The defense wasnÕt as bad; on the other hand ..

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A quick look at the box score from UNLVÕs 35-15 loss to Utah on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium shows that, for once, the RebelsÕ defense wasnÕt primarily to blame for a setback.

But plenty else went wrong for Mike SanfordÕs team, which fell to 2-5 and lost its fourth straight.

HereÕs a look at just what went right and wrong.

Last season, UNLV was tied with Ohio State as the nationÕs most efficient offense inside the red zone. But as this season has progressed, the Rebels have gotten less and less dependable when it comes to producing points inside the 20-yard line. In six tries in the red zone Saturday night, UNLV scored four times and produced just one touchdown. Through seven games, the Rebels are tied for 89th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in red zone offense.

For the first time since late in the 2007 season, junior quarterback Omar Clayton went without a touchdown pass. As if thatÕs not enough, he completed just over 52 percent of his passes (23-of-44) and threw two costly first-half interceptions.

One thing UNLV did have Saturday that it didnÕt in its previous weeksÕ losses to UNR and BYU was offensive balance. Junior running back Channing Trotter, who had just 12 offensive touches in the past two outings, had 17 against the Utes and produced 73 yards of total offense.

UNLVÕs defense allowed Cimarron-Memorial grad Eddie Wide to pile up 111 yards on 17 carries, highlighted by a 37-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that put the Rebels away for good. Wide was contained for much of the night, but produced when it counted. He became the seventh player to rush for at least 100 yards on the UNLV defense in seven games.

The defense deserves a bit of credit for holding Utah to 327 yards of total offense after allowing UNR and BYU to combine for 1,384 yards. The defense also was the main reason why UNLV was still in the game early in the fourth quarter. The Rebels forced five Utah fumbles and recovered two. Still, Utah quarterback Terrance Cain played his best game away from Salt Lake City this season, completing 17-of-24 passes for 174 yards and two scores. He also ran for 22 yards and another touchdown.

UNLV has a golden opportunity to end its four-game skid next weekend in Albuquerque and to snap the nationÕs longest road losing streak in conference contests, which stands at 20. A loss next weekend against winless New Mexico, which is dealing with plenty of turmoil of its own, would sting much worse than anything the Rebels have experienced this year.

Ryan Greene can be reached at 948-7844 or at ryan.greene

@lasvegassun.com.