UNLV vs. BYU -- Game notes

Just when you thought things couldn't get any uglier for UNLV. ... The Rebels (0-6, 0-3) lost their 11th straight game Saturday, in Provo to BYU 38-14. It was one of the worst offensive performances in school history. UNLV finished with just 98 yards in total offense and five first downs, but, hard as it is to believe, things were a whole lot worse than that. The Rebels had one first down -- one -- in the first 49 minutes. They also "amassed" 27 yards in total offense during that span before Cougars coach LaVell Edwards mercifully called off the dogs. "This was as bad as it could be," UNLV coach Jeff Horton admitted. "If you can't move the ball, you are not going to win football games. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure that out." Senior Chad Reed, making his first college start at quarterback, probably wishes he remained at wide receiver and special teams after taking a pounding from BYU's blitzing defense. Reed was sacked five times and was constantly on the run and forced to hurry his throws. He finished a dismal 5-for-20 for just 21 yards, a school-record for fewest passing yardage in a game. He also was intercepted once. "We knew that they were going to bring a lot of pressure, that they would come with their 'backers," Reed said. "But we just didn't step up and make the plays."

Remarkably, even though its offense went three-and-out on its first seven sorry possessions of the game, UNLV found itself tied 14-14 with just 1:22 to go in the first half, as the Rebels scored two touchdowns in less than a minute. First, senior defensive back Mark Hays blocked a J.D. Hartsfield punt that Randy Black fell on at the Cougar six. Tailback James Wofford bounced in off left tackle on the next play to cut BYU's lead to 14-7. Three plays later, UNLV linebacker Greg Gales hammered BYU quarterback Drew Miller on a blitz and the ball went flying to Cougar offensive guard Matt Johnson, who caught it. After about five seconds, UNLV tackle Justin Conway knocked the ball away from Johnson, then picked it up and ran 24 yards for the game-tying touchdown. Overlooked in the loss was another stellar punting performance by senior Joe Kristosik, who averaged 52.5 yards on a school-record 13 punts and had four punts of 60 or more yards and eight of 50. All-WAC defensive end Talance Sawyer (6 tackles, 2 sacks) also seemed to get the best of all-WAC left tackle John Tait in their individual matchup.

Next opponent

The Rebels return to host Wyoming (4-1, 2-0) Saturday at 4 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium. It's Homecoming for the Rebels. It also could be a record-tying day for UNLV. The Rebels (0-6, 0-3) have lost 11 straight games. The school record is 12 set in 1995-96.

Attendance

Saturday's crowd: 61,774.

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