FOOTBALL: UNLV preview

At a Glance
Who: SDSU vs. UNLV
What: The Aztecs will try to pick up their first Mountain West Conference victory of the season on Senior Night.
Where: Qualcomm Stadium
When: 5 p.m., Saturday
TV: CBS College Sports
Radio: AM 600 KOGO (San Diego)
Live in-game blog: www.thedailyaztec.com

The Big Issue
A loss on Senior Night to 5-6 UNLV would not only be disheartening, but would put an exclamation point on one of the worst seasons in the San Diego State football team’s history. SDSU has already lost double-digit games for the first time in school history, is on a seven-game losing streak – the longest such streak in 25 years – and is in danger of going winless in conference play for the first time since 1960.

“Its been a tough season and we wanted our record to be better,” head coach Chuck Long said. “But in a season like this, when you’ve had a number of players play in games, that does bode well for the future.”

Playing for nothing but pride against the Rebels on Saturday, the Aztecs are already gearing up for next year. With standout players such as redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Lindley, sophomore linebacker Andrew Preston and sophomore wide receiver Vincent Brown set to return for next season, SDSU already has high hopes.

“We have a ton of talent on this team,” Lindley said. “If we put that talent and that extra work in the weight room together, we can do some big things.”
According to Long, the Aztecs will return nine starters on both offense and defense next year. However, Long has hinted that some of the coaching staff might not come back in 2009.

“There has to be significant change,” Long said to www.nctimes.com. “I have some ideas floating around, but we'll work on that after the UNLV game.”

Key Matchups
When the Aztecs have the ball: It’s hard to believe that a team with the NCAA’s leading tackler, linebacker Jason Beauchamp (above right), is giving up 224.1 rushing yards per game this season. UNLV has allowed five 100-yard rushers and 21 rushing touchdowns in 11 games. In this past Saturday’s 22-14 victory over Wyoming, the Rebels gave up 151 rushing yards, including 91 to star running back Devin Moore.

Still, Beauchamp has recorded 123 total tackles — two for a loss — and two sacks. The 6-foot-3-inch, 220-pound junior has filled in nicely for the departed Beau Bell, who now plays for the Cleveland Browns.

Even though SDSU is averaging just 71.5 yards on the ground this season, Saturday just might be the game where the Aztecs break loose. Junior running back Atiyyah Henderson (above left) has compiled only 81 yards on 31 carries in the past three games, but has 426 yards and four scores on the season. Playing against the No. 115-ranked rushing defense in the nation, Henderson should be able to improve on his 4.2 yards per carry this year.

When the Rebels have the ball: SDSU, which is one of only four teams worse than UNLV in rushing defense this season, may get a break from the run this Saturday against the Rebels. UNLV has the No. 79-ranked rushing offense in the nation, averaging 129.7 yards per game.  They do, however, have a 5-foot-10-inch, 230-pound running back — Frank Summers — who has rushed for eight touchdowns this season.

While Summers is a viable threat in the Rebel offense, much of UNLV’s success has come in the air. Playing with two quarterbacks, Omar Clayton and Mike Clausen, the Rebels are completing nearly 60 percent of their passes.

Most of their completions, though, have gone to star wide receiver Ryan Wolfe (below right). The junior has caught 77 passes — second most in the MWC — for 896 yards and four touchdowns. That means Aztec cornerbacks Aaron Moore, Jose Perez (below left) and Vonnie Holmes will need to slow Wolfe down if they want to come out with a victory on Senior Night.

Prime Numbers

	SDSU	UNLV
Record	1-10, 0-7 MWC	5-6, 2-5 MWC
Pass yards per game	225.8	217.9
Rush yards per game	71.5	129.7
Total yards per game	297.3	344.6
Pass yards against per game	203.9	194
Rush yards against per game	267	224.1
Total yards against per game	470.9	418.1

Aztec Injury Report
Defensive Tackle Ryan WIlliams:
Head (Out)
Defensive Tackle Neil Spencer:
Foot (Out)
Running Back Davon Brown:
Shoulder (Questionable)
Left Tackle Mike Matamua:
Foot (Out)
Center Tommie Draheim:
Shoulder (Out)
Defensive End Tony DeMartinis:
Knee (Out)
Defensive Tackle J.J. Autele:
Knee (Questionable)
Running Back Brandon Sullivan:
Ankle (Questionable)
Offensive Guard Mike Schmidt:
Knee (Doubtful)

Forecasting the mountain
Editor’s note: Each week, The Daily Aztec will pick the winners of every Mountain West Conference game.

Saturday, NOV. 22   
•San Diego State vs. UNLV
•Colorado State at Wyoming,
•Air Force at No. 16 TCU
•No. 14 BYU at No. 7 Utah

Name: Edward Lewis (50–18)
Title: Sports Editor
Prediction: SDSU, Wyoming, TCU, BYU
Quotable:  “Who saw this one coming? The photo guy is in last place of The Daily Aztec pick ‘em’.”

Name: David Pope (51–17)
Title: Assistant Sports Editor
Prediction: UNLV,  Wyoming, TCU, Utah
Quotable: “Well, looks like the season is coming to an end. My only regret is that I didn’t use this as a way to pick up chicks more often.”

Name: Eric Shannon (52–16)
Title: Managing Editor
Prediction: UNLV, Colorado State, TCU, Utah
Quotable: “If Glenn doesn’t finish strong this weekend, he might just be replaced by a monkey flipping quarters next year.”

Name: Glenn Connelly (43–25)
Title: Assistant Photo Editor
Prediction: SDSU, Wyoming, TCU, Utah
Quotable: “The last week is here, thank god! No more terrible football that I’m forced to watch!”