Rebels aim to find way to ground Air Force

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Nov. 12, 1999 | 10:31 a.m.

Off we go into the wild blue yonder. ...

That's a song UNLV's football team heard quite a few times in last year's 52-10 thrashing at the hands of Air Force at Sam Boyd Stadium. Like after each of the Falcons' seven touchdowns in the contest.

But with an extra week to prepare for Air Force's option attack and a pretty fair scout team quarterback named Jason Thomas to practice against, the Rebels feel they'll be hearing that song a few less times on Saturday afternoon at Falcon Stadium.

"We've played about four games this week already," linebacker Randy Black said referring to the often spirited scrimmages against Thomas and company. "You've got to get ready for the quick tempo of the game that Air Force runs its option at. They probably have a faster tempo than just about anybody. But we've prepared very well this week."

Nothing against Air Force quarterbacks Cale Bonds and Mike Theissen, but neither is the athlete that the 6-4, 230-pound Thomas is. The USC transfer, who has been timed at 4.58 in the forty and was widely considered the top prep athlete to come out of southern California in more than a decade, was heavily recruited by Nebraska to play option quarterback.

"Jason Thomas makes it rough," Black said. "He's such an athletic quarterback. (Air Force's) quarterbacks are good, but they won't be able to cut and break away like Jason does. We'll be well prepared for that."

Defensive coordinator Jeff McInerney agrees.

"(Thomas) gives us an advantage in that he can simulate the speed that a team like Air Force runs the option," McInerney said. "That's the hardest thing to simulate in practice. And having that bye week allowed (Thomas) to learn their plays."

Although there was more than one occasion this week that Thomas broke away for long runs against the Rebels' first string defense, McInerney said he was happy with the way his defensive unit performed in the workouts.

"We've basically scrimmaged against it for five days," McInerney said. "We also went live cut (blocks). That's something the players hate but it's something you need to get used to when you play an option team. I think having practiced against that so much this week will give us a little advantage this week."

With true freshman Matt Ray making his first college start on Saturday, it figures the Rebels (3-5, 1-3) will need a superior effort from their defense to have any chance of upsetting Fisher DeBerry's Falcons (6-3, 2-3).

One thing is certain. UNLV must do a much better job of containing the option than it did a year ago. Air Force held a 383 to minus-6 advantage in rushing yards last year.

* REBEL NOTES: Robinson said junior quarterback Jason Vaughan, who hasn't practiced in two weeks because of lingering effects from a concussion, will make the trip to Air Force but won't dress. "He's not totally recovered yet and hasn't been cleared to play," Robinson said. ... Junior tailback Jeremi Rudolph (groin) practiced again Thursday but was experiencing some soreness. "It just depends on how he feels on Saturday. It'll be a game-time decision." ... Senior wide receiver Len Ware (knee) also had a minor setback in practice the last couple of days and was noticeably limping in practice on Thursday. "It's mainly soreness and stiffness," Robinson said. "With a couple of days rest, hopefully it will get better. His knee hasn't come back as quickly as he had hoped. He's really desperate to play." Sophomore Duane James will replace Ware in the starting lin eup. ... Freshman defensive lineman Kawika Sagapolu, who didn't practice all week, likely won't make the trip because of a pinched nerve. ... Redshirt fres hman DeJhown Mandley, who caught a touchdown pass earlier this year at NorthTexas, will make his first college start at tight end.