Cornett’s four TDs pave way to UNLV’s victory over Wyoming

UNLV paid tribute to its football past Saturday night when the 2000 team -- the last to experience a winning record and bowl berth -- was introduced between the first and second quarters.

Ultimately, the night belonged to two freshmen who represent the Rebels' future.

Running back Tim Cornett and wide receiver/returner Marcus Sullivan helped end UNLV's five-game skid and carry the Rebels to a 42-16 victory over Wyoming at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Cornett rushed for three touchdowns and caught a scoring pass, finishing with 70 yards on 21 carries in helping the Rebels gain a season-high 197 yards on the ground. Sullivan set up touchdowns with kickoff returns of 46 and 53 yards and scored himself on a 41-yard reception.

"I'm excited about them, obviously," coach Bobby Hauck said. "As I keep saying, my belief is the future's bright here. You got glimpses with some of those plays that our young kids made tonight."

Cornett became the first UNLV player to score four touchdowns since Henry Bailey in the 1994 Las Vegas Bowl.

The play of Cornett and Sullivan helped end a horrendous stretch for UNLV (2-8, 2-4 Mountain West Conference). The Rebels not only had lost five in a row, but they were blown out in every game, the closest an 18-point loss to UNR.

But as badly as the Rebels played, at least they didn't lose to New Mexico. UNLV, in fact, defeated the Lobos 45-10 for its only other victory.

Wyoming, though, found a way to lose to one of the nation's worst teams, falling to the Lobos 34-31 a week ago. It probably was a blow to the Cowboys' confidence, and Wyoming (2-9, 0-7) will end the season as the MWC's last-place team.

That's quite a contrast from the Cowboys team that went 7-6 and won the New Mexico Bowl last season. Also quite a difference from the Wyoming team, led by quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels, that defeated UNLV 30-27 in Laramie.

Carta-Samuels seemed to make all the plays in that game, but he missed open receivers and never seemed in his rhythm Saturday. He completed 13 of 22 passes for 108 yards.

UNLV quarterback Omar Clayton played his best game since throwing for 214 yards against UNR on Oct. 2. He was 13 of 18 for 163 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 50 yards on 11 carries.

"Tonight the game seemed to slow down a little bit for him," Hauck said. "He had a great grasp of the plan."

The night did not begin well for UNLV. Wyoming running back Alvester Alexander burst around left end for a 72-yard touchdown on the first play for scrimmage, and the Cowboys had a 7-0 lead 19 seconds in.

But special teams would repeatedly let down the Cowboys, who tried to pull a surprise onside kick and failed. UNLV took advantage of the outstanding field position to tie the game on Cornett's 7-yard run. The score was set up by wide receiver Michael Johnson's 16-yard throwback pass Clayton on the previous play.

Then after Wyoming went ahead 13-7, the Rebels responded with two time-consuming drives that totaled 23 plays and 134 yards and took 11:19 off the clock. UNLV capped the drives with a 3-yard TD run by Cornett and a 21-yard TD pass from Clayton to Phillip Payne to take a 21-13 lead into halftime.

UNLV opened the second half with the 53-yard kickoff return by Sullivan. He also took a reverse 25 yards, setting up Cornett's 1-yard run for a 28-13 lead.

The Cowboys ventured deep into UNLV territory three times, but came away with only a field goal. UNLV then took complete control, scoring on passes from Clayton to Sullivan and Cornett.

■ NOTE -- Wyoming running back Robert Herron was injured late in the game and taken off the field in an ambulance. The injury and severity were not known, but he was moving his extremities. Preliminary signs were good and he was to be kept overnight at Sunrise Hospital for observation.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.