One yard makes difference

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Oct. 19, 1998 | 11:30 a.m.

With 184 yards on 28 carries against one of the WAC's top run defenses, James Wofford played his finest game as a collegian Saturday against Wyoming at Sam Boyd Stadium.

However, it was the yard he didn't get that was the topic of conversation for the sophomore from Bakersfield, Calif., following UNLV's 28-25 overtime loss to the Cowboys.

With the game tied 25-25 in overtime, the 6-0, 200-pound Wofford reeled off runs of 13 and 11 yards to give UNLV a first-and-goal at the Wyoming one. But on the next play, Wofford was hammered by Wyoming linebacker Kwabena Peprah as he tried to dive into the end zone.

The ball popped out of his grasp and Cowboy Adrian Hill recovered.

Six plays later, Wyoming, which wisely elected to go on offense second in overtime after winning the coin toss, won the game on an 18-yard field goal by Aaron Elling.

And the Rebels (0-7), who lost for a school record-tying 12th straight time, were left to wonder "What if?"

To his credit, the soft-spoken Wofford, whose 184 yards rushing were the most by a Rebel since Shannon Wilson had 200 against Arkansas State in 1995, didn't avoid the media afterward.

"(Peprah) put his helmet right on the ball," Wofford said. "I maybe could have held (the ball) a little tighter or maybe even stayed on the ground instead of going over the top. ... I guess things like that happen for a reason. I'm not sure what the reason is, but it did happen."

Ironically, the fumble occured at the same end zone where Wofford was stopped on three straight plays from the two at the end of last year's season-ending 55-48 overtime loss to San Jose State.

"He was giving 100 percent effort on the go-over," Rebel quarterback Chad Reed said. "The guy just happened to hit him right on the ball. James had it covered up and everything. It's not like he was just lounging it out there."

"One play doesn't win or lose a game for you," a teary-eyed UNLV coach Jeff Horton said. "I want to make sure that (Wofford) doesn't think he lost the game. He did a lot of things that helped us (almost) win the game."

Wofford wasn't buying the comforting comments.

"I really wanted the ball on that play and they gave it to me," he said. "I didn't come through for the team.

"A lot of people are going to say he helped us get down there and things like that," Wofford continued. "I've heard all of it. But if I didn't do anything in the game but get that one play. ... and I didn't get it. I didn't get in. I just felt terrible."

Can Wofford recover from the miscue?

"I feel I will," he said. "I have to. I'm a football player. ... Once next week starts, I'll be ready to go again."

Rebel notes

UNLV has played in three overtime games in its history and has lost all three. ... UNLV finished with 210 yards rushing against a Wyoming defense that came into the game ranked third in the WAC and 31st nationally against the run, yielding just 124.0 yards per game. ... The Rebels' 10-7 halftime lead was the team's first since last year's season-ending game against San Jose State. ... B.J. Edwards' fourth quarter punt block was the team's second in as many weeks after not blocking one since 1995. ... Reed finished 12 of 27 for 126 yards passing with two touchdowns and one interception in his second college start. ... Senior wide receiver Damon Williams, who had his school-record pass catching streak snapped at 39 games at BYU, failed to catch a pass for the second straight game.