Vaughan with the win(s)

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999 | 10:51 a.m.

UNLV coach John Robinson stressed before the season that the No. 1 thing he wanted from his starting quarterback was efficiency.

So far, so good.

How's this for efficient? In two games, Jason Vaughan has completed 33 of 46 passes (71.7 percent) with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He ranks 24th nationally in pass efficiency.

"For the first two games out, you have to feel good about he's done," UNLV quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Gene Dahlquist said. "Hopefully we can build on that."

And what does he think of Vaughan's 46-pass streak without an interception?

"Let's not jinx him now," Dahlquist says with a laugh.

"I don't really think about that," Vaughan said of his streak. "I just keep playing. Those things (interceptions) are going to happen, just like fumbles are going to happen. I'm sure I'll throw an interception this year. If I do, it won't be the end of the world. We'll just come back the next play and try and go down and score."

The 6-4, 205-pound transfer from Middle Georgia Community College has been helped by the fact the Rebels have run a very high-percentage, controlled short-passing game so far.

"We have a lot of new starters on offense," Vaughan said. "It's a new game. It's a totally different level here.

"Junior college is real athletic with some big-time players. But the ins and outs of the game ... that's just simple football. You don't see guys running really complicated offenses because you don't have time to. You only have guys there for two years."

"I think he's done a nice job of doing what we've asked of him," Dahlquist said. "I think he's capable of doing more, and, as the offense evolves, he will get the opportunity to do more things."

Dahlquist said the Rebels are purposely moving along at a slow but steady pace in the passing game.

"It's just a matter of trying to install things at a rate at which the team can perform," he said. "So we're taking a cautious, conservative approach to the passing game. We've had good success with the percentage of completions and fairly good success with what we've done with the ball. It would be nice to get the ball down the field a little more."

For the time being, Vaughan is happy with the most important stat of all: 2-0.

"I'll just continue what I have to do to win and be smart with the football," he said. "I've been fortunate. I've thrown one or two passes that could have been intercepted and probably gotten a little bit lucky. But that's part of the game."

* THOMAS HONORED: UNLV cornerback Kevin Thomas, who ran back a Baylor fumble 101 yards for the game-winning touchdown on the final play of the game on Saturday night, was named the Mountain West Conference's Defensive Player of the Week.

It was only the third time in NCAA Division I-A history that a fumble has been returned 100 yards (the maximum allowed under NCAA rules) in a game since fumbles were allowed to be advanced in 1992. Ironically, UNLV was involved in another game it also happened.

Rice's Dan Dawson returned a Chad Reed fumble 100 yards for a score last year at Rice in the Owls' 38-6 victory.

* MR. POPULARITY: Any doubt that John Robinson is the most popular man in town this week was dispelled by the turnout for Robinson's weekly Rebel Football Foundation luncheon at Big Dog's on Monday afternoon.

An enthusiastic standing-room only crowd showed up to greet Robinson. About 30 people stood during the luncheon.

Robinson also had a large turnout for his Monday night coaches' show on KBAD-920 at the Sunset Brewing Company at the Sunset Station Hotel and Casino. Among those on hand was entertainer David Cassidy of EFX and Partridge Family fame.

* STAT OF THE WEEK: UNLV hasn't won three games in a row to start the season since 1984 when the Rebels went 11-2 and won the Big West Conference title under Harvey "Buckle Up" Hyde.

The Rebels last won three straight games in 1994 when they defeated Utah State, New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech in Jeff Horton's first year.