UNLV extends the lead

It is hard to exaggerate just how much the Rebels are in total control of this game as they look to improve to 3-1 on the season. UNLV has outgained Iowa State of the Big 12 288-38 in the first half.

Even more impressive is the balance with which they have racked up their yards.

Frank Summers leads the rushing attack with 56 yards on 14 carries, but the Rebels have 142 total yards on the ground.

UNLV has also thrown for 146 yards.

Perhaps the most indicative stat of UNLV’s domination is the first downs. The Rebels have 14 first downs, and the Cyclones have just one. Iowa State is 0-for-7 on third downs in the half.

It all adds up to a 21-0 advantage, and it could be even worse for the Cyclones.

Ben Jaekle missed a 40-yard field goal as time expired that could have put the Rebels ahead 24-0.

Payne factor

Phillip Payne entered the game for a play as soon as UNLV got in the red zone and, as usual, accounted for a big play.

But the ball wasn’t even thrown to him.

As soon as the ball was snapped, the safety on Payne’s side of the field dropped back into the corner in anticipation of the fade pass that the freshman receiver has just about perfected.

Instead, UNLV ran Summers to that side of the field and picked up a gain of 12 to set up a first-and-goal at the Iowa State 3-yard line.

Clayton found Casey Flair in the back of the end zone on the next play to give the Rebels their only score of the quarter.

Payne appeared to be limping when he came off the field early in the first quarter and has yet to catch a pass in the game.

Metcalfe must be happy

You might not know who Jeff Metcalfe is, but you know that he must be happy somewhere tonight.

He is the Arizona Republic writer that last week referred to UNLV as having “the most annoying offense in America” because of the way the Rebels were coming to the line of scrimmage and setting, then collectively standing up and looking to the sideline to get a play call last week against Arizona State.

Well, UNLV isn’t using the tactic tonight. But they’re playing well anyway. At the same time, Arizona State has put up just a field goal and trails 21-3 at the half to Georgia.

It must be pretty annoying to only score a field goal in a half.

Borrowed look

Iowa State wears uniforms that look almost identical to the jerseys worn by Del Sol High School.

Unfortunately for the Cyclones, the Dragons probably play better in the uniforms.

Iowa State is in big trouble in the Big 12 this season. They are dreadful.

Now, it’s always possible that the Cyclones just struggled in the first half and could come to life in the second half, but that wouldn’t erase the way they have looked so far.