Bye gives UNR week to game plan, recover

UNLV football coach Mike Sanford expects some surprises from Chris Ault on Saturday after the UNR coach had an extra week to prepare.

The Rebels host the Wolf Pack in a 7 p.m. game at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"I guarantee they'll be a different team than they were against Missouri," Sanford said.

Chase Daniel passed for 405 yards and four touchdowns as the sixth-ranked Tigers routed UNR 69-17 on Sept. 13, and Ault was happy to have the bye week to bounce back.

"We were so miserable at Missouri," Ault said. "We needed a week to get back on track and have some physical practices and get these guys squared up to play a real sound and good UNLV team."

• BROTHER VS. BROTHER -- UNLV's Ben Jaekle and UNR's Brett Jaekle will go toe to toe Saturday.

The brothers, both former Bonanza High School kickers, faced each other for the first time in college two years ago, so they know what to expect. But that won't make it easier on their family.

"Our parents can't sleep because one son will lose while the other son will be able to run his mouth a little bit," Brett Jaekle said.

Brett Jaekle, a senior, has made 158 career extra points, second best in Wolf Pack history. Ben Jaekle, a sophomore who redshirted last season, handles UNLV's kickoffs and long field goals.

"He always gives me a hard time for choosing here, but I always give him a hard time because how can you leave your hometown of Vegas to go up there?" Ben Jaekle said. "Obviously, it's worked out well for him, so I can't be too mad at him."

• NOT GIVING, NOT TAKING -- The Rebels have committed only one turnover this season, a key to their 3-1 start, but Sanford wants the team to start creating more takeaways.

UNLV has recovered just one fumble in five chances and should have more than its three interceptions.

Quinton Pointer, still wearing a brace over his dislocated left elbow, has dropped three interceptions, and fellow cornerback Lafayette Fletcher somehow failed to at least knock down the game-tying pass against Iowa State in Saturday's 34-31 overtime victory.

"We've got to get more turnovers," Sanford said.

• INJURY UPDATE -- UNLV right tackle Evan Marchal (ankle) will play against UNR but could be limited.

At tailback, Frank Summers (knee) returned to practice Thursday and is OK, Channing Trotter (ankle) appears to be fully healthy again and Imari Thompson (ankle) is out.

• NO SELLOUT? -- A large crowd is expected for UNR-UNLV, but if the game sells out it probably won't be until Saturday. The 2006 sellout crowd of 37,179 was UNLV's sixth largest.

Parking lots will open at 3 p.m.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.