Sept. 13, 2008
Arizona State Notes:
• Carpenter Moves Up: Rudy Carpenter moved into eighth on the Pac-10’s all-time career touchdown ledger as he collected career scores 70 and 71. His 22-yard strike to Chris McGaha in the second quarter tied him with Jason Gesser (Washington State, 1999-02) for the No. 8 position before a 49-yard pass to Kyle Williams gave him the 71st of his career and the eighth position by himself. Carpenter finished the game with 242 yards on 13-of-23 passing with two touchdowns and one interception. His passing total also brought his career total to 8,973 yards and into 12th on the all-time list, surpassing Gesser (8,830 yards).
• Tom the Toe: Thomas Weber connected on a two filed goals, including attempts of 20 and 49, giving him at least one conversion in 14-consecutive games, one shy of the school record. The record of 15 in a row was set by Luis Zendejas (1981-82). For his career, Weber is now 31-of-33 and has connected on 14 of his last 15 attempts after having his attempt in overtime blocked.
• Dewitty Running: Shaun DeWitty collected 49 yards on 13 carries, surpassing his previous career-high of 34 yards against Northern Arizona in 2006.
• Top of the Pac: Despite the loss, Dennis Erickson’s 12-4 record in his first 16 games with the Sun Devils is tied for the best start among league coaches since ASU joined the Pac-10 Conference in 1978. His 12-4 record equals the same marks attained by Mike Bellotti (Oregon, 1995-96), Bill Doba (Washington State, 2003-04), Bill Walsh (Stanford, 1992-93) and Larry Smith (USC, 1987-88). See full Top 10 list below UNLV notes
• Hash Marks: Early in the first drive of the game, Rudy Carpenter hit Gerell Robinson with a 13-yard pass, marking Robinson’s first career reception… the Sun Devils have won four games decided by seven points or less under Erickson and seven of the last nine games in a row… the Sun Devils are now 4-3 all-time in overtime, 2-3 at home in overtime and 0-1 against non-Pac-10 foes in overtime (UNLV is 2-7 all-time in overtime).
UNLV Notes:
- This marked the second time in history that UNLV played back-to-back road games vs. ranked teams (2007) and only the third time playing back-to-back ranked teams home or away (2004). The Rebels lost at then-No. 23/22 Utah last week in Salt Lake City 42-21.
- The Rebels played their fifth game ever in the state of Arizona tonight but the first vs. Arizona State as UNLV had never faced the Sun Devils in football.
- After only posting one QB sack in the first two games of the season, UNLV brought down ASU signal-caller Rudy Carpenter on back-to-back plays in the first quarter. The first by Heivaha Mafi and the second by Isaako Aaitui.
- ASU’s field goal marked the first score by a Rebel opponent in the first quarter this season. UNLV has now outscored opponents 14-3 in the opening period.
- Ben Jaekle’s 44-yard field goal in the second quarter was a career-long for the sophomore from Las Vegas.
- Casey Flair’s second-quarter catch extended the senior’s streak of getting at least one reception to 38 games – or every game of his career. The streak currently ranks second in the nation behind Rice’s Jarett Dillard’s 39. The catch also moved Flair into third place on the school’s career list with 161.
- True freshman safety Beau Orth picked off Carpenter right before halftime for his first career interception. It marked the third pick of the season by UNLV – all by different players.
- True freshman Phillip Payne caught his third touchdown pass in as many games this season to tie the game at 10 late in the second quarter.
- Junior Ryan Wolfe passed Keenan McCardell (1987-90) into ninth place on the school’s all-time catch list and also passed Nate Hawkins (1968-71) into ninth on the all-time receiving yards list.
Best 16-Game Record by a Pac-10 Coach (1978-present)
1. Dennis Erickson, Arizona State (2007-08) - 12-4-0
1. Mike Bellotti, Oregon (1995-96) - 12-4-0
1. Bill Doba, Washington State (2003-04) - 12-4-0
1. Bill Walsh, Stanford (1992-93) - 12-4-0
1. Lrry Smith, USC (1987-88) - 12-4-0
6. John Cooper, Arizona State (1985-86) - 11-4-1
7. Dennis Erickson, Oregon State (1999-00) - 11-5-0
7. Jim Lambright, Washington (1993-94) - 11-5-0
7. Darryl Rogers, Arizona State (1980-81) - 11-5-0
10. Rick Neuheisel, Washington (1999-00) - 10-6-0
10. John Robinson, USC (1993-94) - 10-6-0
10. Paul Hackett, USC (1998-99) - 10-6-0