Iowa State spoils UNLV home opener

Steve Guiremand

Saturday, Sept. 18, 1999 | 11:16 a.m.

Party poopers.

Someone forgot to tell the Iowa State Cyclones that Saturday night was supposed to be a coming out party for UNLV football.

New coach. Newly refurbished stadium. New home uniforms.

But, for Rebel fans, an all-too-familiar result.

Led by senior tailback Darren Davis, who rushed for 208 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries, the Cyclones (3-0) handed UNLV (2-1) and new head coach John Robinson its first loss of 1999 in convincing fashion, 24-0, at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Iowa State held UNLV to just seven first downs and 106 yards in total offense, including just eight yards rushing. Meanwhile, the Cyclones rolled up 319 yards on the ground and had 19 first downs.

"They overwhelmed us from the start," Robinson said. "We were worried about it being a very physical matchup and as it turned out we were right to worry."

UNLV's only scoring chance was a 46-yard field goal try that placekicker Tim O'Reilly was short on in the first quarter. The Rebels never got any farther than the Cyclone 26-yard line after that.

The tenth largest crowd in UNLV football history --- 26,127 --- had plenty of time to check out Sam Boyd Stadium's new scoreboard, concession stands and seating because there certainly wasn't much to view on the field for Rebel fans.

Iowa State led 17-0 at halftime thanks to a pair of 1-yard Davis touchdown runs. Mike McKnight added a 30-yard field goal for the other Cyclone score.

It could have been worse. Iowa State had a 17-play, 70-play drive that resulted in no points when linebacker James Sunia and a swarm of Rebels stopped Davis on fourth-and-goal at the one.

Iowa State had a 185 to 39 edge in total yards at halftime, including a 182 to minus-four advantage on the ground. Davis gained 109 of his yards on 22 carries before intermission.

The Cyclones upped their lead to 24-0 on their first possession of the second half, driving 43 yards in 8 plays. Quarterback Sage Rosenfels hit tight end Andy Stensrud with a five-yard touchdown pass to cap the drive.

UNLV was shut out for the 11th time in school history and for the first time since a 42-0 blanking by Utah State on Nov. 11, 1995.

Not exactly the kind of home debut Robinson and company had in mind.

"It is a disappointment for us and our fans," Robinson said. "I think our football team learned a good lesson tonight. For us to win, we need a fanatical approach to the game. I never had the feeling that we took that approach. I never felt we were playing fanatically and we have to learn how to do that."

UNLV opens Mountain West Conference play against Utah next Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.