Dorsey carrying load for UNLV

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003 | 8:52 a.m.

Standing just 5-foot-6 and weighing 163 pounds soaking wet, which he certainly was last weekend in soggy Madison, Wis., Dominique Dorsey doesn't exactly fit the profile of a workhorse running back.

That role is usually reserved for someone nicknamed "Bronco" or "The Bus." But somewhat overlooked in UNLV's 23-5 upset of No. 14 Wisconsin last week was the fact that Dorsey carried the ball 26 times against what is expected to be one of the better defenses in the Big Ten and finished with an even 100 yards.

For someone who had never carried more than 78 times in an entire college season, you would expect the junior from Tulare, Calif., to be stiff and bruised the next day. But Dorsey said that wasn't the case.

"Physically after the game I was not at all sore," Dorsey said. "It really didn't take its toll."

With starting tailback Larry Croom likely only to see limited action in Friday night's game against Hawaii because of a strained thigh muscle, Dorsey once again figures to get the bulk of the carries for the Rebels.

That probably would not have not been the case a year ago when Dorsey was still tipping the scales at about 153 pounds. But after hitting the weights in the off-season, Dorsey has added about 10 pounds of muscle to his small body.

"That definitely was a big factor," Dorsey said.

"A year ago, no," UNLV coach John Robinson said when asked if he ever thought he'd see the day Dorsey would carry 26 times in a game. "But he's showing signs of getting stronger. He's lifting weights. He's getting in great shape. I think he's been gearing up for that opportunity. I certainly believe that he had a real good performance there."

Perhaps the only blemish on Dorsey's performance was the fact he lost a fumble. But Wisconsin fumbled four times in the rainy conditions, losing three of them.

"It definitely was tough holding onto the ball," Dorsey said. "Fortunately nobody else fumbled. It just happened to be really wet out there."

The school single-game record is 42,075 set for last year's game against Wisconsin when extra bleachers were installed in the north end zone to accomodate the 15,000 Cheeseheads who made the trip from Madison.

About 10,000 Hawaii fans are expected to attend the contest. And UNLV associate sports information director Mark Wallington said a school-record 15 NFL scouts have requested credentials.

One player those scouts are sure to be focused on is Hawaii defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga (6-3, 315), whom Warriors coach June Jones predicted during the summer could be a top 15 NFL pick.

Sopoaga sounds confident about his team's chances coming into the game.

"They're coming off a big win," he said of UNLV to the Honolulu Advertiser. "They have big expectations. But they don't know what we're going to bring up that day. We'll see about that."

"His strength is getting better in the leg and he's not in as much pain," trainer Kyle Wilson said. "I'm not sure he could play 80 plays but he might be able to play some on Friday."

Starting defensive end Chris Eagen said he tweaked his sore ankle again in practice on Tuesday night but that he expected to play. Starting defensive lineman Dietrich Canterberry (knee) also sat out practice along with offensive tackle Zach Gorham (knee) and both are questionable.

Going back to last year's season-ending 36-33 upset of No. 14 Colorado State, the Rebels haven't allowed a sack in four consecutive games, the longest such streak since sack records became official at the school in 1979.