UNLV picks up pace with short week to get prepared for Air Force
Probably no one was unhappier than Bobby Hauck when the Mountain West Conference released its football schedule in March.
Facing a ridiculously tough nonconference schedule in his first season as UNLV's coach was bad enough, but then the Mountain West stuck the Rebels with a short week to prepare for the league's most unique and difficult to defend offense.
UNLV hosts Air Force, with its triple-option attack, at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sam Boyd Stadium, five days after defeating Wyoming at home.
One potential upside for the Rebels is that the game will be one of only three played nationally Thursday and will be televised on CBS College Sports.
"You talk about exposure, it's a good thing," Hauck said. "We could also have some exposure with their rushing offense versus our rush defense on a short week. They're very capable of hanging it on people, which they have at times this year, so we've got our hands full."
UNLV (2-8, 2-4 MWC) allows 211.9 yards rushing per game, 114th nationally. The Falcons (7-4, 4-3) average 315.6 yards, second nationally, and ran for 431 yards when the teams met in the snow last season at Air Force Academy, Colo.
The Rebels spent some time in training camp game-planning for Air Force's deceptive offense, but that might not be enough. "If we've been able to retain any of it," Hauck said, "we'll see this week."
He has tried to speed up preparation this week. UNLV eschewed light workouts for strong practices Sunday and Monday and will go at it again today.
"We're basically a day ahead right now," Hauck said. "So, hopefully, we're on track to get the work we need done."
Air Force relies on sleight of hand to keep opposing defenses guessing, with the quarterback holding the ball until the last moment before either pitching to a trailing back or keeping it himself. The run-heavy offense makes play-action passes especially effective.
Junior quarterback Tim Jefferson has passed for 1,231 yards and is the Falcons' second-leading rusher with 705 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns.
Tailback Asher Clark leads Air Force with 919 yards rushing.
The offensive line, adept at cut blocking, long an Air Force staple, has paved the way for the team to average 5.5 yards per rushing play.
"It's probably the toughest O-line we play, besides Wisconsin," UNLV defensive tackle Isaako Aaitui said, referring to the Badgers, who rushed for 278 yards in a 41-21 season-opening win over UNLV on Sept. 4.
The Rebels are at least coming off a victory -- 42-16 over Wyoming to end a five-game losing streak -- which made returning to the practice field a little easier.
"We had good attention to what we were trying to get across," Hauck said. "We're working at it."
■ CORNETT HONORED -- UNLV freshman running back Tim Cornett was named conference co-offensive player of the week after scoring four touchdowns against Wyoming. He rushed for three scores, totaling 70 yards on 21 carries, and caught a touchdown pass.
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.
LAS VEGAS BOWL KEEPING AN EYE ON NOTRE DAME
The MAACO Bowl Las Vegas is keeping tabs on Notre Dame should perhaps the most storied program in college football become available.
SI.com, in fact, projected the Fighting Irish to play San Diego State in the Dec. 22 game at Sam Boyd Stadium.
"Notre Dame wasn't on our radar, but after what happened with the Pac-10, that could possibly be open," MAACO Bowl Las Vegas executive director Tina Kunzer-Murphy said Monday.
The bowl has the fifth selection from the Pac-10, but it doesn't appear a team will be available.
A Las Vegas bowl representative attended Notre Dame's 28-3 win over Utah on Saturday in South Bend, Ind. The Irish (5-5) need to win either Saturday at home against Army or Nov. 27 at Southern California to become bowl eligible.
"Any time you have big names, our committee starts salivating," Kunzer-Murphy said. "I can't get too excited. There a few big-name teams we're looking at that, and maybe they'll be available. People will be fighting to talk to them."
The Las Vegas bowl also has the first choice from the Mountain West Conference, and there are several candidates, including Utah. But bowls don't like rematches, so if Notre Dame is there for the taking, it's doubtful the Las Vegas bowl would invite the Utes.
MARK ANDERSON/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
LOCAL PLAYERS ON THE NATIONAL SCENE
Quinton Carter, a 2006 Cheyenne graduate, made 17 tackles and broke up a pass in Oklahoma's 45-7 victory over Texas Tech.
DeMarco Murray, a 2006 Bishop Gorman graduate, had 95 all-purpose yards and a touchdown for Oklahoma.
Juron Criner, a 2008 Canyon Springs graduate, caught six passes for 98 yards in Arizona's 24-21 loss to Southern California.
Brandon Marshall, a 2007 Cimarron-Memorial graduate, made seven tackles, including 1½ for loss, in UNR's 35-34 victory over Fresno State.
Billy Winn, a 2007 Las Vegas High graduate, had 1½ tackles for loss, including a sack, in Boise State's 52-14 victory over Idaho.
Kerwynn Williams, a 2009 Valley graduate, rushed for a 37-yard touchdown in Utah State's 38-34 victory over San Jose State.
