Savor the moment, guys, because with that win, UNLV is now 1-0 in Mountain West play and all alone in first place. But that's only because nobody else has played a conference game.
Week 5 Pre-Recruit Notes
-Georgia and Texas join the
QB Rufus Heath chase, with the Longhorns getting a Visit in the same week that he comes out to Las Vegas for our second visit of the year. At least we'll make his final dance card.
-Purdue hops in on
C Herb Mackay, but I'm betting it comes down to us or Arizona State.
-
T Leland Wolflick gets an offer from Texas A&M and he treks out to visit the Aggies. He then tells me he's almost 100% sure to commit to them and that we're out of the running.
-
DT Desmond Ross visits the Badgers.
-Meanwhile we're fighting WIAC schools for
DT Brant Dacosta, with UW-Eau Claire stepping up with an offer.
-
CB Matthew Mustard now has offers from Missouri and Marshall on the table. Internet message boards claim that Mustard is a 100% absolute guaranteed lock for the great Mizzou Tigers.
Injury Report (Serious Ones Only
DE Harris Burbank - Dislocated Knee - 14 Weeks
TE Junior Spindler - Torn Knee Ligament - 24 Weeks
Burbank's loss is pretty much a whatever, but losing Spindler, our starting TE, for the entire season, really hurts.
Peter Prescott takes over as the starter.
vs Utah State (1-2) (-9)
We're heavily favored against this Sun Belt squad as we try and even our record for the year. This one's over very early, thanks to
RB Jamal Dupont adding to his legend with 18 carries for 159 yards and a TD and 2 catches for 13 yards and a TD. Reserve
RB Gerald Dimick tacks on 87 rushing yards and 2 TDs and even
FB Richie Gaylor gets two TDs on the ground.
DE Jesse Haddock got another 2 sacks, but it was
C Antoine Meier's 8 key run blocks that won Player of the Game in this laugher. All three QBs got in the game, that's how bad we kicked the Aggies' asses.
Utah State 7
UNLV 56
Great game for
Rufus Heath to see, although I doubt it changes anything.
Now we lose
ILB Dustin Conway for the year with an ACL injury. Lovely. At least he wasn't the starter, but considering how many people kinda liked him, it's a tough blow.
WEEK 6 - FREMONT CANNON WEEK!
The most important week of the season is, the Battle for the Fremont Cannon. We win a pre-emptive battle by being the first school
WR Ricky Newsome visits. Yay!!! Middle Tennessee State also offers Newsome scholarship but it's clear he's down to either us or UNR.
-Utah is now offering
TE Richie Springer.
-
G Louie O'Neill now has an offer from Fresno State.
-
T Oscar Kohzin gets an offer from and visits Michigan. That's two Big 10 schools he's taken visits to, now.
-
DT Desmond Ross visits Miami (OH) and it's not looking good for us.
-
DT Brant Dacosta says if Marshall offers him a scholarship, we're out of the running.
-Ball State offers
CB Matthew Mustard. I may have mentioned this before, but it's an awful class for CBs we have a realistic shot at, so I'm really hoping we get him.
Fremont Cannon - 2004 Preview
Code:
Record: 2-1
Rank: 65
Nevada Team Rank
Rushes 131 47 (T)
Rushing Yards 596 37
Yards Per Carry 4.54 29
Pass Attempts 80 96
Completions 41 92 (T)
Passing Yards 400 110
Yards Per Attempt 5.00 100 (T)
3rd Down Conversions 44.1 31 (T)
Points Per Game 24.3 66 (T)
Turnovers 7 64 (T)
Turnover Margin +1 40 (T)
Opponents Team Rank
Rushes 81 6 (T)
Rushing Yards 385 49 (T)
Yards Per Carry 4.75 90
Pass Attempts 105 66 (T)
