Sanford finally breaks through vs. U.

LAS VEGAS — Score one for former Utah offensive coordinator Mike Sanford.

The UNLV coach, who assisted Urban Meyer and the Utes from 2003-04, finally got the best of his old team.

Prior to Saturday's 27-0 victory, he was 0-2 against Utah. The losses extended UNLV's skid in the series to 11 consecutive games.

It dated back to 1980.

"Everyone on this football team was not born when the last one happened," Sanford said of the win. "We beat them this year and it's a big thing. This is a big step for this football program."

How big?

"A lot of people were asking me how important this game was and I think this is a tremendous step," Sanford added. "We are in the process of building this program into a contender to win championships. We are 1-0 in conference right now, but we are not done. We have a lot of work to do."

NO SCORE: By getting shut out by UNLV Saturday night, the Utah football team suffered its first shutout in 14 seasons and 170 games.

Sam Boyd Stadium had been great to the Utes before Saturday, as they've won seven straight games here if you count the 1999 and 2001 Las Vegas Bowls.

In the five victories dating back to a 69-28 victory in 1981, the Utes had outscored the Rebels by an average of 47-20 in Las Vegas.

FRANK THE TANK: UNLV running back Frank Summers rushed for 107 yards on 13 carries in the first half — eclipsing the total UCLA netted a week earlier against the Utah defense. The Bruins managed just 83 yards on 31 carries over the entire game.

HOMECOMING: Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester, a graduate of Valley High School in Las Vegas, had a career-high 14 tackles (10 solo) in his first collegiate game in Nevada. The sophomore made 2.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

ANOTHER INJURY: Safety Robert Johnson, the star of Utah's 44-6 win over UCLA, left the game in the first half with a shoulder injury and did not return. The sophomore was not credited with a tackle after making six stops, along with two interceptions and a forced fumble, against the Bruins.

REBEL REVERSAL: UNLV was outscored 105-27 in first quarters last season when the Rebels went 2-10. While matching their win total in just four games this year, they've outscored the opposition 20-7 over the first 15 minutes.