Rebels enter stretch with patchwork offensive line

Tim Graham

Monday, Oct. 20, 1997 | 11:40 a.m.

SAN DIEGO -- UNLV's offensive line is fraying. It may be beyond mending.

Following Saturday night's 20-17 overtime loss to San Diego State at Qualcomm Stadium, the interior five positions are rife with injuries.

"It's beat up and with a lot of questions," Rebel coach Jeff Horton said Sunday. "We've gotta regroup and get better. We gotta be able to fight longer and harder."

The Rebels suspect they have lost starting left guard Jerald Pierucci for the season after he went down in the third quarter with a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee. An MRI today will reveal the extent of the damage. Mac Smith, a converted defensive lineman who has seen limited action, will replace him.

Starting left tackle Ben Glidewell played "about 10 snaps" against the Aztecs because of torn thumb ligaments, according to Horton. To compensate, left tackle John Greer, a redshirt freshman, was moved to the position responsible for protecting quarterback Jon Denton's blindside.

Brandon Ellena, projected as a starting guard during the preseason, filled Greer's void at left tackle.

Meanwhile, right guard Mike Reily continued to battle a sprained right shoulder. He is listed as questionable for Saturday night's game at Fresno State.

Center Bubba Gonzalez sprained his ankle at SDSU but is listed as probable.

"We don't have that many guys left who we can make a change with," Horton said. "We basically have seven guys with one out. We gotta play those six and see what happens.

"We can't afford any more (injuries). If Reily can't go, we'll have our backs to the wall then."

With the injuries and shuffled personnel, the Rebels allowed Denton to get sacked four times despite a predominantly three-man pass rush.

Denton was hurried on several other occasions. Sometimes he properly threw the ball out of bounds; other times he tried to scramble and miraculously escaped; but the decisions that stand out were the three passes he forced into interceptions.

"Most of the interceptions happen when (Denton's) running for his life," Horton said. "If we give him more time in the pocket, he won't have those tough plays. But when he's on the run that makes it tougher.

"We have to take pride in protecting that quarterback and not let him get chased. It's their job to protect him at all costs."

Extra points

* BUMPS & BRUISES: In addition to the offensive line, many other Rebels hobbled off the field Saturday. Receiver Len Ware (sprained ankle), linebacker Greg Gales (sprained ankle) and cornerback Amar Brisco (bruised ribs) are listed as probable for Fresno State.

* NOT-SO SPECIAL: Head coach Jeff Horton's concerns over the offensive line are superseded by those of his punt and punt-return units. Bad snaps, bad punts, bad fielding and bad blocks have Horton beside himself. Returnmen Carlos Baker and Jason Toohey played as if they were on skates, and insisted on fielding punts they should have run from. Their two returns went for --7 yards combined. "Hopefully, we'll catch the ball and maybe block somebody up front," Horton replied when asked what remedies could be made. "Our punt and punt returns have stunk." Mike Perry is listed as the returner this week.

* POINTS NOT TAKEN: UNLV started Saturday's game the way it ended against Texas Christian. The Rebels were blanked in the second half against the Horned Frogs, and they failed to score in the first half against the Aztecs. In that span, the Rebels were outscored 17-0. It was the first time in 20 games the Rebels had been shut out in the first half and the first time in more than three years the Aztecs had done that to an opponent.

* CHART CLIMBER: Although he threw three interceptions, Jon Denton completed 31 of 56 passes for 335 yards to move into second place on UNLV's career passing yardage list. He currently has 5,642 yards, 249 more than Sam King. Randall Cunningham is in first place with 8,020. ... Denton also threw for a touchdown, marking the school-record 17th straight time he has tossed at least one in a game. He now has 37 total TD passes, tying him for second on UNLV's all-time list.

* WIZARDLESS AZ: The Rebels fared well in containing All-America candidate Az-zahir Hakim. The potent receiver/returner was limited to three catches for 34 yards and one kickoff return for 12 yards. UNLV used an ultra-short kickoff ploy by Dana Barsuhn, who intentionally got under the ball to loft it around the SDSU 25, preventing Hakim from properly fielding it.

* GRID TIDBITS: For the first time in 10 games, no Rebel gained 100 yards receiving. ... The Rebels have lost 18 straight away from home. They still have not won a WAC road game since joining the conference prior to 1996. ... UNLV won the battles on first downs (23-17), total yardage (378-229) and total plays (84-73) despite having the ball 2:46 less. ... UNLV held SDSU to seven receptions for 87 yards, the Aztecs' lowest pass production since 1980 against New Mexico.