Rebels will try a proven winner

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 | 9:34 a.m.

The last time Jarrod Jackson started a game at quarterback, it was for Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif. And he experienced something that has been very rare in his career -- a loss.

"We were playing College of the Canyons in the semifinals of the Southern California playoffs," Jackson said of the contest played last November. "It was a loss, but there were 11 wins before that. And they went on to win the national championship."

Jackson, who went 21-2 as a starter in junior college after leading his high school, Lake Oswego (Ore.) to a state title as a senior, now gets his chance to see if he can bring that winning touch to the Division I-A level.

A 6-foot-1, 205-pounder, Jackson, who has not played a snap in UNLV's first four games, will replace the injured Shane Steichen for the Rebels (1-3, 0-1) when they face Wyoming (3-1, 1-0) at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

"I have never been to Laramie before," Jackson said. "I've heard it's anything but pleasant." Especially since Joe Glenn took over as head coach of the Pokes, who once were the laughing stocks of the Mountain West Conference.

No more. Wyoming, which rallied to defeat UCLA, 24-21, in last year's Las Vegas Bowl, has won six of its past seven home games with the only loss in that span at the hands of undefeated Fiesta Bowl champion Utah last November.

And going into Saturday's game against the Rebels, Wyoming is first or tied for first in six MWC defensive categories including scoring defense (18.5 points per game), passing defense (154.8 yards per gae) and total defense (313 yards per game).

Jackson, though, doesn't seem intimidated. Far from it, in fact.

"We're just going to go out there and do our best, and I think we're going to win," Jackson. "I KNOW we're going to win."

And when asked how to describe his style of play, Jackson replied, "I'd say my style is more like Steve Young. I'm not Michael Vick . I'm not Erick Jackson, but I can run the ball. And I'll pick up first downs. And I'll complete passes and make the right reads."

"He's a winner," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "He's had a great week of practice."

Jackson said he believes it has been a plus for him to watch the first four games from the sideline as he makes the adjustment to playing Division I football.

"It was a big help," he said. "It was kind of crazy to be out there that first time (at New Mexico). I was excited. It was kind of overwhelming to see all that. It doesn't mean that I didn't want to play, but it was good to learn from all that and be involved in it."

Sanford was asked if he might simplify his Shotgun Spread offense this week because Jackson was playing his first game.

"No, it will be the same offense," Sanford said. "Like anything you cater it to the guy and what he does well. But, in general, it's a lot of similar things. And the game plan is oriented to playing Wyoming which is going to be a little different, too.

"We're not going to take a step back," Stanford added. "We're going to stay the course. We're going full speed ahead."

"He's getting about 25 percent of the (practice reps)," Sanford said.

But who would come in if both Jackson and McDonald were to get hurt?

"You," Sanford told a reporter with a laugh. Actually, the Rebels do have a Plan C.

"We don't have another (quarterback) who is eligible," Sanford admitted. "You've got Rocky Hinds (USC) and Dack Ishii (former walk-on at Tennessee) but they're both transfers (who have to sit out the 2005 season)."

So starting wide receiver Tremayne Kirkland, a former all-city quarterback at Hiram Johnson High School in Sacramento, will be the third string quarterback.

"We got him there in practice (Thursday) and he's fired up about it," Sanford said.