BY DARRELL MOODY
Appeal Sports Writer
Bragging rights and the prestigious Fremont Cannon will be at stake tonight when Nevada and UNLV renew their in-state rivalry for the 34th time.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium with the game to be televised at Bully's Sports Bar & Grill, at 3530 N. Carson St., and on The Mtn. (which is available only through satellite subscriptions) and broadcast on ESPN Radio 630 AM.
Nevada leads the series 18-15 and has won the last three games by a combined score of 80-37, including a 31-3 win in Reno in 2006.
This is a different and better UNLV team that Nevada will see tonight. The Rebels are 3-1 and are coming off back-to-back overtime wins against Arizona State and Iowa State.
"We had a great game last year (a 27-20 win)," Nevada coach Chris Ault said. "You don't have to motivate (your players). That should be enough. (The Rebels') last two wins have been very good. They are a good ballclub. Their offense has come through. They run that spread attack and their defense is very sound."
Ault's enthusiasm for this game is huge, and it spreads to the players.
"It's the first championship game of the year we get to play in, and we're treating it like a championship game and play like it," said Wolf Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick. "We're a little more focused on the minute details."
Yes, the last two weeks have fans in Las Vegas excited, according to UNLV coach Mike Sanford, who seems to have embraced the importance of the game.
"This is the most excitement I've seen since I've been here," Sanford said. "I can't comment about the past. We feel a responsibility and desire to keep it going. This is a huge game. What I like is that it's at our place. It's the most important game (of the year) for us. We're the underdogs because they have won the last three years."
Defensively, the biggest jobs Nevada has are defending quarterback Omar Clayton, running back Frank "The Tank" Summers and wide receiver Phillip Payne.
The 240-pound Summers averages 96.5 yards per game and he's scored three rushing touchdowns this season.
"Summers is a good back," Ault said. "He's a big, strong kid. He's done a great job running the ball."
Payne is third on the team with 14 receptions, but five of them have gone for TD's. Clayton has completed 63 percent of his passes for 777 yards and nine scores. He has yet to throw an interception in 111 attempts.
Sanford isn't surprised by Clayton's early success.
"I'm pleased with it," Sanford said of Clayton. "Surprised is too radical. One of the things is that we have the benefit of seeing how he practices and prepares. He practices very well. He knows where to go with the football. He has the ability to scramble and throw and he has the ability to scramble and pass. I'm very excited about Omar, not surprised."
Nevada linebacker Josh Mauga has gotten off to a slow start in three games, mostly because the Pack has played running teams.
"They like to run more," Mauga said of the Rebels, hoping that means more tackles for him.
Nevada's offense played a solid first half against Missouri last week, but was held scoreless in the final two quarters.
Vai Taua, Courtney Randall and Lampford Mark will carry the running load for the Pack with Brandon Fragger still a couple of weeks away from returning after suffering a shoulder injury.
One player Nevada would like to get going is senior wide receiver Mike McCoy, who has 14 catches for 105 yards. Marko Mitchell has 15 for 254 yards and two scores.
Nevada has spread the ball around thus far, and that could account for McCoy's numbers. He usually averages double digits in yards per catch.
"I think I've done my part for the most part," McCoy said. "I think I'm where I was at for catches compared to last year. I may even be ahead. I probably should have a few more. I've had some tough luck."
The Pack has struggled to put points on the board. Nevada has just three touchdowns in its last two games. That won't get it done against the Rebels.
However, Nevada may find UNLV's defense a bit easier to deal with than Texas Tech's and Missouri's. The Red Raiders and the Tigers are two of the Big 12's top teams.
Linebackers Jason Beauchamp and Ronnie Paulo plus safeties Daryl Forte and Terrance Lee are the top four tacklers for the Rebels.
- Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or (775) 881-1281