Completions 68 93 (T)
Passing Yards 695 61
Yards Per Attempt 6.61 48
3rd Down Conversions 37.5 70 (T)
Points Per Game 30.3 76
Turnovers 8 29 (T)
Primary Formation: Veer Formation
Week Team Versus Oppnt
2 21 at LATC (97) 20
4 38 BUFF (78) 31
5 14 at SDST (80) 40
6 at UNLV (67)
7 at HAWI (37)
8 RICE (85)
9 TLSA (112)
11 SJST (88)
12 at SMTH (101)
13 at FRST (104)
14 BOIS (46)
Passing Pos Att Comp Yards Y/Att TD Int
15 Holmes QB 72 36 358 4.97 1 4
17 Bucher QB 8 5 42 5.25 0 0
Team --- 80 41 400 5.00 1 4
Rushing Pos Att Yards Y/Att TD Stff YdLst
26 Threats RB 80 356 4.45 3 8 8
29 Harding RB 26 233 8.96 4 0 0
15 Holmes QB 20 -11 -0.55 0 11 51
Team --- 131 596 4.54 7 20 67
Receiving Pos Targ Catch Yards Y/Ctc YAC TD
84 Roberson WR 16 6 66 11.0 27 1
2 Franklin WR 16 6 68 11.3 9 0
26 Threats RB 10 5 15 3.0 12 0
85 Assler WR 10 4 48 12.0 0 0
31 Vance FB 7 5 14 2.8 11 0
82 Strickland TE 5 3 63 21.0 43 0
86 Carmazzi TE 4 3 35 11.6 0 0
7 Blades WR 4 4 34 8.5 12 0
81 Brown WR 3 2 18 9.0 10 0
Team --- 80 41 400 9.7 128 1
Defense Pos Tack Asst Sack TFL Ints Defn
59 Whiting OLB 16 8 0.0 2 0 2
32 Mahoney S 14 3 0.0 1 0 1
42 Bensen CB 13 2 0.0 0 0 0
95 Morrison DE 11 4 2.0 4 0 0
39 Trivedi S 11 3 0.0 0 1 0
44 Thornton ILB 10 2 1.0 2 1 0
50 Wilkens OLB 10 3 1.0 1 0 0
23 Levine CB 10 3 0.0 0 2 1
37 Beadnell CB 8 4 0.0 0 1 0
93 Jenkins DE 6 6 2.0 3 0 0
72 Tindale DT 6 2 1.0 1 0 0
40 Schneiderheinze ILB 6 0 0.0 0 0 3
49 Baker S 4 2 0.0 0 0 0
The Wolfpack are led on offense by sophomore
RB Mike Threats, a local Reno native. Interception-prone senior
QB Todd Holmes is Questionable with a strained triceps, so true freshman
Tommie Bucher from Mankato, MN, may get the call.
UNR's defense isn't that good, but they have a knack for generating turnovers, which could spell trouble with our own interception-happy QB.
OLB Zach Whiting, senior, is one of their top playmakers, a Las Vegas native from Eldorado High School, betrayed us by going to the school up north.
CB Deon Levine, a junior from Antonito, CA, also bears watching.
Code:
Record: 2-2
Rank: 67
UNLV Team Rank
Rushes 153 20 (T)
Rushing Yards 651 25
Yards Per Carry 4.25 45
Pass Attempts 97 66 (T)
Completions 53 61 (T)
Passing Yards 675 63
Yards Per Attempt 6.95 57 (T)
3rd Down Conversions 46.1 25 (T)
Points Per Game 29.7 50
Turnovers 11 109 (T)
Turnover Margin -5 106 (T)
Opponents Team Rank
Rushes 155 109
Rushing Yards 458 64
Yards Per Carry 2.95 37
Pass Attempts 93 46 (T)
Completions 49 44 (T)
Passing Yards 641 45 (T)
Yards Per Attempt 6.89 55
3rd Down Conversions 35.1 60
Points Per Game 25.0 60 (T)
Turnovers 6 59 (T)
Primary Formation: Wing-T Formation
Week Team Versus Oppnt
2 14 at TENN (29) 31
3 0 at WISC (9) 38
4 49 AIRF (81) 24
5 56 UTST (95) 7
6 NEVA (65)
7 at BRIG (100)
8 NMEX (84)
9 at UTAH (39)
11 WYOM (111)
12 at CLST (75)
13 at SDST (80)
Passing Pos Att Comp Yards Y/Att TD Int
18 Minter QB 74 40 519 7.01 5 5
2 Diaz QB 13 9 93 7.15 1 0
19 Bycroft QB 10 4 63 6.30 0 2
Team --- 97 53 675 6.95 6 7
Rushing Pos Att Yards Y/Att TD Stff YdLst
42 Dupont RB 59 387 6.55 3 15 14
41 Dimick RB 46 176 3.82 3 9 14
18 Minter QB 16 -58 -3.62 1 13 72
23 Gaylor FB 13 60 4.61 2 4 7
47 Fleming RB 11 34 3.09 0 3 2
Team --- 153 651 4.25 10 47 121
Receiving Pos Targ Catch Yards Y/Ctc YAC TD
1 Anderson WR 26 10 152 15.2 10 0
3 Hungate WR 15 10 162 16.2 35 1
86 Cash WR 10 5 50 10.0 23 1
82 Fancher WR 9 3 53 17.6 13 1
23 Gaylor FB 7 5 55 11.0 21 0
