LAS VEGAS (AP) -UNLV quarterback Omar Clayton threw for three touchdowns and 192 yards to lead the Rebels past Utah State 27-17 Saturday night in the teams' season opener.
Clayton completed 17-of-29 passes with no interceptions, a career high. Running back Frank Summers rushed for 87 yards on 14 carries for the winners.
Clayton connected with wide receiver Ryan Wolfe (103 yards) twice for scores. The first was nine yards down the middle with 6:23 left in the first quarter, and the second was a 32-yarder as Wolfe scampered most of the way down the middle with 9:44 remaining in the third quarter.
Wide receiver Phillip Payne (52 yards) caught the other touchdown on a 7-yard reception to the right side of the endzone with 8:32 left in the half, putting UNLV up for good, 14-7.
Utah State quarterback Sean Setzer was 10-of-17 for 123 yards with an interception. He was replaced by Diondre Borel with 9:34 left in the third quarter.
Borel, who went the rest of the way, completed 8-of-16 on 80 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Nmandi Gwacham with 2:16 left in the game. Borel also rushed for 70 yards.
Aggies running back Robert Turin scored on a 1-yard run around the left side on a 4th-and-1 to tie it 7-7 on a first play of the second quarter.
The Rebels, who travel to Mountain West Conference foe Utah next week, led 17-7 at halftime.
This is the second consecutive year the teams have opened the season against each other. UNLV won exactly one year ago at Logan, Ut., 23-16.
The Aggies, out of the Western Athletic Conference, travel to No. 21 Oregon next Saturday.
