Both teams showed plenty of offensive firepower

the numbers

Monday, Nov. 4, 2002 | 9:30 a.m.

First Quarter: UNLV, 21-7

The Man: Rebel quarterback Jason Thomas scores three touchdowns on runs of 3, 15 and two yards.

Turning Point: On third-and-goal at the one, Thomas sweeps in off right tackle to up the Rebels' lead to 21-7.

Game within the game: Thomas' passing appears to be the sharpest since his 2000 Las Vegas Bowl game against Arkansas, with seven completions in nine attempts for 125 yards.

Second Quarter: UNLV, 35-21

The Man: Tailback Dominique Dorsey explodes off right tackle for a 73-yard touchdown run to increase UNLV's lead to 28-14.

Turning Point: After Wyoming battles back to cut the deficit to 28-21, the Rebels answer with a 70-yard drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by Larry Croom.

Game within the game: Rebels scored five touchdowns on their first six possessions on the half. The only time UNLV failed in that span was when placekicker Dillon Pieffer's 42-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright and bounced back.

Third quarter: UNLV, 35-28

The Man: Wyoming quarterback Casey Bramlet starts to heat up, completing 8 of 9 passes for 84 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Aaron Robbins.

Turning Point: UNLV blows its second field goal try of the game when holder Toby Smeltzer mishandles Joe Eddleman's snap.

Game within the game: Shades of San Diego State as Cowboy passing attack begins to pick apart beleagured Rebels secondary.

Fourth Quarter: Tied, 42-42

The Man: Bramlet again, throwing two touchdown passes in the final 5:04 as well as powering his way into the end zone for a two-point conversion with no time remaining to force overtime.

Turning Point: On the final play of regulation, Bramlet throws a 36-yard Hail Mary pass to the end zone that former Wyoming basketball player Scottie Vines screens out Rebel defenders for.

Game within the game: Rebels' prevent pass defense prevents a victory in regulation.

Overtime: UNLV, 49-48

The Man: Thomas lofts a perfect 25-yard pass up the left sideline to wide-open fullback Steve Costa for the game-tying score.

Turning Point: Pieffer kicks the game-winning PAT after Wyoming's Scott Parker had pushed his to the right following Kit Bradshaw's two-yard touchdown run to start OT.

Game within the game: The teams combined for 97 points and 1,156 yards in total offense.