UNLV Notebook: QB Decker will take good experiences from career

LARAMIE, Wyo. — UNLV senior quarterback Blake Decker needed a moment.

He was asked following Saturday's 35-28 loss to Wyoming about this being the end to his college career.

Decker paused, the emotions beginning to get to him.

"Walking into the locker room for the last time, it kind of hits you seeing the seniors and the guys you fought with for so long," he said. "It's tough, but at the same time, there's a lot of good to take away from our experiences. It's something I wouldn't trade for anything. I'm proud to be a Rebel."

This certainly wasn't how Decker wanted to wrap up his two seasons at UNLV, but it's been that kind of year. He had trouble staying healthy, and Decker played this game while still recovering from hip and ankle injuries suffered Nov. 14 at Colorado State.

"I wasn't going to miss this game regardless, whether it was a broken leg or whatever it was," Decker said. "The guys, we fought together all year, and I wanted to be out there with them."

Decker completed 18 of 33 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception.

He shared the duties with Kurt Palandech, using a rotation that was different from previous games when each took complete series. They substituted within series throughout the game.

"There were certain plays that Blake was not capable of running," UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said. "Those quarterback run options, none of those plays he was going to run. We were going to have Kurt do all those. The run/pass options, obviously Blake could execute those. He was really limited physically, and I was really proud of him. I thought he did a great job sitting in there and taking a bunch of hits and throwing the football around."

RUNNING DOWN HILL — Wyoming running back Brian Hill did to UNLV what he has done to so many other opponents.

He posted his fourth 200-yard game of the season, finishing with 232 yards on 35 carries. That gave him the Cowboys' single-season rushing record of 1,631 yards, smashing the previous mark of 1,455 yards set by Ryan Christopherson in 1994.

Hill broke the record with a 72-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, shedding three tackles en route to the end zone. He then hugged his mother in the stands.

"I was happy to do this accomplishment in front of my mom today," he said.

BATTLE BORN VICTORS — The Cowboys didn't beat many teams in going 2-10, but both victories occurred against UNLV and UNR. They defeated the Wolf Pack 28-21 on Oct. 17 in Laramie.

HE'S A DEFENSIVE END? — UNLV's Sonny Sanitoa intercepted a pass and broke up two others. Good numbers for a defensive back, forget a defensive lineman.

— Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him: @markanderson65