The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – UNLV – INSIDE SLANT
UNLV’s road losing streak reached 17 games when the Rebels fell at Utah State, 35-13, last Saturday.
You’d think that negative string would be gnawing at Bobby Hauck’s squad as it gets ready to hit the road to face unbeaten Louisiana Tech (4-0) on Saturday night, wouldn’t you?
Think again.
“Honestly, I don’t think about it,” senior offensive tackle Yusef Rodgers said Monday.
The Rebels (1-4) haven’t won on the road since defeating an eventual 1-11 New Mexico squad, 34-17, on Oct. 24, 2009. So maybe it’s a good thing the team isn’t focused on how long it’s been since picking up a win away from Sam Boyd Stadium.
The school record for consecutive road losses is 24 in a row set from 1994-98.
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NCAAF Team Report – UNLV – NOTES, QUOTES
–UNLV found out Monday that Friday’s long trip to Ruston, La., got a little longer because the main runway at nearby Monroe Airport is undergoing a $7 million renovation which began last week. The Rebel charter now is expected to land in Shreveport and the team will then bus about 90 minutes to its hotel.
–UNLV is one of only five teams in the nation not to lose a fumble this season, joining Baylor, Texas A&M;, Indiana and West Virginia.
–UNLV is tied for third in the Mountain West with nine quarterback sacks. The Rebels had just 14 sacks for the entire 2011 season.
SERIES HISTORY: UNLV leads Louisiana Tech 2-0 (last meeting, 1994, 24-20 UNLV).
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: UNLV has a solid running attack led by the 1-2 punch of Tim Cornett and Bradley Randle. The key for the Rebels will be not turning the ball over. Louisiana Tech is plus-24 in turnovers ratio during its current 11-game winning streak and had six takeaways in its 52-24 win at Illinois two weeks ago.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The Rebels have been prone to giving up big plays in the passing game so head coach Bobby Hauck is going to shake things up in his secondary, starting redshirt freshman Fred Wilson at corner ahead of sophomore Kenneth Penny. The Rebels, who have nine quarterback sacks in five games, must find a way to put pressure on Louisiana Tech QB Colby Cameron.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Nick is cool as ice, very composed.” — UNLV senior right tackle Yusef Rodgers on freshman quarterback Nick Sherry’s demeanor in the huddle.
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NCAAF Team Report – UNLV – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THIS WEEK’S GAME: UNLV at Louisiana Tech, Oct. 6 — The Rebels and Bulldogs have only met twice when both schools were members of the Big West Conference in the mid-90’s. UNLV won both of the previous meetings including a 28-24 upset in Ruston in 1993 which snapped the Bulldogs’ school-record-tying 18-game home winning streak.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Turnovers. The Rebels have yet to lose a fumble in five games this season and are tied for sixth in the Mountain West in turnover margin (plus-one). But they’ll be facing a hard-hitting Louisiana Tech defense that thrives on producing turnovers, including six in a 52-24 win at Illinois two weeks ago. UNLV must play a clean game and try and control the ball for long periods of time on offense to have any shot at the upset.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
QB Nick Sherry — The redshirt freshman has an NFL-caliber arm and has shown excellent poise and leadership. He has already thrown for more yards (1,150) in five games than last year’s starter Caleb Herring (1,004) had all season.
RB Tim Cornett — A hard-nosed runner with deceptive speed, Cornett has topped the century mark in five of his last eight games. The Houston-native also will have a lot of friends and family making the drive to Ruston.
WR/KR Marcus Sullivan — Sullivan, who ranks sixth in the Mountain West in receptions (5.0 per game) and receiving yards (68.4 yards per game), is also a dangerous return man and is UNLV’s top big-play threat.
ROSTER REPORT
–LB Princeton Jackson is expected to play this week after missing two weeks for what head coach Bobby Hauck called “a team policy violation.”
–OT Brett Boyko (knee), who also has missed two games, is listed as the starter at left tackle.
–OT Yusef Rodgers, who left the Utah State game with a twisted knee, said he expects to play Saturday. Rodgers is the starter at right tackle.
-DE Sonny Sanitoa, who saw his first action of the season at Utah State after suffering a knee injury in fall camp, is listed as a starter on this week’s depth chart.
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