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FOOTBALL OPENS SEASON WITH LOSS AT UNLV
9/6/2009
LAS VEGAS — UNLV scored on its first drive of the game and never trailed en route to a 38-3 win over Sacramento State, Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium. The game was the first for both teams during the 2009 season.
The Rebels used nine plays to cover 69 yards on the opening drive of the game. The drive was capped by a 1-yard run from Channing Trotter to give UNLV a 7-0 lead just 4:17 into the contest.
A 39-yard field goal from Kyle Watson five minutes later put the team up 10-0 but from that point Sacramento State was able to keep the Rebels off the board for the remainder of the half. While the defense tightened up, the Hornet offense moved the ball behind a rushing attack of Evander Wilkins and Terrance Dailey who combined for nearly 100 yards in the first half.
Sacramento State trimmed its deficit to 10-3 as time expired in the half. During the final drive, the Hornets used five plays to go 43 yards in just 41 seconds. The points came on a 44-yard field goal from junior Chris Diniz who hit the ball well into the gusting winds.
UNLV tacked on a second touchdown from Trotter with 4:43 to play in the third quarter, stopping a scoring drought which lasted 25 minutes, 42 seconds. Trotter completed his hat trick with a third short score early in the fourth quarter to give his team a 24-3 edge with 12:33 to play.
Sacramento State attempted to answer, and drove the ball to just outside the 20-yard line. On 4th-and-10, Jason Smith's pass was deflected and then intercepted by Jason Beauchamp in the end zone for a touchback. UNLV took advantage of the turnover with a long run by Trotter which then set up a 55-yard touchdown pass from Omar Clayton to Rodelin Anthony to make the score 31-3.
The final touchdown came with 66 seconds remaining on a 4-yard run from back-up quarterback Mike Clausen.
Individually, Dailey led all Hornets with 101 rushing yards for his first game as a Hornet over the century mark. Wilkins added 43 yards. Smith finished the night 8-of-17 for 85 yards and an interception, while Brandyn Reed led the team with 32 receiving yards.
UNLV was received 102 rushing yards from Trotter and gained 216 as a team. Clayton was an efficient 13-of-17 for 213 yards with a touchdown. All-American receiver Ryan Wolfe had five catches for 67 yards.
Safeties Deionte Gordon and Zach Schrader each had 13 tackles to lead all players. Starr Fuimano and Ronnie Paulo had 11 stops for the Rebels.
Sacramento State will remain on the road next weekend, traveling to San Luis Obispo, Calif., to take on Cal Poly. The game on Sept. 12 will kick off at 4:05 p.m.
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