Rebels limp home after 38-16 loss at Utah

Steve Guiremand

Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000 | 4:30 a.m.

SALT LAKE CITY --- No Jason Thomas, no chance.

That pretty much summed things up for the UNLV Rebels (4-5, 2-3) Saturday afternoon as they dropped a 38-16 decision here to Utah (3-6, 2-3) on a cool but sunny afternoon before an announced paid-crowd of 34,842 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

With their star quarterback still plagued by a sore foot suffered three weeks earlier in a loss at Colorado State, UNLV found itself with no threat of a real passing attack against a Utah defense that entered the game rated fourth nationally in pass defense.

The Rebels still managed to rush for 163 yards, including 110 yards on 16 carries by senior tailback Jeremi Rudolph. It was his Mountain West Conference leading fourth 100-yard rushing game, including his third in a row.

But that wasn't nearly enough to offset the loss of Thomas.

Backup Jason Vaughan completed 11 of 21 passes for 78 yards, but was just 7-of-16 for 48 yards in the first three quarters when the game was still in question. Despite getting all the snaps in practice during the week while Thomas rested his foot, Vaughan was clearly off with his timing and decision-making.

"Our offense was limited (with Vaughan)," Robinson admitted.

It wasn't all Vaughan's fault, however.

UNLV's defense appeared to be overmatched again up front by Utah, which rushed for 193 yards.

And Ute wide receiver Steve Smith showed why he was the MWC's preseason offensive player of the year, catching three passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns, including a 62-yarder early in the second quarter when he beat Rebel corner Kevin Thomas one-on-one up the left sideline. That gave the Utes a 17-6 advantage.

Utah redshirt freshman quarterback Lance Rice, making his first college start, completed 13 of 21 passes for 78 yards and three touchdowns.

"It was a bad day," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "We got the hell kicked out of us. There's not much more than you can say. We just have to get back and get ready for the next game."

Robinson said he decided on Friday that Thomas would not play.

"Jason Thomas was not an option in my mind," Robinson said. "He didn't have enough time to practice this week. His foot had gotten worse after last week's game (at Mississippi).

"We weren't going to go anywhere without getting him back to being full speed. We thought if we let him off this game, we'd have him the rest of the year."

"Today was good for me to rest," Thomas, the nation's No. 11 rated quarterback in passing efficiency, said. "I plan on being 90 percent, 100 percent next week."

Thomas said the injury, which originally was to the top of his right foot, had switched the arch after he played in last week's 43-40 overtime loss at Ole Miss. Although he still dressed for Saturday's game, he still was noticeably limping while walking onto the field and standing on the sidelines.

"Last week I really pushed myself back at least a week or two," he said. "I got a chance to rest (Saturday). Hopefully it will pay off down the road. Hopefully."

Asked if there was any doubt he'd be able to play in next Saturday's final home game against New Mexico at Sam Boyd Stadium, Thomas replied: "No doubt. I will play next week. I guarantee it."

Said Robinson: "It was not a good day for us, but if we win three in a row, we're still (7-5) and bowl eligible."

It all pretty much rests on the sore right foot of Jason Thomas now.