Rebels can’t afford false start

Tonight's game might be just the first of 12, but make no mistake, it's a must-win situation for the UNLV football team.

The Rebels host Utah State at 7 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Aggies are the weakest team on UNLV's schedule and were named the weakest in the nation by Sports Illustrated.

Utah State is one of two teams the Rebels beat last season, when both teams finished 2-10. Oddsmakers have made UNLV a 121/2-point favorite tonight.

The Rebels, with so much apparently in their favor, can't afford to lose.

Coach Mike Sanford's future already is in question after three consecutive two-win seasons.

The road gets rockier for UNLV after the season opener. It figures to be a significant underdog in its next two games at Utah and Arizona even if it beats Utah State convincingly.

Defeating the Aggies would prevent an ugly fallout and also validate the toil of spring practices, offseason conditioning and preseason camp.

"Every game's a must-win, but especially this one," Rebels tailback Frank Summers said. "We put in all the sweat and tears and blood over the summer and during this fall camp. I believe hard work pays off, and that's one thing this team has done is worked very hard. It's time for our work to pay off."

Summers and his teammates also look forward to finally facing players in a different uniform, after a nearly four-week stretch of butting heads with one another in practice.

"I think it will be good to go against somebody else who doesn't know our plays," wide receiver Casey Flair said. "It gets to a point where the corners are running our routes for us."

UNLV heads into the season at least believing it is an improved team, and there is justification for that sentiment.

Summers is one of the Mountain West Conference's top backs, and he has shed about 10 pounds, giving him some burst to go with his power running style. The receivers also are among the conference elite, and the offensive and defensive lines appear improved.

Quarterback Omar Clayton could be the difference. If the sophomore lives up to his potential and can limit his turnovers, the Rebels could fulfill their growing hope.

But first they must get past Utah State, a team that returns nine defensive starters and has been a surprisingly tough opponent. The Rebels rallied to a 23-16 victory at Utah State last season but lost the 2004 and 2005 meetings.

The Aggies won't have wide receiver and returner Kevin Robinson, who took his big-play ability to the NFL, and will start a quarterback, Sean Setzer, who has just one career pass.

Tonight's game is a chance for UNLV to show the program is on the right track, and it couldn't ask for a much better opponent against which to make that case.

"We've been pointing to this game the whole year," Sanford said. "No matter who it is, to me you've got to win your first game. Whether that puts pressure on it, I don't look at it that way. We're just looking at this game to win."

Nothing less will do.

"It's our first game," linebacker Ronnie Paulo said, "so it's going to set the tone for the rest of our season."

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