Rebels see chance to get a win

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- UNLV's football games are becoming like an old Mike Tyson fight: Don't miss the start because it soon could be over.

Except in the Rebels' case, they usually are the ones getting knocked out.

Their losses this season have come by 34, 52, 25 and 37 points. Even the Rebels' lone win wasn't close, a 20-point rout of Hawaii.

Maybe today's 11 a.m. PDT game at Wyoming (3-2) will be different for UNLV (1-4). The Mountain West Conference opener for both teams -- each badly in need of a spark -- could be a bellwether for the Rebels.

Oddsmakers expect a close game by UNLV standards, making Wyoming an 11-point favorite.

"For teams like us and Wyoming, our margin for error is really slim," coach Bobby Hauck said. "They're a team that's similar to us that has to go and play well in order to win."

Wyoming won its first three games, beating Weber State, Texas State and Bowling Green. Then the Cowboys lost 38-14 to Nebraska in a better-than-expected showing before getting creamed 63-19 at Utah State.

Wyoming shuffled defensive personnel and simplified its system this week.

UNLV made its own changes, opting to start junior college transfer Sean Reilly at quarterback. He replaces sophomore Caleb Herring, who threw three interceptions that were returned for touchdowns by Southern Utah three weeks ago and then, coming off a bye week, completed one pass for 8 yards at UNR last Saturday.

Reilly might play behind four freshman offensive linemen. Two freshmen, left tackle Brett Boyko and center Robert Waterman, already are starters. The Rebels also could open with right tackle Cameron Jefferson and/or left guard Brian Roth in the lineup.

Those who start will have the burden of reviving an offense that scored 16 points against lower-level Southern Utah and was shut out by UNR.

Hauck said the offense's self-inflicted wounds were due to "some really immature, dumb mistakes by us, and that's not just the quarterback, either. That's a bunch. We can't do that. It's time for us to grow up and time for me to do a better job growing them up."

UNLV hopes to get untracked against a Cowboys defense that allowed 548 yards to Utah State, but the Rebels' defense faces its own challenges.

Wyoming's Brett Smith, one of the nation's top freshman quarterbacks, has completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 1,228 yards and seven touchdowns, with five interceptions.

He is backed by a running game that has averaged 185 yards. Three backs split carries in the spread attack, each averaging at least 4.5 yards per carry. Smith has run for 152 yards and four touchdowns.

Despite those impressive numbers, the Cowboys scored a combined 33 points the past two games.

UNLV's defense limited Hawaii and Southern Utah to a combined 546 yards, but then was hit by UNR for 699. The Rebels held the Wolf Pack to a field goal until midway through the second quarter, but UNLV's faltering offense helped keep the defense on the field for 92 plays.

That game was on the road, which has been a cruel place for the Rebels, who have lost 12 consecutive away games. None was close.

"It takes time, especially with a younger team and relatively new coaches," linebacker Nate Carter said. "It takes awhile to get things rolling the way that you want."

UNLV hasn't won at Wyoming since 1993, but the Cowboys are the only Mountain West team against which the Rebels own a winning record (10-9).

The Rebels need more such success today against an opponent they should match up with fairly well.

A victory would "keep motivation and keep people excited at practice," tight end Anthony Vidal said. "Our team doesn't have any problem standing behind the coaches and their philosophy. It'll just show it's working."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.