UNLV goes to Utah still in contention for bowl bid

Friday, Nov. 8, 2002 | 4:08 a.m.

SALT LAKE CITY AP) - While there isn't a whole lot of excitement left for Utah's football team this season, Nevada-Las Vegas still has plenty to play for.

The Runnin' Rebels (4-5, 2-2 Mountain West) need to win two of their final three games to become eligible to play in a bowl game. The Utes (2-6, 0 (4)- are simply trying to avoid their first winless conference season since 1943, when they went 0-2 in the Big Seven.

"Pride is all that's left. There are no bowls, no conference championships, no winning season left to play for," said linebacker Sheldon Deckart. "We're playing for the best year we can have."

Utah is trying to avoid a worse season than 2000, when the Utes went 4-7. Before that, Utah's most recent losing season was 1990, coach Ron McBride's first year running the Utes.

After the Rebels, the Utes are at Wyoming next week and close the season at home against Brigham Young on Nov. 23. With UNLV and BYU still contending for bowls, 5-6 would be a tough finish, especially considering the way the Utes have been playing.

After opening the season 2-0, Utah has lost six straight. The most recent was two weeks ago when New Mexico State came from behind for a 42-35 win in two overtimes.

The Utes have had the extra week to mull over their most disappointing loss of the season.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to play again," said McBride, who is 3-0 against UNLV. "I will keep trusting these players. Regardless of the record, I'm impressed with these players. They've never stepped back or looked for a way out."

UNLV is just 1-6 all time against Utah and has not won consecutive games this season. The Rebels' postseason hopes stayed alive last week when they held off Wyoming 49-48.

UNLV had 644 total yards against the Cowboys, but on Saturday will face one of the Mountain West's top defenses. Utah is No. 1 in the league at rush defense at 121.5 yards per game and total defense (336 yards). The 23.1 points the Utes have allowed per game is second best in the Mountain West.

"My guess is that they will probably come back and be the Utah everybody knows," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "The frustration of not winning will either bring you back to your roots or have you try all kinds of weird stuff. I don't think they have that kind of personality."

Utah has one five straight in the series and is 3-0 in the Mountain West era.

"Utah always plays us hard," UNLV guard Tony Terrell said. "They've beaten us since I've been here and that's something that's got to change."