Hard hit fails to stop Thomas against Aztecs

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Oct. 15, 2001 | 11:03 a.m.

UNLV quarterback Jason Thomas experienced a career first in Saturday's 31-3 homecoming victory over San Diego State at Sam Boyd Stadium.

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior missed a series in the second quarter with what was called a "mild concussion" after getting sacked. Backup Kurt Nantkes came in and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to fullback Steven Costa to extend UNLV's lead to 17-3 while Thomas tried to gain his bearings.

"I was out ... It was a strange feeling," Thomas said. "That had never happened to me before ... not in high school, Pop Warner or college."

Thomas returned to action later in the quarter and had one of his better games of the season. He completed 10 of 17 passes for 133 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed 10 times for 52 yards, including an 8-yard sweep around right end for a touchdown that increased UNLV's lead to 24-3.

"I think I took a helmet to the helmet," Thomas said when asked how he suffered the injury. "I don't even remember. I just remember running the ball, getting tackled, and then watching Kurt throwing a touchdown pass.

"I'm fine," Thomas continued. "I just got my bell rung a little bit. (San Diego State) hit me hard out there. Plus, now that I'm running the ball more aggressively, I'm putting myself in more dangerous situations. You've just have to expect the big hits like that."

The Rebel offensive line, led by senior guard Greg Hulett, center Pete Tramontanas and tackle Brandon Bair, was more than up to that challenge.

UNLV rushed for 274 yards on 56 attempts and controlled the ball for 36 1/2 minutes in the contest, converting 10 of its 16 third-down attempts. The Rebels put together one especially impressive drive in the first quarter, going 77 yards in 17 plays and controlling the ball for 8:05. That march ended with a 32-yard field goal by Dillon Pieffer that put UNLV ahead, 10-3, and seemed to take some of the life out of the Aztecs.

"Coach Robinson gave us that challenge and I think we responded to it," Hulett said. "That one drive -- 17 plays, eight minutes -- shows how dominant we were up front. We knew we were facing one of the top run defenses in the conference and that we would have to be really physical."

The Rebel defense also came up big, limiting Aztec running back Larry Ned to just 46 yards on 17 carries.

"The more physical team will win a game like this," Ned said. "They were it."

UNLV is 16th in the nation in rushing with a 217.83 average per game while junior tailback Joe Haro (96.33 ypg) is 33rd nationally.

Dorsey carried just three times for 17 yards against the Aztecs before limping off the field.

"He actually tried to go back in but the coaches thought that he was limping too much so they pulled him out," Wilson said. "He had a little swelling (Sunday), but it wasn't anything really bad."

Wilson said that starting defensive end Anton Palepoi, who sat out the San Diego State game to allow a sprained knee to heal, should be back on the practice field on Tuesday night when the Rebels begin preparations for Colorado State.