Yarbrough, UNLV Defender Could Collide

As of Wednesday, Cal State Fullerton’s most feared offensive weapon was watching practice in shorts with a heavily bandaged knee and ankle, and Nevada Las Vegas’ most feared defensive weapon was in American Samoa.

Is this any way to prepare for a football game?

But it’s not as if Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy or UNLV Coach Jim Strong had any say in the matter. They only hope their standout players--Titan running back Reggie Yarbrough and Rebel nose guard Lonnie Palelei--are able to introduce themselves to each other today when the teams play a Big West Conference game in Santa Ana Stadium.

Yarbrough, the conference’s second-leading rusher, will likely play. Though he re-injured his ankle and strained a knee during a 56-28 loss to University of the Pacific last week, he joined the Titans for a light workout Thursday and has shown a remarkable threshold for pain.

He has already carried the ball 134 times in a little more than four games--he ran only three times against Texas Tech because of the ankle injury--and was able to outrun the Pacific secondary on a bum ankle for an 80-yard touchdown last week.

Palelei’s status is a little more cloudy--it depends on if his flight is on time.

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound transfer from Purdue hasn’t played since severely spraining an ankle in the first quarter of UNLV’s second game, against Oregon State Sept. 14.

He was cleared to play against Cal State Long Beach last week but missed the game. Palelei’s 24-year-old brother died of complications from bronchitis Oct. 1, and Palelei flew to Samoa the next day to be with his family.

The junior was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles Friday and join the team Friday night. Though he hasn’t practiced in about a month, Strong said Palelei will play if he returns in time for the game.

The Rebels could use him. Long Beach entered last week’s game averaging 38 yards per game rushing but ran for 296 yards in a 34-19 victory over UNLV. It was so ugly that Rebel defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano resigned after the game.

Palelei, however, could make a difference. In barely five quarters of action, Palelei had six tackles--four were for losses totaling 20 yards and two were sacks for a loss of 17 yards. If he plays today, Strong expects him to see plenty of action.

“Considering Long Beach was averaging 38 yards rushing and we gave them 296, (Fullerton) might try to rush for 500,” Strong said. “They’ll try to hammer us, line up and run the ball at us, and I really can’t blame them. They have a real physical approach, good blockers up front and Yarbrough.”

And Arthur Davis, too. Davis is the conference’s third-leading rusher with 440 yards in 104 carries. He’s also nursing an ankle injury, but was able to rush for 100 yards against Pacific.

“He’s still not the vintage Arthur he was against Texas Tech (39 carries, 128 yards),” Murphy said. “But he’s OK.”

So apparently is UNLV senior Hunkie Cooper, one of the conference’s quickest players who missed much of last week’s game because of an ankle sprain. Cooper, who plays quarterback, receiver and returns punts and kickoffs, hasn’t practiced much this week but will likely start at receiver, meaning Derek Stott will play quarterback.

The Rebels are more of a drop-back passing team with Stott at quarterback and an option team with Cooper at quarterback. UNLV used both in a 29-10 victory over Fullerton last season, and Murphy expects to see both again today.

“They’re both simple offenses to prepare for,” Murphy said. “But they have superior personnel.”