42 Dupont RB 6 6 77 12.8 33 2
89 Spindler TE 6 3 16 5.3 8 0
80 Prescott TE 6 3 35 11.6 0 0
41 Dimick RB 5 3 18 6.0 4 0
Team --- 97 53 675 12.7 160 6
Defense Pos Tack Asst Sack TFL Ints Defn
93 Farrell DT 18 3 0.0 5 0 0
54 Norton OLB 16 6 0.0 0 0 0
58 Sampson OLB 15 10 0.5 4 1 2
28 Gargiulo CB 13 7 0.0 0 0 0
91 McWilliams ILB 12 6 0.0 1 0 0
32 Culhane CB 11 4 0.0 4 1 0
77 Malone DT 10 4 0.0 2 0 0
29 Nylund CB 10 1 0.0 1 1 4
73 Haddock DE 9 2 4.5 5 0 0
22 Donovan S 9 5 0.0 0 0 2
59 Newton OLB 8 3 0.0 0 0 1
79 Doyle DE 7 3 1.5 5 0 0
92 Barlow DE 7 5 1.5 1 0 0
90 Watkins DE 7 1 0.0 1 0 0
50 Conway ILB 7 3 0.0 1 0 1
96 Long DT 6 3 0.0 2 0 0
45 Dempsey S 5 2 0.0 1 0 3
26 Crozier S 5 1 0.0 0 0 0
9 Malone WR 4 0 0.0 0 0 0
78 Burbank DE 4 3 0.0 1 0 0
56 Raymond ILB 4 3 0.0 0 0 0
43 Smolka ILB 4 1 0.0 0 0 0
35 Horvath CB 4 1 0.0 0 1 0
46 Boone S 4 2 0.0 0 0 0
Team --- 220 79 8.0 34 4 13
We have a horrendous turnover margin and turn the ball over more than just any other team in the country. One thing to keep in mind, though - we played two elite opponents on the road the first two weeks, which is skewing the numbers. True freshman
RB Jamal Dupont from Yerington, NV, is, of course, our top offensive threat. On the other side of the ball, it's a pair of seniors,
DT Clay Farrell (Des Moines, IA) and
OLB Ted Sampson (Ellicott City, MD) who have emerged as our top players.
Outlook
In short, it's about as even a game as you could hope for. The oddsmakers here in town have us favored by 4, though, partly because we're at home, partly because of Holmes' injury issue. What an important game, not least because
Ricky Newsome, who we're fighting UNR for, is sitting in the stands on the UNLV side at Sam Boyd Stadium. There's also the chance to have a winning record for the first time this season, while simulataneously sending the boys from Reno to .500.
The Game
We play perfect football for three beautiful quarters, running away with a 35-0 lead. Then it's garbage time in the fourth and the Wolfpack get a small moral victory out of winning the 4th quarter 9-0. Their top two running backs gained 201 yards on us, while
RB Jamal Dupont had a merely good game with 16 carries for 95 yards and a TD.
The game hero was
QB Geoff Minter who pitched an almost flawless
16/17 for 193 yards, 2 TDs and 0 picks. Funny thing was, it wasn't one of those games where we had individual standouts. This was just a total team effort that resulted in
our winning the Fremont Cannon!!!!
Final - Nevada 9 UNLV 35
S Dennis DeNeff calls after the game and
he commits to UNLV!!!! Our first recruit of the year!!!
S Dennis DeNeff Profile
Height/Weight: 6', 172 lbs.
Hometown: Elko, NV
High School: Elko High School (33 Athletic/38 Academic)
Teammates on Roster: T Rodney Bernstein (Walk-on freshman)
GPA: 2.85
SAT: 964
Intended Major: Marketing
National Rank: #346
National Pos: #15
State Rank: #3
State Pos: #1
Nevada All-State
Scouting: 71++ (Fair Scout)
Strength: Zone Defender / Weakness: Kick Returning
A huge get for our program and given our comparatively low talent at safety, maybe he can step in as a true freshman starter next year. We beat Georgia Tech to get him, but I never felt the Yellow Jackets were a serious threat.
Week 7 Pre-recruiting
-Miami offers
QB Rufus Heath
-
WR Rickey Newsome, who I hoped would sign immediately after our blowout win in the Battle for the Fremont Cannon, goes up to Reno to visit the Wolfpack.
