Cool Clausen shows UNLV in good hands at quarterback

The fifth season that could decide Mike Sanford's future as head football coach at UNLV will arrive with this certainty: The Rebels are solid at a most significant position.

It's impossible to overestimate quarterback play at any level, and those the Rebels have in that spot now and in coming seasons are good enough to eventually make UNLV a winning team.

Whether or not all other phases improve enough around them is debatable. Quarterback isn't.

The Rebels of today remain alive for bowl eligibility because they beat a New Mexico side on Saturday night 27-20 that was every bit as dire as its now 4-7 record suggests.

This was a game between two teams that to this point deserved every bit of their losing records. But for once, the Rebels made more plays when winning presented itself. It's another part of the journey toward respectability -- beating people you should.

Forget the Lobos being a favorite. UNLV was better.

Did you see it? Probably not. They announced a crowd of 13,154, the smallest gathering to watch a home game in 12 years. It only seemed like 3,500.

Those who did make their way to Sam Boyd Stadium might not have recognized it. It's called pressure, something UNLV's defense hasn't applied much of all this season but figured out a way to do so and make a below-average quarterback -- Brad Gruner -- appear even more inept.

That wasn't the case for the guy running UNLV's offense.

Mike Clausen made his first career start at quarterback in place of the injured Omar Clayton, who tore his right medial collateral ligament against Texas Christian last week. Clayton is a sophomore and Clausen a redshirt freshman. Youth in this case hasn't hurt the Rebels as some might have thought.

Clausen isn't yet the passer Clayton is, but he is faster. He has a burst Clayton lacks, seen more than a few times on his 10 rushes Saturday.

The most impressive thing about Clausen on Saturday was not his numbers -- 17-for-34 for 203 yards and two touchdowns -- but his presence.

Gruner made his seventh start of the season, but it was Clausen who appeared far more composed.

Sanford had played Clausen a handful of snaps over six games before this start but not enough to assure anyone the quarterback would respond in such a positive manner.

A series here and there doesn't begin to completely prepare someone for his first Division I assignment. Clausen wasn't perfect. Far from it.

But he didn't stress under the reality that UNLV had to win in order to keep its postseason dreams breathing. Representatives from the New Mexico Bowl were in attendance Saturday, which means something around these parts in November. Means a lot.

It's probably still going to take a Mountain West Conference team making a Bowl Championship Series game and wins against Wyoming here on Thursday and at San Diego State on Nov. 22 for the Rebels to even think of being invited to a bowl, but it's a vision Clausen helped keep alive by taking care of the ball and making plays at critical times.

Like the go-ahead touchdown pass to Frank Summers on fourth-and-2 from the New Mexico 3 with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Like the 15-yard completion to Jerriman Robinson on third-and-6 from the UNLV 12 with 1:43 left that ended any serious New Mexico chance of rallying.

Clausen played extremely well given the tough act he had to follow.

You could make an argument that Clayton, before going down with what could prove to be a season-ending injury, was the Mountain West's second-best quarterback behind Max Hall of Brigham Young.

Utah fans would mock such a claim in favor of their own Brian Johnson, but I'd like to see Clayton's skill complemented by a running game such as the Utes'. Clayton is a good player with two years remaining and limitless upside. He could depart here a great one.

But he and Clausen both will need help to realize their potential. UNLV ranks 72nd nationally in rushing offense, aided greatly by the legs of their quarterbacks.

Ryan Wolfe had his ninth career 100-yard receiving game as a Rebel on Saturday and continues to prove himself a terrific college wideout. He's a junior.

There are parts around UNLV quarterbacks that are very good. There needs to be more of them.

But it's a truth that has to somewhat comfort a coach who will be staring a vital fifth season in the face come 2009: UNLV has a long way to go at many spots, but the most important one appears ahead of schedule.

Ed Graney can be reached at 702-383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.