UNLV’s football team is right on track to open the 2018 season. With two games in the book, UNLV is staring down a 1–1 record as the Rebels play host to Prairie View A&M tonight at Sam Boyd. After sticking close to the USC Trojans through three quarters of their opening game before falling 43-21, the Rebels rebounded in their home opener, defeating UTP, 52-24.
With a .500 record, the Rebels enter into tonight’s home game against Prairie View A&M looking to reach a place its program hasn’t seen much of the past, I dunno, 50 years: A better than .500.
Making progress early on in 2018
A win for UNLV in the USC game was always a hope, knowing their best chance was to capitalize on a new quarterback and hope their defense could withstand the, then, #15 team in the country. In the end, they came back to Las Vegas with a loss and $1.15 million in the athletic department.
On the field, the UNLV offense went for a ground attack between sophomore quarterback Armani Rogers and senior running back Lexington Thomas. The two combined for 32 carries, 218 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground. The touchdown by Thomas came on a 71-yard run late in thee first quarter, giving UNLV the lead.
Five other rushers for UNLV contributed another 90 yards on the ground. In the air, Rogers picked up 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns. One was a 31-yard strike to senior Kendal Keys in the second quarter that gave UNLV a lead. The Rebels’ final touchdown was the fourth quarter 5-yard pass to sophomore Giovanni Fauolo.
It’s hard for the Rebels or the UNLV faithful to have felt too downtrodden after the loss. They kept it close with a Pac-12 rival on the road and carried their offensive momentum into the next week against UTEP.
The Rebels dropped 52 points on the Miners in their home opener. For the second straight week, UNLV was led by their rushing attack. Six rushers for the Rebels, led by Thomas and Rogers, combined for 414 yards and four touchdowns. In the air, UNLV completed only seven passes, including one from backup quarterback Max Gilliam in first game action of the young season.
Rogers completed six passes for 119 yards and another trio of touchdowns, while Gilliam’s only pass was completed for no gain. The UNLV offense had free reign from the kickoff, scoring on the opening drive and carrying a 14–10 lead into the second quarter. By halftime UNLV had a 38–10 lead and the game was all-but over.
On the first play of the second half, the Miners fumbled deep in their own territory, setting up a 4-yard touchdown run by Thomas and giving UNLV a five touchdown lead. All it took from there was running out the clock, and UNLV still picked up another score, and the Rebels had their eyes set on the next one.
Rebels’ tilt with Prairie View should see plenty of rushing yards
For their next match up, the Prairie View A&M University Panthers are coming to Sam Boyd Stadium. The Panthers are 1–2 on the season, taking a close loss against Rice University and a victory over North Carolina Central University. In their most recent game, the Panthers took their second road loss against Sam Houston State 41–32. While the schemes are different, this is a matchup UNLV is built for.
Every week, the Panthers have leaned on their running game. They have 676 rushing yards as a team so far, but junior running back Dawonya Tucker has 542 of them. The Rebels are going to be busy on defense all day between the Tucker and the Panther’s potent passing.
Redshirt junior quarterback Jalen Morton has 664 yards in the air and six touchdowns. This is going to be a more difficult matchup for the Rebels than last week against UTEP, but with UNLV riding a high and the Panthers coming off a loss, it might be a big opportunity for a home win.
After they take on Florida A&M, the Rebels will hit the road for the last time before conference play against Arkansas State. Their next home game will be on Oct. 6 against the University of New Mexico.