-Well shit, there goes
QB Cedric Albers, who gleefully got an offer from Kansas State, his idolized school. We'll pull out now. This leads me to spend stupid money going to check out far-flung QBs who either don't look like they'll pan out, or who.. yeah. Argh.
-Iowa offers
G Louie O'Neill, as does Auburn.
-Clemson, Florida State, and Oklahoma all offer
T Oscar Kozhin, who is quickly becoming the most popular of all our targets.
-Texas Tech and North Carolina State jump in on the
DT Desmond Ross train. He says he's almost a lock to go to Miami (OH).
-Now UW-Stevens Point is offering
DT Brant Dacosta, making it us and 3 WIAC schools.
-Mississippi offers
ILB Neil Lyon and it feels like we and Ole Miss are locking horns over several recruits this year.
-UW-Stevens Point also offers for
OLB Martin Butler.
-
CB Matthew Mustard visits Ball State and also has a new offer from South Carolina.
For the first time in a long time, we add a new recruit,
DT Wally Horton from Kalamazoo, MI, who only has a few walk-on offers (Boston College, Michigan State), so we try and sneak in there with a quick-hit scholarship offer.
@BYU (0-5, 0-1) (-13)
I'm nervous going into this one. It has classic trap game writ all over it - a shockingly winless Cougars team hungry for their first victory, us coming down from an emotional high after whipping UNR, and a trip to Utah.
Our defense went to hell, making an exciting display on offense.
RB Jamal Dupont continues to wow the hell out of everyone, rushing 25 times for 222 yards and 2 TDs, while backup
Gerald Dimick just misses the century mark with 98 yards and a TD. Dupont clinched the game for us with a 36 yard TD run right after the 2:00 warning. He also caught 2 passes for 11 yards and a TD.
G Orlando Miller won Player of the Game with
12 key run blocks as we overcome
Geoff Minter's 3 interceptions (though he did also throw 3 TDs). Scary game, but we grind out the win.
UNLV 42 BYU 30
We're now tied for the Mountain West lead with Utah, who are 4-1 (2-0).
Injury problems continue to mount. Reserve
CB Jim Horvath hyperextends his knee and is Out 4 weeks and backup
TE Quentin Diaz is Doubtful with an abdominal strain.
4 emails from recruits....
WR Rickey Newsome... SELECTS UNLV!!!!! RUNNIN' REBELS 1 WOLFPACK 0!
C Herb Mackay.... SELECTS UNLV!!!
DE Bubba Overton... chooses Washington, shocking everyone who thought he was a lock for Washington State.
DT Desmond Ross... chooses Miami (OH), which isn't a surprise.
I'm honestly stunned we won Mackay. I know I said it was either us or Arizona State, but in my heart I was pretty sure he was going to take the Pac-10 school.
WR Rickey Newsome Profile
Height/Weight: 5`11, 164 lbs.
Hometown: Winnemucca, NV
High School: Albert M. Lowery High School (1 Athletic/54 Academic)
Teammates on Roster: G Orlando Miller (RS Junior starting RG), QB Marshall Rangel (Walk-on RS freshman)
GPA: 3.66
SAT: 1148
Intended Major: Genetics
National Rank: #450
National Pos: #27
State Rank: #5
State Pos: #1
Nevada All-State
Scouting: 80+ (Good Scout)
Strength: YAC / Weakness: Catching in Traffic
I didn't intend on going for a WR, but Newsome's scouting just looked too fantastic to pass up in addition to his being an in-state kid. My guess is he comes in very raw and that he'll redshirt a year, then get into the mix after that.
C Herb Mackay Profile
Height/Weight: 6`4, 280 lbs
Hometown: Waipahu, HI
High School:Waipahu High School (50 Athletic/38 Academic)
GPA: 3.07
SAT: 1164
Intended Major: Geology
National Rank: 189
National Pos: 7
State Rank: 2
State Pos: 1
Hawaii All-State
Scouting: 79- (Pretty Good Scout)
Strength: Pass Blocking / Weakness: Run Blocking
Our highest ranked recruit yet, Mackay looks like he could be a Week 1 starter. I know we have
Andrew Emerson waiting in the wings to take over next season, but from the looks of it, Mackay will give him one hell of a fight for it.
So that's 3 of 16 recruits in the bag. Thus far we're 3-2 on the recruiting front. The problem is WR and C weren't our biggest areas of need. Losing Ross in particular stings. Overton we can overcome.