Clayton steps up at QB in spring game

One play, one spectacular play, belonged to Travis Dixon.

UNLV's spring football game belonged to Omar Clayton.

Clayton quarterbacked the first-team offense on two long touchdown drives in a 21-3 victory over the reserves Friday at Sam Boyd Stadium, finishing 9-for-11 for 108 yards.

He threw an 18-yard touchdown strike between two defenders to wide receiver Renan Saint Preux and a 15-yard scoring pass to receiver Jerriman Robinson. Clayton also converted all four third-down situations.

"I'm definitely ready to start working in the summer," Clayton said. "We definitely have got to hit the weight room, we've got to condition, we've got to get in shape, work with our receivers. Everything's got to be right when we start the season."

Clayton knows this scrimmage didn't wrap up the job for the Aug. 30 opener against Utah State, but it didn't hurt.

Dixon's highlight was limited to one play, but it was a big one. He converted a third-and-14 by throwing a deep pass to wide receiver Casey Flair, who dashed down the field for an 89-yard touchdown.

"I'm happy for Casey Flair," Dixon said. "Casey Flair never gets any deep balls where he breaks them."

Dixon's next appearance was in a brief two-minute drill, but given the chance to run the full offense in the third quarter, he threw two incomplete passes and dropped a bad snap for a 6-yard sack.

"We can't be three-and-out on drives," said Dixon, who completed 3 of 6 passes for 101 yards. "We've got to have sustained drives and get points on the board as much as possible."

Clayton and Dixon won't have much time to boost their resumes when training camp opens Aug. 4. Coach Mike Sanford said he wants to decide on a starter within seven to nine days.

He wouldn't declare a scrimmage winner between the two sophomores, saying he needed to see the videotape.

"The good news is that we've got two guys that can play," Sanford said.

The spring game, believe it or not, was about more than just the quarterbacks.

UNLV, for the first time in Sanford's three-plus years, did not mix up the roster, instead pitting starters against reserves.

Not only did the first-team offense score three of the four times either Clayton or Dixon ran a complete drive, the starting defense did its job.

That defense allowed the reserve offense to get close to the end zone only once, forcing it to settle for 36-yard field goal by kicker Kyle Watson.

"That's a positive, and frankly it's a good thing when you get what you expect," Sanford said. "And that's what we expected."

Cornerback Geoffery Howard said it was a nice way to leave spring practices.

"I feel good," Howard said. "Spring is what we asked for."

• NOTES -- Quarterback Mike Clausen completed 7 of 11 passes for 45 yards with an interception. Fellow quarterback Dack Ishii was 5-for-9 for 93 yards. ... Saint Preux caught four passes for 57 yards, Flair three for 108 and Justin Marvel three for 81. ... The running was spread out among many backs, and Channing Trotter led with 12 yards on two carries. ... Linebacker Wiselet Rouzard made an interception, broke up a pass and totaled three tackles. ... Defensive back Ryan Tillman led in tackles with five.

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