DEFENSE DOMINATES FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGE

ELY — Quarterback Omar Clayton directed UNLV's first-team offense on a pair of touchdown drives, but defense ruled the day at Saturday morning's scrimmage.

Eight players each made a sack. Seven players each tackled a running back for a loss.

No one took had more trouble dealing with the defense than second-team quarterback Mike Clausen. He completed just 4 of 18 passes for 37 yards with an interception. He also was sacked six times, reducing his rushing statistics to minus-1 yard on 10 carries.

"He was going against the (No.) 1 defense, and that's what you would expect," coach Mike Sanford said. "If he didn't, you'd be concerned."

The defense's best play: End Isaako Aaitui stopped wide receiver Michael Johnson for a 16-yard loss on a running play. Aaitui fell while chasing Johnson but got up to put a crushing tackle on the wide receiver.

CLAYTON COMES THROUGH

Clayton went against the No. 2 defense and didn't have as many problems as Clausen, completing 8 of 12 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. He also had 21 yards on three carries.

His first touchdown drive ended with a rollout to the right and 16-yard completion to tight end Ryan Worthen, a Palo Verde High School graduate.

Clayton later directed a 70-yard drive in the two-minute drill (actually he had only 1:30 to work with). He completed 4 of 5 passes for 47 yards to lead the offense to the 2-yard line, where tailback Channing Trotter ran in for the score.

FRESHMAN BACKS SHINE

Imari Thompson and C.J. Cox, both incoming freshman tailbacks from Texas, showed why they will play immediately this season. Thompson rushed for 61 yards on six carries, and Cox added 34 yards on eight attempts.

But Sanford wasn't happy with the overall effort by the running game. Thompson fumbled once, and Trotter, competing with the freshmen for the second through fourth sports, lost 5 yards on four carries.

Thompson often worked with the No. 1 offense because starter Frank Summers was held out much of the day to prevent injury and give the other players time. In fact, Summers rushed just once for no gain.

KICKING IT

Kyle Watson and Ben Jaekle received equal work on field goals in the battle to be the starting place-kicker (Jaekle already won the kickoff job). Watson made kicks from 39, 49, 27 and 20 yards and missed from 48 and 37 yards. Jaekle, a Bonanza High graduate, kicked from the same distances and made all but one. His miss was from 39 yards.

EXTRA WEAPON

Wide receiver Ryan Wolfe played center field on a prevent defense play.

"He's one of our best football players, and he has great ball skills. We trust him with that," Sanford said. "So I think you want to have as many of those kind of players in the game once in a live situation to win the game."

STAT LEADERS

Passing

Omar Clayton 8-12, 92 yards, 1 touchdown

Mike Clausen 4-18, 37 yards, 1 interception

Dack Ishii 6-12, 69 yards

Rushing

Imari Thompson 6-61

C.J. Cox 8-34

Omar Clayton 3-21

Receiving

Kyle Watkins 3-34

Ryan Wolfe 2-22