Mistakes kill Rebels, fall to Wyoming 30-27 in conference opener

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Austyn Carta-Samuels went 24 of 37 and threw three touchdown passes in his first start to help Wyoming beat UNLV 30-27 in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams today.

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A true freshman, Carta-Samuels led the Cowboys (2-2, 1-0 Mountain West) on two key scoring drives in the fourth quarter, and cornerback Tashaun Gipson picked off Rebel quarterback Omar Clayton twice in the second half to lead the Wyoming defense. Dave Christensen, Wyoming's first-year coach, praised Carta-Samuels' "coming out party."

"We were put in a situation two or three times that the offense had to answer and they came out and did it," Christensen said. "Defensively, when we had to stop them, we did."

UNLV (2-2, 0-1) had a chance to tie the game with a field goal with 1:19 remaining. Kyle Watson first lined up for a 45-yard attempt, but the Rebels were flagged for a delay of game penalty that pushed the distance to 50 yards. Then the Rebels fumbled the snap and Wyoming's Corey Orth recovered the ball at the Cowboys' 38-yard line.

UNLV's defense held Wyoming to a punt on the ensuing possession, but time ran out on UNLV's offense.

"It was a very difficult way to end the game," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "I take full responsibility for the delay of game penalty. That was a mistake on my part."

Trailing 27-20 in the fourth quarter, Carta-Samuels led Wyoming on a nine-play, 80-yard drive, capped by a touchdown toss to wide receiver Travis Burkhalter in the back left corner of the end zone.

Gipson intercepted Clayton on the second play of UNLV's next drive. Wyoming's offense moved the ball 26 yards in nine plays to set up freshman place kicker Ian Watts' game-winning field goal with 3:20 to play.

Gipson also picked off a Clayton pass near Wyoming's goal line midway through the third quarter, spoiling UNLV's chance to score with three downs at Wyoming's 10-yard line.

"It was a lot of hype about their receivers. I watched them on film and I thought they were some good players," Gipson said. "But also I know that our secondary — and I've been saying that — that our secondary, as well as our defense, is one of the best in the country." Gabe Knapton led the Cowboys' defense with 17 tackles.

Clayton went 26 of 43 with one touchdown pass for the Rebels, who dropped their 20th straight conference road game. Starr Fuimaono led the UNLV defense with 11 tackles.

"All I can say is we had opportunities to win the game and we didn't play well enough to win," Sanford said. "That's what it comes down to."

UNLV racked up 386 offensive yards to Wyoming's 357. But the Rebels were stung by four turnovers, while Wyoming didn't give up any.

"No question that Tashaun Gipson's interception at the 4-yard line was as big a play as any," Christensen said. The teams entered halftime tied at 13.

Wyoming got on the scoreboard first, converting a Rebel turnover into a field goal two minutes into the game. UNLV answered with a touchdown 10 minutes later and added two field goals in the second quarter, while Wyoming kicked one.

Trailing 13-6, Wyoming found some offensive rhythm with an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Carta-Samuels, scrambling to the left, found running back Brandon Stewart in the back of the end zone for a 19-yard scoring toss.

It was Carta-Samuels' first career touchdown pass and the Cowboys' first touchdown pass of the season.