Aztecs QB Lindley remains threat

San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley hasn't been quite himself this season, operating an offense minus two receivers now in the NFL.

But UNLV won't underestimate Lindley, who has the benefit of being able to hand the football to Ronnie Hillman, one of the nation's top running backs.

"They've got really gifted guys at the quarterback position and the running back position," Rebels coach Bobby Hauck said.

UNLV (2-8, 1-4 Mountain West Conference) plays San Diego State (6-4, 3-3) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Hillman is fifth nationally with a 128.6-yard rushing average, a figure that would be even higher if he wasn't limited to three carries for 8 yards in the Aztecs' 52-35 loss to Boise State on Saturday.

But San Diego State coach Rocky Long said he expects Hillman, who has an injured ankle, to be healthy enough to start against the Rebels.

"He makes the ordinary spectacular," Hauck said of Hillman. "I think that's probably the thing that sticks out on the film so far."

Lindley was cleared to return to practice after banging his throwing hand Saturday. He has passed for 2,307 yards and 18 touchdowns ---- good numbers, but shy of the 3,830 yards and 28 TDs Lindley put up last season.

He also had receivers Vincent Brown and DeMarco Sampson last season. Brown caught 69 passes for 1,352 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Sampson made 67 receptions for 1,220 yards and eight TDs.

San Diego State's top two receivers this season, Colin Lockett and Gavin Escobar, have combined to catch 79 passes for 1,255 yards and 11 touchdowns.

NOTABLE

Because the football game could conflict with the UNLV basketball team's potential meeting with No. 1 North Carolina, KBAD (920 AM) will broadcast the game against San Diego State rather than KWWN (1100 AM, 98.9 FM). Ken Korach, a former Rebels announcer who has been with the Oakland Athletics the past 16 years, will handle play-by-play duties. He lives in the valley in the offseason. ... It's also a homecoming of sorts for Jeff Horton, the Rebels' coach from 1994 to 1998. He is San Diego State's assistant head coach, also in charge of running backs. ... A victory would give UNLV a winning home record for the third time in four seasons.

KEY MATCHUP

UNLV tight end Anthony Vidal vs. San Diego State linebacker Miles Burris.

Burris has recorded 16 tackles for loss, including six sacks. It won't be the lone responsibility of Vidal to keep Burris from disrupting the offense, but UNLV's tight end will need to do his part to contain a player who has 36 tackles for loss, including 15½ sacks, going back to last season.

INJURY REPORT

(Supplied by UNLV)

Player, Position, Injury, Status

Aaron Reed, H-back, Leg, Out

Jason Koontz, OL, Back, Out

Taylor Spencer, WR, Leg, Out

Alvin Almicar, DL, Arm, Out

Kenneth Penny, DB, Leg, Out

C.J. Cox, LB, Arm, Out

Mike Clausen, DB, Arm, Doubtful

Dionza Bradford, RB, Arm, Questionable

Matt Kravetz, DL, Leg, Questionable