Locals relish rivalry

UNLV tailback David Peeples has been waiting to get back on a football field, and waiting for this weekend for his final shot at those despised neighbors from the north.

Fully recovered from a preseason foot injury, his wait to play might be over, and the timing could not be better.

The Rebels play UNR at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium, and Peeples is one of many locals especially excited about the annual matchup between schools that represent such different cities, it's amazing they're in the same state.

"This game has been on my mind since I first got here," Peeples said. "Me, Casey (Flair) and Mario Jeberaeel are the last ones to see that game won that are still on this team. This game really means a lot, especially to have that cannon back."

A Cheyenne High School graduate, Peeples is one of many locals for whom this fight for the Fremont Cannon might take on extra meaning. Unlike most of their teammates, they grew up with this rivalry, one that few beyond the state borders know much about.

"The kids that are Las Vegas kids really understand it," Rebels coach Mike Sanford said. "I think the seniors that have been here for four or five years also really understand it."

To drive home the point, Sanford named five seniors as captains, and three of them are locals. In addition to Peeples, defensive tackle Jacob Hales and tight end Ryan Worthen received the honor. Hales went to Las Vegas High and Worthen to Palo Verde.

Probably one trip to the hostile environment in Reno is enough to get the entire team to understand the heat between the schools.

"Or to get your rear ends beat 31-3 in your own stadium," Sanford said.

That was two years ago, and UNLV wide receiver Phillip Payne was in the stands that night watching the debacle unfold while taking in the back-and-forth atmosphere between the teams' fans.

"You could tell by how the fans reacted how crazy the game was," Payne said.

Payne, a Western graduate, and other locals have been integral in UNLV opening 3-1.

He is making a strong early case for Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year. He has five touchdown catches, including the game-winner against Iowa State and the overtime-forcing one-hander at Arizona State.

Another local, Hales, figures to become a larger part of the defensive plans after being slowed by a dislocated left elbow. He is expected to make his first start this weekend.

Two locals start at linebacker -- sophomore Ronnie Paulo of Western and freshman Nate Carter of Las Vegas. Paulo is second on the team in tackles with 30.

Worthen is No. 1 at tight end, and sophomore Ben Jaekle of Bonanza is responsible for kickoffs and long field goals. Also, freshman safety Beau Orth of Bishop Gorman made one of the season's top plays when his interception at Arizona State set up a key UNLV touchdown 33 seconds before halftime.

Paulo said some local players have formed a bond, calling themselves "530" for the first three digits of their Social Security numbers. "We definitely bleed scarlet," he said.

The rivalry with UNR is not new to those players, even to the younger ones.

But as much as the local Rebels say this rivalry means to them, they note it's just as important to their teammates who grew up more into Southern California-UCLA or Texas-Oklahoma.

"It's meaningful to everybody because once you're a Rebel, you're a Rebel," Peeples said. "It doesn't matter if you're from here or from Alaska or from California. Your blood boils for that game."

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