UNLV vs SMU -- game notes

Game notes

By Steve Guiremand

So much for happy endings. The stage was set for a dream homecoming for UNLV head football coach Jeff Horton. With his mother, sister and brother among the announced crowd of 16,073 at the Cotton Bowl Saturday afternoon, it looked like Horton and the Rebels would finally snap the nation's co-longest (with Hawaii) losing streak for Division I teams at 12 games. Thanks to a 11-yard touchdown pass from senior Chad Reed to freshman wide receiver Sam Brandon late in the third quarter, the Rebels held a 7-3 lead with just 2:43 left in the fourth quarter when host SMU took over at its own 20-yard line. And with 2:00 left, it appeared UNLV had stopped Mustang running back Rodnick Phillips short of a first down on 4th-and-one at the SMU 29. But when the officials brought the sticks out to measure, the Ponies got the first down by about three inches. SMU, which converted just 2 of 15 third down tries all afternoon, also converted on a 4th-and-2 play at the 50 with 1:06 left when running back Kelsey Adams squirted free for a three-yard gain. After a couple of 13-yard pass completions by Mustang backup quarterback Chris Sanders came the crusher. On second-and-10 at the UNLV 21, Sanders hit all-WAC cornerback Jacoby Rhinehart, put into the game as an extra wide receiver, on a slant pass. Rhinehart broke a tackle by Rebel freshman cornerback Kevin Thomas at the eight and sprinted into the end zone with just 22 seconds left for the game-winning touchdown.

The losing streak is now at 13.

For the Rebels, who lost in overtime to Wyoming, 28-25, after fumbling at the goal line in overtime, things somehow find a way to get worse.

"It seems like we're cursed," all-WAC defensive end Talance Sawyer said.

"That's two weeks in a row that it has come right down to the wire," Horton said. "I told the team that I lied to them. I told them before the game that if they played hard and left everything they had out there on the field that they'd win. They did, but we didn't."

UNLV, which came into the game ranked 108th nationally in total defense, yielding an average of 479.1 yards per game, and 110th in scoring defense (40.0), played by far it's best defensive game of the season. The Rebels limited SMU, which came into the game averaging 20.1 points, to just a field goal for the first 59:38. And until that final fateful Mustang scoring drive, UNLV had limited SMU to just nine first downs and 162 yards in total offense. SMU finished with just 15 first downs and 247 yards in total offense and was just 2 for 15 on third down conversions.

Among those cheering on UNLV's sideline was Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin. UNLV defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill once recruited Irvin's brother. ... Senior defensive back Mark Hays, switching between corner and safety, finished the contest with a game-high 17 tackles. He also broke up two passes, including one in the end zone. ... Senior punter Joe Kristosik , who entered the game first in the WAC and second nationally with a 46.9 average, struggled (for him) at times Saturday and averaged "only" 43.0 yards on 10 punts. ...With four receptions for 38 yards, Damon Williams moved past Demond Thompkins into second place on the school's career receiving yardage list. ... SMU's 10 points were the fewest scored on UNLV since Eastern Michigan was held to a field goal in a 17-3 loss on Sept. 3, 1994, Jeff Horton's debut as Rebel head coach.

Next opponent

The Rebels return home to host Tulsa (2-5, 0-4) in a Halloween matinee at Sam Boyd Stadium at 1 p.m. The Golden Hurricane, which opened the season with victories over Southwest Missouri State (49-14) and Oklahoma State (35-20), bring a losing streak of their own to Las Vegas (five games), including a 42-21 setback to Air Force on Saturday.

Attendance

Saturday's crowd: 16,073.

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