Rebel football team has two more shots

Tim Graham

Monday, Nov. 3, 1997 | 8:47 a.m.

The time has arrived again -- the time for UNLV's football program to play out another season.

After Saturday's 45-19 loss to Colorado State at Sam Boyd Stadium, UNLV cannot have a winning campaign. The Rebels are 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the Western Athletic Conference with only two games left.

There is nothing to play for but pride. But head coach Jeff Horton claims that is enough.

"If you have pride to represent UNLV and this football team, you have to ask yourself some questions," Horton said. "What's your makeup? What are you made of? What are you going to do the rest of your life? Are you going to get whipped up on the rest of your life?"

Horton was humble after the Rams scored 31 unanswered points in the final three quarters to hand the Rebels their third straight loss. Immediately afterward Horton used words such as "destroyed" and "thumped" to describe what had happened to his team.

But after having a night to sleep on it and taking a look at the game films, the fourth-year head coach was more subdued in his assessment.

"We saw we played hard," Horton said. "There for about seven minutes in the third quarter we were right there, but then they got the upper hand on us. They are a better football team. They just physically whipped us.

"I don't think our guys quit. I think it was more like that first time (Mike) Tyson fought (Evander) Holyfield. Tyson got hit, was stunned, and it was over."

If the Rebels do need a shot in the arm to get through their last two games -- Saturday at Wyoming and Nov. 22 at home against San Jose State sandwiched around a week off -- it certainly will get one by injecting a new arm.

Horton announced Sunday that quarterback Jon Denton, suspended two weeks ago for violating a still-undisclosed team rule, will start in Laramie.

"We hope he has learned that football is important to him, that he's a focused part of the team and a better person," Horton said.

Denton wandered UNLV's sideline in street clothes Saturday. He often stood next to offensive coordinator Charlie Stubbs and frequently discussed strategy with his replacement, Kevin Crook.

According to Horton, Denton was positive throughout his suspension.

"He was first-class," Horton said. "It was much harder this week for him to go out to the stadium and not be a part of it. He wants to be a part of the program.

"I thought he was great (Saturday). He encouraged both sides of the ball and helped us run the offense. It wasn't like he sat around and sulked and pouted."

Banged up

Senior left tackle Ben Glidewell left Saturday's game in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle and did not return. He probably will be held out of today's practice but is listed as probable for Wyoming. Defensive tackle Derrick Monroe missed his first start of the year with an injured knee. The Rebels reported no other new injuries.

Return engagement

Rams quarterback Moses Moreno enjoys the idea of coming back to Sam Boyd Stadium for the Western Athletic Conference championship game. The Dec. 16 contest pits the top Pacific Division team against the best from the Mountain Division. CSU leads the Pacific Division with second-place Fresno State and San Diego State left on its schedule. "We got two more games, and if we focus on each one and concentrate on playing Colorado State football, there's no doubt we'll be back here in a few weeks," said Moreno, who ranks among the nation's elite in passing efficiency.

* GRID TIDBITS: Rebel H-back Damon Williams caught eight passes for 100 yards, including a long of 38. With his first-quarter catch, the junior extended to 32 his school-record streak of games with at least one reception. Williams has 151 career catches, five shy of all-time UNLV leader Henry Bailey. His 100-yard game was the seventh of his career, tying him for third on the school's all-time list and one behind co-leaders Randy Gatewood and Jim Sandusky. ... No Rebel receiver scored a touchdown for the first time in 19 games. ... Linebacker Scott Patton recorded only four tackles against CSU, marking the first time he did not record double figures in tackles this season. Linebacker Greg Gales led the Rebels with 16. ... Defensive back Randy Black has three interceptions, the most for a Rebel since 1992. ... Coury Hankins ran 13 times for 105 yards, giving him back-to-back 100-yard games for the second time this year. He is the first Rebel rusher to reach the century mark four times since Ickey Woods in 1987. Hankins' 47-yard run in the third quarter was the longest of the season for the Rebels by 11 yards. ... CSU's 291 yards rushing were the most by an opponent this year.