Rebels are runnin’ — thanks to Hankins, Wofford

Tim Graham

Thursday, Nov. 6, 1997 | 9:50 a.m.

Toss another obstacle in their path. Chances are they will hurdle it -- or trample it, depending on who has the ball.

UNLV running backs Coury Hankins and James Wofford have been issued several challenges this year. With the help of a weathered offensive line, they have responded each time.

Hankins and Wofford entered the season as role players in a backfield that last year ranked 109th out of 111 Division I-A schools at 77.8 rushing yards a game. They now are the anchors of an offense that averages over 50 yards more per outing.

"We've come up a long way," Rebel head coach Jeff Horton said.

Heralded junior college transfer Rodrick Johnson was supposed to be the workhorse of the Rebels' one-back offense, but he dislocated his right hip in Week 3 against Hawaii.

So Hankins came to the rescue and rushed for 125 yards -- the most by a Rebel since 1995 -- to help the Rebels post a 25-15 victory.

The next week against Illinois State, in his first career start, Hankins gained 118 yards. Wofford's presence was felt in that 41-6 triumph, too. On 10 attempts, his first since high school, he amassed 71 yards.

The distinct backs -- Hankins is a slick 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, while Wofford is a hammering 6-foot, 200 -- happily have shared the job ever since. And in the process they continue to be asked to help the Rebels through trying times.

The first such instance came Oct. 20, the day quarterback Jon Denton's two-game suspension was announced.

Denton had accounted for 71 percent of the Rebels' offense, and with backup Kevin Crook about to fill in, the running backs were needed more than ever.

"When Jon went out, Coach Horton got the team together for a heart-to-heart," Hankins said. "He told us, basically, that we had to pick up our game a little bit. We needed more of an extra effort."

But Denton wasn't the only dent in the Rebels' armor. The offensive line was -- and still is somewhat -- banged up. Four of UNLV's starting five interior linemen were either hurt or playing out of position to compensate for those who were.

"A lot of people have been hurt, but we have people stepping it up," right tackle John Greer said. "Our two running backs run as hard as they can. They're both doing a great job."

Despite the patchwork line at Fresno State, Hankins and Wofford came close to reaching the century mark in tandem. Hankins rushed for 125 yards and his first two collegiate touchdowns. Wofford ran for 96 yards.

Their performances were two of the few highlights in Fresno State's 46-28 victory. They made an encore last Saturday in UNLV's 45-19 loss to Colorado State at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Hankins gained 104 yards on just 13 carries, while Wofford went 63 yards on 12 attempts.

"At UNLV, we understand that every time we get the ball we have to be productive," Hankins said.

Heading into Saturday's noon kickoff at Wyoming, Hankins leads UNLV with 112 rushes for 591 yards (5.2 average). Wofford is second with 85 carries for 430 yards (4.8). They each have two touchdowns.

With two games remaining, the Rebels already have surpassed last season's rushing yardage total. They finished 1996 with 933 yards in 12 games, but needed just nine dates this year to gain 1,152. The Rebels' nine touchdowns equal last year's total.

"And we'll just keep on stepping it up these last two games," Greer said.

But Horton isn't completely satisfied with the running game. He claims it must improve even more to compete at a level with which he's comfortable.

"The thing that still hurts us is consistency," Horton said. "We want to average four yards a carry and we're not quite there (3.6). On second-and-8 or second-and-9, instead of running the ball to get four yards, we have to go to our short passing game. It forces us to throw for four yards instead of run for four yards."

The main source of improvement will be experience. Hankins is a sophomore; Wofford is a redshirt freshman; Johnson, a fifth-year senior, will apply to return due to medical hardship. On he line, the Rebels will lose only left tackle Ben Glidewell to graduation.

"We're not as good as we can be yet," Horton said. "We can still manage to get a lot better."

Extra points

* SPREAD 'EM: Wyoming opened as and remains a 19-point favorite over UNLV, according to underground oddsmakers. The Scripps Howard power ratings make the Rebels a 16 1/2-point underdog. In-state wagering on Nevada universities is illegal, but bets can be made in Mexico, offshore and overseas.

* 1998 TICKETS: Season tickets for UNLV's 1998 home schedule are on sale. The Rebels play five games at Sam Boyd Stadium next year: Air Force, Nevada-Reno, Wyoming, Tulsa and Texas Christian. Ticket prices are $75, $45 and $35. For more information, call 895-UNLV (8658).