV played its second straight game without standout receiver Phillip Payne, who was suspended last week after negative tweets. The Rebels have next weekend off, before returning to action by hosting TCU on Saturday Oct. 30.

5:00 remaining, fourth quarter, Colorado State leads 43-10

UNLV coach Bobby Hauck switched to freshman quarterback Caleb Herring before the Rebels last drive.

Herring could not spark new life into the sputtering UNLV offense. In fact, he added to the problems. On his second carry, Herring took a big hit and fumbled the ball. Colorado State recovered and turned it into a field goal. The Rams lead the Rebels 43-10.

Colorado State also added a field goal at the beginning of the quarter, a 19-yarder with 11 minutes to play. The UNLV defense has struggled equally against the run and the pass. The Rebels have given up 233 yards through the air and 246 yards on the ground.

Colorado State linebacker Mike Orakpo, brother of the Washington Redskins Brian Orakpo, has been trouble for the UNLV offense. He forced the Clayton fumble and one other earlier in the game.

The 43 points are the most Colorado State has scored in the Steve Fairchild era.

End of third quarter, Colorado State up 37-10

The Rebels offense couldn't take advantage of the team's biggest play of the game.

True freshman Eric Tuiloma, a local product who went to Desert Pines, blocked a Colorado State at the 25-yard line with four minutes left in the quarter. But Omar Clayton couldn't stir up any production on offense and the Rebels turned the ball over on downs after facing a 4th-and-20 situation.

Heading into the fourth quarter, Clayton has 114 yards on 15-for-23 passing. Running backs Deante Purvis and Tim Cornett have combined for 143 yards on 18 carries. The defense played better after halftime, allowing only a field goal to the Rams, but the offense had only 11 yards of total offense.

8:00 remaining, third quarter, Colorado State leads 37-10

The second half picked up where the first half left off for UNLV.

The Rebels allowed a 51-yard rush by Leonard Mason to open the second half. The long run gave Colorado State the ball just outside of UNLV's red zone, but the Rebels were able to keep the Rams out of the end zone.

Instead, Ben DeLine kicked a 36-yard field goal to make the score 37-10 Colorado State. The Rebels went three-and-out, but their defense had its best possession of the afternoon and forced Colorado State to punt.

Halftime, Colorado State blowing out UNLV

Pete Thomas, Colorado State's freshman quarterback, is 7-for-9 for 219 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.

Yes, it's been that bad for UNLV. The Rebels trail 34-10 at halftime in Fort Collins.

The defense has looked clueless and the special teams haven't been much better. Colorado State's last touchdown came after a failed fake punt attempt by UNLV.

Rebels punter Brendon Lamers took off toward the sideline on 4th-and-1 from the 29-yard line, but couldn't beat two Rams defenders to the first down marker. That gave Colorado State great field position and Thomas found Eric Peitz for a touchdown pass on the next play.

Peitz has 43 receiving yards, two catches and two touchdowns for the Rams. Lou Greenwood has added two catches and a touchdown on 128 receiving yards. For UNLV, Omar Clayton is 13-for-19 for 116 yards.

1:45 remaining, second quater, UNLV down by 17

Right when it appeared the UNLV offense had the Rebels back in the game, the special teams and defense killed that thought. Colorado State has a 27-10 lead right before halftime.

UNLV put together an impressive 5-minute, 73-play drive capped off by a Tim Cornett touchdown to make the score 21-10. But Colorado State's Derek Good took the ensuing kickoff 75 yards and well into UNLV territory.

Three plays later, Colorado State celebrated its fourth touchdown of the day. Mike Mosure scored on a 9-yard rush for the Rams.

The Rebels defense has had its worst half of the year. Colorado State has 222 yards of total offense and an average of 12 yards per play.

UNLV quarterback Omar Clayton is 12-for-17 for 107 yards. Cornett and Deante Purvis have combined for 18 carries and 71 yards.

7:30 remaining, second quarter, Colorado State leads 21-3

The UNLV secondary has some serious issues today.

