UNLV-Air Force Notebook: Secondary changes no quick fix

By Ryan Greene

Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008 | 2:16 a.m.

Just Out of Reach

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After a back-and-forth battle with the Falcons Saturday night, UNLV loses its third straight, a 29-28 loss to Air Force.

UNLV vs. Air Force

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So it turned out that Mike Sanford and his staff opening up competition over the past two weeks for the starting spots in UNLV's secondary wasn't just a scare tactic.

Terrance Lee and Daryl Forte, who had started at the safety spots all season, weren't seen on the field much Saturday night in the Rebels' 29-28 loss to Air Force. Instead, true freshmen Chris Jones and Beau Orth saw plenty of action, as did senior Lorenzo Bursey Jr. and junior Wiselet Rouzard.

But the changes didn't result in a quick fix, as UNLV allowed Air Force to gain 508 yards of total offense. Bursey recorded eight tackles, Jones (making his defensive debut) had five and Orth one.

Missed tackles were still an issue for the Rebels, and the secondary fell prone to allowing the big play through the air yet again, as three of quarterback Tim Jefferson's six completions went for 28 yards or more. It was also the fourth straight game in which the defense failed to record an interception.

Sanford was unclear as to whether more changes are on the way in more areas on the defensive side of the ball.

"I think we're gonna analyze this next team we're playing, and play the best people that can play against what they do," he said.

Linebacker depth suffers another blow ...

Jason Beauchamp, the Mountain West's leading tackler this season, had another monster game numbers-wise. He had 13 stops and had half of a tackle for loss.

But the supporting cast around him in the middle of the defense continues to get thinner by the week. Earlier last week, junior Jimmy Miller left the team for personal reasons. Add that on top of Starr Fuimaono being out for the year following ACL surgery, and a sprained ankle suffered by Ronnie Paulo in the second half Saturday hurts even more.

X-rays on Paulo, a Western High product who recorded eight tackles and one for a loss before leaving, were negative, but it's unknown as to how long he'll be out. Sanford called it a 'serious' ankle sprain.

Other injury notes ...

Starting right tackle Evan Marchal suffered his third ankle sprain of the season during Saturday's loss, while d-end Thor Pili took on a similar injury.

Receivers continue march on record books ...

With his first catch of the game - a sideline-toeing first down snag - senior Casey Flair broke Earvin Johnson's school record by catching a pass in 42 consecutive games. The only streak in the nation which is longer belongs to Rice's Jarett Dillard, whose run stands at 43 games and counting.

He finished the night with four catches for 39 yards, which also moved him past Johnson into second on the school's career reception list. He now has 184, which is three behind Damon Williams. Meanwhile, Ryan Wolfe's eight catches put him in fourth place on that list with 170.

As for Phillip Payne, the freshman's six catches for 124 yards gave him 22 and 369 on the year, respectively. He also caught his seventh touchdown pass of the season, which puts him one away from tying Len Ware's school freshman record of eight, set in 1996.

Backfield now a split situation ...

Speedy freshman C.J. Cox saw his first extended action of the season at tailback on Saturday, and did nothing but impress. He entered the game with 49 yards on eight carries, and surpassed both of those totals against Air Force alone.

He was given sole backfield duties on a handful of series, and finished with 60 yards and his first career touchdown - a five-yard run - on 13 carries.

Meanwhile, Frank Summers had 69 yards on 11 carries, with 45 of those hashmarks coming on his fourth quarter touchdown run which helped put UNLV ahead 28-20 with 14:50 to play.

Still stellar in some areas ...

By converting twice inside the red zone, UNLV is now the only team in the FBS ranks still perfect in terms of scoring opportunities inside the opponent's 20-yard line. They're a pristine 20-for-20.

The Rebels also went without a turnover for the fourth time this season, and are tied with Florida for the nation's fewest giveaways this year, having only done the deed five times (three fumbles, two interceptions).

Around the MWC ...

The favored teams were all victorious Saturday in the Mountain West, as Utah slammed Colorado State at home, 49-16, and New Mexico embarrassed San Diego State in Albuquerque, 70-7. Wyoming was on a bye.

With another weekend in the books, UNLV, SDSU and Wyoming remain the only teams without a league win. As for the drive for bowl berths, Air Force and New Mexico both did well for their prospective chances. The Falcons improved to 5-2, with three winnable games directly on the horizon against New Mexico at home, Army on the road and home again for Colorado State. As for the Lobos, they're now 4-4 after starting the year 0-2.

Odds and ends ...

The announced attendance Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium was 21,055 ... Halftime was an extended 25-minute deal with homecoming going on. The king and queen were announced, and the court involved a familiar face with Rebels senior forward René Rougeau. He did not win ... Members of the 1968 UNLV football team - the school's first - were honored on the field just before the coin toss ... UNLV is 0-4 under Mike Sanford in games following the annual bye week ...