COLLEGE FOOTBALL / LAS VEGAS BOWL : Bailey Handles Role Change in UNLV Victory

Henry Bailey had rushed 16 times for only 50 yards all season. Wide receiver was his position.

Until Thursday. Bailey rushed for three touchdowns and caught a scoring pass as Nevada Las Vegas celebrated its first appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl by routing Central Michigan, 52-24.

Bailey scored the first two times UNLV had the ball as the Rebels opened up a 31-10 halftime lead and cruised to the victory over a Central Michigan team playing without All-American running back Brian Pruitt, who missed the game because of a bruised knee.

“He’s a great back but there’s a lot of things we didn’t do,” Central Michigan Coach Dick Flynn said. “His presence may not have made the difference.”

Bailey’s did.

“We’ve always wanted to do that with Henry,” UNLV Coach Jeff Horton said. “Once No. 33 gets a step on you, look out.”

Bailey had steps on the Chippewa defense all night.

“I didn’t expect us to come out and run so much but they gave it to us,” he said.

Playing before a home crowd of 17,562 that included as many Central Michigan fans as those from UNLV, the Rebels (7-5) scored 38 consecutive points to open the major college bowl season.

UNLV took only 41 seconds to score on its first possession of the second half. The Rebels went 75 yards in five plays on their next possession to go ahead, 45-10.

Bailey, alternating between lining up as a wide receiver and in the backfield, had 177 yards in the first half. He ran for two scores and caught a pass for another. He opened the second half for the Rebels by going over from a yard out for his fourth touchdown.

Central Michigan finished 9-3.