Robinson sees positives in UNLV’s first scrimmage

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Aug. 20, 1999 | 12:32 p.m.

If John Robinson's first game goes off as smoothly as his first scrimmage did Thursday night at Rebel Park, UNLV's 16-game losing streak just might be in jeopardy on Sept. 2 at North Texas.

The Rebels, despite being fatigued by a week of two-a-day practices, played surprisingly sharp for a first scrimmage, committing just two penalties in the 53-play workout. And other than a few correctable special teams miscues -- a high center snap on a punt and a blocked punt by star cornerback Kevin Thomas which he also returned for a score -- it was not nearly as sloppy as one might expect.

Highly-touted junior college transfer Jeremi Rudolph, who gained 29 yards on eight carries, scored the only offensive touchdown of the scrimmage on an eight-yard run off right tackle. And senior placekicker Tim O'Reilly was perfect on a 34-yard field goal following an impressive drive by the Chris Hayward-led second team offense against the first team defense.

"There were two things to be happy about," Robinson said. "No. 1, nobody got hurt. And we got a chance to do some things we don't normally get to do in practice. You have officials here. You have kickoffs. You have all kinds of things you're almost doing for the first time in terms of the rythym of a game."

Starting quarterback Jason Vaughan completed 7 of 11 passes for 81 yards against the second team defense. He would have put up even more impressive numbers if not for a dropped pass and two underthrows of open receivers.

"Tired legs," Vaughan said. "I wasn't nervous at all."

"I think he might have pressed a little," Robinson said. "I think any time you have the first team playing against the second team, the first team is always trying to look good instead of just trying to get a first down."

But the surprise was the play of Hayward, who appeared to have made large strides from a forgetful freshman campaign and could be an adequate backup if Vaughan were to go down.

"I was impressed with Chris Hayward," Robinson said. "I thought he did a good job. He was efficient. The one thing we tried to do with (the second string offense) was to stay very simple and it worked."

Hayward completed 3 of 6 passes for 42 yards and opened the scrimmage by driving the second team offense to a field goal against the first team defense.

A couple of newcomers -- freshman defensive lineman Kawika Sagapolu and walk-on safety Shareef Hamilton -- starred on defense.

Although Sagapolu wasn't credited with any tackles, the Cimarron-Memorial product caught Robinson's eye by doing a nice job of stuffing up the middle.

"I saw Sagapolu a lot tonight," Robinson said. "I think he's going to play a lot right away and develop into a really big-time player for us."

Hamilton, who attended Las Vegas High his sophomore year before moving to Morristown, N.J., has arguably been the biggest surprise of the camp.

The 6-1, 175-pound safety had a scrimmage high seven tackles, including three-in-a-row on one series against the first team offense.

"He's establishing himself as a guy who is going to be a frontline player here," Robinson said.

Two marquee players -- defensive lineman Ahmad Miller and USC quarterback transfer Jason Thomas -- did not play in the scrimmage because of sore backs.

The Rebels continue two-a-day workouts today and Saturday at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Another scrimmage is planned for Saturday night.