Sunday, November 07, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

PENALTY-MARRED DEFEAT: Rebels flagged down in OT

Wyoming tops shaky UNLV in Robinson's home finale

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

UNLV tight end Michael Freund, above, makes a diving catch for a 35-yard gain in the fourth quarter against Wyoming on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium. Photo by K.M. Cannon. John Robinson walks off the field after the Rebels' 53-45 triple-overtime loss, his final home game as UNLV's coach. Robinson has announced his retirement effective at the end of the season. Photo by K.M. Cannon. UNLV linebacker Adam Seward (55) tries to break up a pass for Wyoming wide receiver Tyler Holden in the second quarter Saturday. Holden pulled in the catch for a 13-yard gain. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

John Robinson was in no mood for reflection Saturday when he walked off the Sam Boyd Stadium field for the last time as UNLV's football coach.

The school-record 22 penalties for 167 yards and countless missed tackles robbed him of such a moment.

Instead, Robinson was angry that his team played so poorly and did just about everything it could to hand Wyoming a 53-45 triple-overtime victory, which the Cowboys took almost begrudgingly.

Before an announced crowd of 19,752, Wyoming scored the decisive points in the third OT after the teams matched scores on their first two extra possessions. Cowboys quarterback J.J. Raterink, filling in for injured starter Corey Bramlet, completed a 25-yard TD pass to Jovon Bouknight, then a two-point conversion pass to Ivan Harrison for the winning points.

The Rebels failed to score on their last possession.

"That game almost defies any kind of explanation," Robinson said. "It's one of the worst exhibitions of poise by a defense that I have ever seen. We just totally stopped playing and totally were distracted by the officials. I don't think the officials did anything bad. No one's perfect, but there's no way you can blame the officials for that debacle. That was us."

The Rebels (2-7 overall, 1-4 Mountain West) had only themselves to blame after missing tackles, committing three turnovers and drawing the jaw-dropping number of penalties. UNLV surpassed its previous record of getting flagged 19 times in 1985 against Utah State.

San Jose State has the NCAA record of 24 penalties, which occurred against Fresno State in 1986.

Wyoming (6-3, 3-2) made the most of UNLV's mistakes to clinch a winning regular season for the first time since 1999. The Cowboys, now bowl eligible, also ended a 17-game conference road losing streak in the third overtime game in seven meetings with UNLV.

Even one overtime began to look doubtful when UNLV tailback Dominique Dorsey, who rushed for 181 yards, scored from 12 yards for a 31-24 lead with 4:18 left. The game, though, was far from over.

"We just find ways to lose games," UNLV free safety Joe Miklos said. "I basically figured we won this game. I didn't think they would come back at all. That was totally disheartening."

UNLV had its chances to stop Wyoming.

In fact, cornerback Ruschard Dodd-Masters and linebacker Reggie Butler had Bouknight wrapped up, but in trying to help make the tackle, linebacker Ryan Claridge crashed from behind Butler, and dislodged the defenders. Bouknight broke free for a 55-yard gain, and Harrison scored from a yard two plays later to tie it with 2:11 left.

"When you've got him wrapped up so tight and you've got somebody else running to the ball doing their job, there's no right and there's no wrong," Dodd-Masters said.

The teams traded touchdowns in the first two overtimes. In the third overtime, rules dictate teams must go for two-point conversions after touchdowns, and the Cowboys accomplished both to go up 53-45.

Facing a fourth-and-2, UNLV quarterback Shane Steichen wanted to go to wide receiver Earvin Johnson, who had eight catches for 107 yards with two touchdowns. Steichen, who passed for 223 yards and four touchdowns, rolled right and waited for Johnson to get open.

Instead, Wyoming defensive tackle Zach Morris sacked Steichen to end it.