UNLV falls again, this time to BYU

October 12, 2009 by James Kaikis 

Rebels give up 59 points in loss, 122 in last two games

The Rebels look like a team searching for an identity, as the BYU Cougars blasted the Rebels (2-4, 0-2 Mountain West) Saturday night, 59-21.

“A loss is a loss,” said senior Ryan Wolfe. “We just didn’t get it done, point blank.”
This was the team’s second consecutive game loss by 35 points or more, something that could cost coach Mike Sanford his job.

“First thing we have to do is give BYU credit,” Sanford said. “They are the 18th-ranked football team,and they played like it.”

The Rebels also allowed more than 600 total yards for the second time in as many weeks, as they allowed 611 to the Cougars.

BYU quarterback Max Hall had his way with the Rebels’ secondary, converting on 21 of 27 attempts for 320 yards and two scores.

The BYU offense was a force to be reckoned with, converting a season best 78 percent on third down. The Cougars were 8-11 on third down conversions, continuing their reign as the best in the country in third down conversions this season.

The UNLV defense allowed Cougar running back Harvey Unga to rush for 149 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns. Unga also had a 52-yard touchdown run.

“We didn’t tackle well enough to win,” Sanford said. “Anytime a team rushes for 291 yards on you, we didn’t tackle well.”

For the Rebels, quarterback Omar Clayton appears to be human, as he threw another two interceptions this week bringing his season total to 7 as compared to 9 in his previous two seasons.

“He had flashes of brilliances, flashes of mistakes,” Sanford said about Clayton. “Kind of a weird interception early. That guy just made a great play. [Clayton] can play much better.”
The BYU defense shut down the Rebel offense during the first half. The Rebels’ lone score came on a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Deante’ Purvis, something the Rebels haven’t done in 10 years.

Wide receiver Ryan Wolfe led the Rebels with 8 catches for a mere 69 yards moving into second place on the Mountain West Conference’s all-time reception list.

For the Rebels, speedster Michael Johnson made a great play in the opening minutes of the third quarter, taking a 75-yard touchdown pass to the house.

The Cougars never looked back after Johnson’s score putting it on the Rebels during the third quarter and going up by a score of 45-14.

By the time the fourth quarter started, Rebel fans appeared as though they had had enough of the onslaught, as the seats emptied.

The Rebels did add another score in the first few minutes of the fourth, but the Cougars added two more touchdowns, bringing the final score to 59-21.

As for the rumors of Sanford being fired, interim athletic director Jerry Koloskie put those worries to rest at least for a few days, until president Neal Smatresk returns to Las Vegas.
“My position hasn’t changed since last week,” Koloskie said. “With half the games to go, I am not going to change my position on this. I still think this football team has a lot of promise.”

The Rebels will host Utah next week for the Homecoming matchup. The Rebels must win this game if they want to have any chance at salvaging their season and keeping Sanford as head coach of this team.

“The seniors and leaders on this team just have to stick together and rally the troops.” Wolfe said. “We just have to get everyone on the same page and just get it done.”