Key part of season up next for Rebels

As UNLV emerges from the toughest part of its schedule, the Rebels hit a stretch that should affect its program beyond this year.

"These last five games really have the potential to set the future of UNLV football in the right direction," senior cornerback Kenny Brown said. "We really need to emphasize finishing. And there are going to be times things don't go your way, and you can't let adversity knock you off the pedestal and put you in a slump.

"We've been here before. Now it's time to change the formula and really give us something to build on. It's not where we wanted to be, but we still have a great opportunity in these last five games to make an impact on the future."

UNLV (1-7, 1-2 Mountain West Conference) begins its five-game stretch at San Diego State (5-3, 3-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Aztecs might not be the best way to gauge any UNLV progress, especially if the 18-point underdog Rebels are without quarterback Nick Sherry.

But UNLV has reason for optimism if Sherry plays. The Aztecs allow 270.2 yards passing per game.

Probably the Rebels' two most winnable games are Nov. 10 at Colorado State and Nov. 24 at Hawaii. Those teams are a combined 2-11, but UNLV has lost 19 consecutive away games.

Home games against New Mexico on Nov. 3 and Wyoming on Nov. 17 also could wind up in the win column.

New Mexico, though, looks to be a much more difficult opponent than anticipated, with first-year coach Bob Davie getting a 4-4 record out of the previously wretched Lobos.

UNLV's last four opponents are a combined 1-11 in conference games.

So the pressure will be on the Rebels, particularly after playing San Diego State, to achieve success at the end of the season. If they pick up wins, they could take momentum into the offseason.

If not, serious questions again will be raised about the direction of the program, increasing the pressure on third-year coach Bobby Hauck, who is 5-28.

"We know what we need to do as an offense and a team in general," junior running back Bradley Randle said. "We're going to go out there and send everybody off in the right direction, especially this senior class."

■ TOUGHING IT OUT - The Rebels released their weekly injury report Tuesday, and the list could have filled up a column in the phone book.

Offensive tackles Brett Boyko (leg) and Yusef Rodgers (leg) and safety Peni Vea (arm) were listed as doubtful. Questionable were Sherry (undisclosed), Randle (leg), wide receiver Marcus Sullivan (leg), offensive lineman Cameron Jefferson (leg), linebackers John Lotulelei (undisclosed) and Tani Maka (leg), and cornerbacks Sidney Hodge (leg) and Fred Wilson (arm).

Few of those players, however, wore blue injury jerseys at practice.

"They're trying to go as best they can," Hauck said. "If they're in blue, they don't get to practice. So they don't want to be in blue, which is a culture change a little bit around here."

Boyko is among the players trying to come back. He didn't play in Saturday's 32-7 loss at Boise State.

"Pregame at Boise, I was really expecting Boyko to be able to play," Hauck said. "He couldn't warm up. We're in that boat with a bunch of guys."

■ UNDER THE KNIFE - San Diego State quarterback Ryan Katz, out for the season with a broken left ankle, reportedly underwent surgery Wednesday.

Sophomore Adam Dingwell will get his first career start this weekend. He has completed 16 of 29 passes this season for 205 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Subbing for an injured Katz last week against UNR, Dingwell entered in the first quarter and completed 14 of 23 passes for 177 yards and three TDs. He also threw the winning 2-point conversion pass in overtime as the Aztecs won, 39-38.

"Getting on the field is an unbelievable experience, and being able to do that early in the year was nice," Dingwell said. "Kind of got the jitters out of the way, you could say, about my first college play or however you want to put it. But, yeah, it was exciting, and I think it helped me."

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