UNLV takes 100 steps back in loss

One positive for UNLV's football team today: At least it's not Colorado.

What a complete disaster.

Growing pains like this bleed profusely, an open wound so large it makes you wonder if a big enough suture exists to ever close the ugly gash that continues to be the Rebels and this sport.

There they celebrated, jumping in a circle at the 30-yard line at one end of Sam Boyd Stadium, a few minutes past 10 on Saturday night and their upset secure.

Northern Arizona players then walked over to their small but ecstatic group of fans and continued hooting and hollering about a 17-14 victory, making official the second straight season in which UNLV has lost to a Football Championship Subdivision team.

In layman's terms, that means smaller, slower, less athletic sides that are big underdogs and only play these games for a paycheck.

If progress was measured in a few steps forward for how the Rebels opened the third season under coach Bobby Hauck with a triple-overtime loss to Minnesota last week, this was 100 steps backward.

This was far worse than falling to Southern Utah last season because you can't talk about being bigger and stronger and better and then lose such a game without everyone thinking you're full of bunk.

This was far worse because Southern Utah was actually a competent offensive side that wasn't playing with its backup quarterback.

Yes. You read that right. UNLV not only lost to an FCS team again, but to one that had a sophomore (Chase Cartwright) making his first career start at the most important position.

"I'm not sure what to say other than the fact I'm shocked," Hauck said. "This was different than last season against an FCS team. Southern Utah's junior and senior classes were better than ours were then. ... We got outplayed tonight. NAU stuck with it. They are to be congratulated.

"We didn't have the killer instinct to finish the game off."

What?

How?

Why not?

You're 4-23 here as coach. Your team should be dripping with killer instinct against opponents such as this. It should own nothing but a killer instinct.

That comment is unacceptable in the third year of a staff and says a lot more about Hauck than anyone.

Lacking a killer instinct when your program last knew a winning season in 2000?

Is he serious?

The worrisome part: If you have watched the season's first two games, you have to wonder who in the world UNLV is going to outscore.

It can't protect the passer. It can't defend the pass without being flagged for interference. It's better defensively up front, but any opposing quarterback given time is going to be successful unless someone teaches somebody to defend without holding or pushing or making contact early or, for heaven's sake, look back for the ball in coverage.

Earlier in the week, Hauck said his coordinators are usually ahead of him on studying the opposing offense and defense because he is so involved running special teams.

Suggestion: Mix things up this week. Let someone else handle those duties.

Special teams?

UNLV faked a 42-yard field-goal attempt up 14-0 in the second quarter for some incredibly foolish reason, choosing to show such a play against an FCS team and put it on film for much better opponents to study in the coming weeks. It failed with an incomplete pass.

They faked a field goal against NAU. That's amazing.

Boy, the Rebels sure could have used three extra point in the final minutes Saturday.

UNLV also allowed a 75-yard punt return for a score, hit the upright on a 30-yard field-goal attempt, muffed and recovered a punt.

Other than that, Hauck's specialty was stellar this week.

When things were bad for UNLV the last few years, which was pretty much all the time, Tim Cornett was a silver lining you could count on most weeks to offer something positive. He's the best offensive threat UNLV has and it wasted yet another productive evening from him.

He rushed 25 times for 141 yards and a touchdown, the fourth time in five games dating to last season he has had at least 100. He still doesn't carry the ball enough.

Nick Sherry (16-for-29 for 239 yards) is a redshirt freshman quarterback who spends most pass plays avoiding a rush the line can't block and the others holding onto the ball too long.

Colorado also fell to an FCS team on Saturday, beaten 30-28 by Sacramento State. The Buffaloes were a three-touchdown favorite. The Rebels were favored by 13, so they can awake today at least knowing they weren't as bad this week as a Pac-12 team.

How's that for a positive in an otherwise forgettable, embarrassing and disastrous night?

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on "Gridlock," ESPN 1100 and 98.9 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.