Three takeaways from UNLV’s convincing victory over Nevada

LAS VEGAS– The Fremont Cannon is staying red for another year.

On Saturday, the UNLV Rebels put together their most complete effort of the season, soundly defeating the Nevada Wolf Pack (3-10, 0-7) 38-14.

The victory pushes the Rebels to 10-2, making this season the first since 1984 that they reached double-digit victories. The performance also marks UNLV’s third straight victory over Nevada, the longest winning streak over their in-state rival since winning five in a row from 2000-2004.

“There’s got to be a vision and an alignment, and when you do those things, success is going to follow,” UNLV head coach Barry Odom said on UNLV’s recent string of success. “It’s not always easy. It’s not always perfect. Sometimes it’s a long away from the arena when most of the work is done and most of the victories happen. We’ve been fortunate now that we’ve won 19 games in two seasons, and our guys are hungry.”

Here are three takeaways from UNLV’s dominant victory:

Ground and pound

With the fourth-best rushing offense in the nation (254.1 yards per game), it is no secret that UNLV likes to impose their will on offense.

Against Nevada, not only were the Rebels able to move the ball on the ground, but they outright tore apart the Wolf Pack defense. As a team, the Rebels put up 352 total rushing yards on 41 carries, good for an astonishing 8.6 yards per carry. Leading the way was running back Jai’Den Thomas with 135 rushing yards and a touchdown on fifteen carries, while quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams notched 104 yards and a touchdown on ten carries. Running backs Kylin James and Greg Burrell also contributed on the ground, putting up 60 yards on six carries and 20 yards on four carries, respectively.

Defensive showcase

While the Rebels’ defense has had moments of brilliance throughout the season, they saved their most dominant effort of the regular season for last.

The Rebels put their tenth-best rushing defense (101.1 rushing yards allowed per game) on full display, holding Nevada to 67 yards on 24 carries (2.4 yards per carry). UNLV was the far more physical team all night long, constantly finding their way into Nevada’s backfield and making life miserable for Wolf Pack quarterback Brendon Lewis and company. The Rebels would finish the night with six sacks, twelve tackles for loss, and two turnovers. The defense would serve as the catalyst for the blowout, when a strip sack was recovered in the end zone by linebacker Jackson Woodard at the beginning of the second quarter. The defensive touchdown was the ultimate turning point of the game, as the Rebels would put up 21 straight points after to push the game out of reach.

Williams in control

When former quarterback Matthew Sluka left UNLV after the third game of the season due to a dispute over name, image and likeness, the college football world was curious if the move would derail the promising season.

Fast forward to three months later, and Williams has not only steadied the ship, but elevated the offense to a new level. Alongside the 104 rushing yards, Williams was also efficient in the passing game, completing 14 of 21 attempts for 168 yards and two touchdowns. The effort marked the seventh time in his nine starts that Williams recorded a touchdown both on the ground and from the air. It is also the fourth time Williams has crossed the 100-yard threshold in the running game. The impact Williams has had on the UNLV offense cannot be stated enough, as the Rebels have seen an increase in production all across the board. Wide receiver Ricky White III, for example, recorded no more than five catches in the three games with Sluka under center; in the nine games with Williams at quarterback, White has no less than five catches and 55 yards in a single game, becoming the first Rebel to record two seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards along the way.

UNLV faces the Boise State Broncos on Friday with not only the Mountain West conference championship on the line, but a chance to represent the Group of Five in the College Football Playoff.