Clutch catches put Payne in limelight

UNLV wide receiver Phillip Payne’s spectacular one-handed touchdown catch that sent Saturday’s football game at Arizona State into overtime made ESPN’s highlights and created plenty of buzz among Rebels fans.

As pivotal as that play was in UNLV’s 23-20 victory, Payne made two other important catches.

One was off a fade pass in the end zone that made the Rebels 3-for-3 on that play to Payne. The Sun Devils knew UNLV was going to the freshman from Western High School so their best cornerback, Omar Bolden, tried to cover him. It didn’t matter. Payne made the play anyway.

"He has a great knack for going to get the ball either at its highest point or in a position where the defender can’t get to it," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said Monday.

Payne’s play set up another crucial one in the fourth quarter.

UNLV faced a fourth-and-4, and Payne faked as if heading into the end zone for another fade pass. This time, though, he turned back and caught a 9-yard pass to keep alive the Rebels’ hopes.

Then Payne made the grab two plays later that will go down as one of the best in UNLV history.

Sanford said the player-organized summer workouts helped Payne mesh with his new teammates.

"We kept hearing from our players — they didn’t even know his name — ‘Man, that freshman’s really good,’ " Sanford said.

• ANOTHER LOCAL STANDOUT — Payne wasn’t the only freshman from a Las Vegas high school to play a critical role against the Sun Devils.

Bishop Gorman’s Beau Orth was in for only three plays at safety but had two tackles, one for loss, one pass breakup and one important interception.

Arizona State, holding a 10-3 lead, took over at its 10-yard line with 1:36 left in the first half. Orth intercepted quarterback Rudy Carpenter to give the Rebels the ball at the 7. They scored three plays later to tie the game with 33 seconds left.

• INJURY UPDATE — Offensive right tackle Evan Marchal (ankle) is questionable for Saturday’s 6 p.m. game against Iowa State at Sam Boyd Stadium. Center John Gianninoto (knee) might not start but will play. Also, cornerback Quinton Pointer (shoulder) is probable.

Quarterback Omar Clayton received a small fracture in his jaw at Arizona State, but Sanford said the injury will not worsen. Clayton missed the first drive of the second half.

One player back at full health is defensive tackle Jacob Hales, a Las Vegas High graduate who had been slowed with a dislocated elbow. He and Martin Tevaseu, who started the first three games, will share snaps.

• TOP PLAYER — Malo Taumua was named the Mountain West Conference co-special teams player of the week after blocking the field goal in overtime that preserved the win.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.