BYU defeats UNLV, 29-0

Steve Guiremand

Sunday, Oct. 24, 1999 | 12:19 p.m.

If BYU, as UNLV coach John Robinson said earlier this week, is the level he aspires to take his new program to, then the new Rebels head coach better roll up his sleeves.

UNLV still has a lot to work to do, particularly on offense.

Despite playing before the fourth largest home crowd in school history - 30,599 - yards and points were very hard for UNLV (3-4, 1-2) to come by in a 29-0 loss to the 19th-ranked Cougars (6-1, 3-0) on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.

UNLV, which lost star tailback Jeremi Rudolph on just its sixth offensive play of the game with a strained groin, finished with just 118 yards in total offense and 10 first downs. The Rebels didn't pick up their initial first down until the 12:59 mark of the second quarter

"They are the best team that we have faced all year," Robinson said. "They have a chance to be in the top ten. People talk about their offensive passing attack but it was their defense that was so stifling and overwhelming."

BYU, behind the pinpoint passing of senior quarterback Kevin Feterik - who completed 22 of 42 passes for 257 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, methodically built up a 16-0 halftime lead and led 19-0 after three quarters.

It could have a lot worse for the Rebels if not for a gallant effort by UNLV's improving defense, which intercepted two passes and held the high-scoring Cougars to their lowest offensive scoring output of the year. It was the first time BYU had been held under 31 points all season.

The Cougars opened the game with a 59-yard, 11-play drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Feterik to tight end Doug Jolley. Owen Pochman then added the PAT to give BYU a 7-0 lead with 11:14 left in the first quarter.

BYU upped it lead to 10-0 on a 47-yard field goal by Pochman with 8:13 to go in the second quarter.

UNLV, aided by a celebration penalty against Cougar linebacker Rob Morris, appeared to be in position to make a game of it just before halftime, driving down to the BYU 19. But as has been the case more often than not this season, the Rebels began to self-destruct.

First quarterback Jason Vaughan lost track of the time clock and UNLV was whistled for a five-yard delay of game penalty. Then the Rebels were called for a holding penalty on an end around by split end Nate Turner that pushed them even farther back. And on first-and-27 at the BYU 36, Vaughan was sacked for a nine-yard loss by Cougar defensive tackle Hans Olsen.

Suddenly facing a second-and-36 at the Cougar 45, the Rebels tried to pass. But the harried Vaughan's attempt into the flat that was intercepted by strong safety Tyson Smith - there was no Rebel receiver within about ten yards of the throw - and Smith returned it all the way to the UNLV eight.

UNLV's defense held the Cougars to no yards on the next three plays and Pochman came on to hit a 26-yard field goal to up BYU's lead to 13-0.

Another Pochman field goal a few minutes later, this one from 28-yards, made it 16-0 at intermission.

Pochman sandwiched field goals from 30 and 31 yards around a four-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Luke Staley early in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.

UNLV travels to New Mexico next Saturday night.