Notebook: Rebels defense starting to look, feel healthy

By Ryan Greene (contact)

Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009 | 2:29 a.m.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — UNLV senior linebacker/defensive end Jason Beauchamp had been plenty productive through the season's first seven games while dealing with both a right ankle and left knee injury.

On Saturday night in a 34-17 victory over New Mexico, he showed how much more dangerous he can be when feeling like, well, himself.

Playing at his healthiest since the end of fall camp, Beauchamp led an inspired UNLV defensive effort with nine tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.

"Going into this game, I knew this would be a good game for us, the way practice went, the way my knee's been, my ankle, the way the team's been looking," a visibly relieved Beauchamp said afterward. "I'm not surprised. We're trying to turn things around here, and we really believed we're going to go on a run and make what we talked about come true."

What UNLV had talked about was gaining the ever-elusive bowl eligibility, which looked far more likely back in mid-September than it does now. But, still, there is a mathematical chance, as the 3-5 Rebels need three wins in their final four games to do so.

If they can duplicate Saturday's defensive showing, nothing would seem out of the question.

UNLV held New Mexico to a 5-of-12 performance on third downs, recorded four sacks and allowed only 68 yards rushing to the Lobos, who played from behind for much of the night.

Beauchamp wasn't the only one feeling better, either.

Junior linebacker Ronnie Paulo, who missed last weekend's loss to Utah with a shoulder sprain, returned to record four tackles and break up a pass.

Also steadily getting healthier is junior linebacker Starr Fuimaono, who has shed almost all lingering effects from an ankle sprain of his own.

"The great thing about our team right now is we're getting a bunch of guys back healthy," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "Jason Beuchamp had his best week of practice, he's not 100 percent, but he's the closest he's been, and he played like he can play."

Other injury updates

The only Rebel to travel and not dress out was senior receiver Rodelin Anthony, who has missed four of UNLV's eight games this season — two with a concussion and the most recent two with an ankle injury.

However, Sanford said he expects Anthony back next weekend when the Rebels travel to face No. 8 TCU.

An ankle injury had kept sophomore tight end Kyle Watkins out of last weekend's game, and after returning tonight, he appeared to re-injure it, walking to the locker room after the contest on crutches.

An inspired sack

One of UNLV's four quarterback sacks was recorded by senior defensive tackle Martin Tevaseu, who hadn't practiced with the team all week.

The showing by Tevaseu, which included two tackles, came after he'd spent the week back at home in the Bay Area with his family, who mourned the loss of his 19-year-old sister, killed last Saturday in a car accident in Oakland.

Streaks aplenty

The biggest monkey off of UNLV's back came with the Rebels shedding what was the nation's longest road losing streak in conference play, which was at 20 games coming in.

At the same time, however, the Rebels also got rid of a 16-game losing streak in the month of October. Before Saturday, UNLV hadn't won a game in October since defeating San Diego State at home, 13-10, on Oct. 8, 2005.

On the other side, Saturday's setback marked the 11th consecutive loss for New Mexico, dating back to last season.

Other notable performances

Junior running back Channing Trotter saw a decent workload after being in and out of the Rebels offense during the four-game losing streak.

He delivered with 65 yards on 13 carries, including a two-yard first quarter touchdown run, giving him seven scores on the season. He now has 422 yards on 93 carries in his first season as the UNLV starter.

Backing up Omar Clayton, Mike Clausen saw a decent amount of work, finishing with only nine yards passing on 3-of-4 efficiency. However, he ran for 39 yards on seven rushes, including a crucial four-yard TD jaunt late in the game to shut the door on New Mexico.

Sophomore receiver Michael Johnson continued to see more passes thrown his way, and he continued to deliver in return, catching seven balls for 44 yards. He now has 31 catches this season. As for fellow sophomore Phillip Payne, he caught three passes for 38 yards, including his team-leading fifth TD grab.

On defense, junior safety Travis Dixon came up big with six tackles, one stop behind the line of scrimmage and a pair of pass breakups.

What's on tap ...

UNLV goes from facing the Mountain West's worst to its best, as the Rebels travel to take on No. 8 TCU next Saturday in Fort Worth in what will easily be the team's toughest challenge in 2009.

The Horned Frogs improved to 7-0 in resounding fashion on Saturday night, thumping BYU in Provo, 38-7.

While TCU quarterback Andy Dalton threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns, the heralded Horned Frogs defense stymied BYU's high-powered offense. Cougars quarterback Max Hall threw for just 162 yards, one touchdown, one interception and absorbed five sacks.

Elsewhere in the MWC

In other league action, No. 19 Utah needed a fourth-and-two stop in overtime to escape a scare at home from Air Force, 23-16.

David Reed had seven catches for 150 yards and a 91-yard touchdown for the Utes.

Meanwhile, Colorado State lost its fifth straight after starting the season 3-0, letting an early 14-0 lead turn around into a 42-28 loss at home to San Diego State.

The Aztecs offense looks like it's finally taking shape under first-year coach Brady Hoke, as sophomore QB Ryan Lindley was 29-of-43 for 459 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions.

DeMarco Sampson was his top target on the day, catching 15 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns.

Ryan Greene can be reached at ryan.greene@lasvegassun.com or 702-948-7844.