Colorado State quarterback Pete Thomas found receiver Lou Greenwood for a 73-yard touchdown pass, the second long pass from Thomas to Greenwood of the afternoon. Colorado State has scored every time it has had the ball and has taken a commanding 21-3 lead.

Thomas is 5-for-5 for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Greenwood's two catches total 128 receiving yards. The Rams ground game has worked, too. As a team, they have 58 yards on 11 carries.

UNLV has found no such success on offense. The Rebels have rushed 13 times for 16 yards. Quarterback Omar Clayton is 9-for-12, but only has 69 yards. The Rebels are once again without standout receiver Phillip Payne, who did not make the trip to Fort Collins.

Payne was suspended last week for posting negative comments on his twitter. He spent this week on the scout team and is no longer listed on the depth chart.

1:00 remaining, first quarter, Colorado State up 14-3

It wasn't pretty, but it was good and that's all that matters.

Freshman kicker Nolan Kohorst made a career-long 46-yard field to get the Rebels on the board. Colorado State leads 14-3.

The kick was low and wobbly, but went right through the uprights. It was a surprise that Kohorst even had an opportunity at the field goal. The play before, officials flagged UNLV for a 15-yard personal foul penalty.

But Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild declined the penalty, which left UNLV in field goal range. Kohorst made the Rams pay.

Colorado State wasted no time with its response. Pete Thomas just found Eric Peitz for a 14-yard touchdown. Thomas has shown flashes of why he was so highly recruited.

He set up the touchdown by completing a long play action pass to Lou Greenwood for 55 yards on the opening play of the drive. It took the Rams only one minute and three plays to score its second touchdown of the game.

9:00 remaining, first quarter, Colorado State leads 7-0

UNLV made the first mistake and Colorado State took advantage.

The Rebels first drive ended prematurely when converted cornerback Deante Purvis fumbled at UNLV's 42-yard line. Colorado State ran eight plays before it found the end zone and leads UNLV 7-0 early.

Leonard Mason punched the touchdown in from the three-yard line. Mason had five carries for 31 yards on the drive. Colorado State rushed in all but one play on the drive.

Pete Thomas completed his only pass when he found Tyson Liggett for nine yards. UNLV will start its next drive at the 23-yard line.

Pregame

At least one of the most desperate teams in the nation will record a victory Saturday afternoon.

With Colorado State (1-5, 0-2) hosting UNLV (1-5, 1-1) in Fort Collins, something has to give. The Rebels and Rams have been two of the worst teams in the nation this season and are both coming off of lopsided defeats on the road.

Air Force spanked Colorado 49-27, while West Virginia dominated UNLV 49-10.

Series history favors Colorado State, a 3-point favorite in Las Vegas sports books. The Rams are 12-5-1 all time against UNLV. They had a six-game winning streak over the Rebels until UNLV prevailed 35-16 last year at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Hughes Stadium figures to be a less-inviting venue. UNLV has only won three games at Fort Collins and last beat Colorado State on the road in 2002.

Freshman quarterback Pete Thomas leads Colorado State with 214 passing yards per game. A major recruit out of high school, it hasn’t been easy for Thomas to adjust to the college game.

He has eight interceptions compared with five touchdowns, but appears to be improving every week. Thomas would be smart to look away from UNLV defensive back Will Chandler, who leads the nation in takeaways.

Chandler has four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Although some of Chandler’s success comes from a case of being at the right place at the right time, he’s been a star for a Rebels defense that hasn’t had much else to celebrate.

UNLV has particularly struggled to pressure the quarterback and is 106th out of 120 teams in the nation in scoring defense. Colorado State has its defensive flaws, too. The Rams are 109th in scoring defense and 110th against the run. That could open the doors for UNLV freshman running back Tim Cornett to have a big game.

Cornett is listed at the top of the depth chart and should get the first start of his career.

Prediction: Colorado State 35, UNLV 27 This game will go down to the very end. The Rebels will likely lead for a stretch, but the Rams use their slight edge in talent to improve to 2-5.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.