Nevada wins the coin toss, choosing to start with the ball on offense. Two minutes into the game, Nevada’s offense led by quarterback (QB) Carson Strong ran a trick play to get down the field, ultimately leading to the first touchdown of the game as tight-end Cole Turner ran in a 4-yard touchdown pass.
Rebels go three and out on their opening drive, only able to gain one rushing yard as both passing attempts were incomplete. The next play for the Wolf Pack is stopped short as the Rebels defense holds them to only 38-yards, forcing them to kick a field goal.
Nevada’s kicker Brandon Talton knocks down the 52-yard field goal, his first 50-yarder this season, making it a two-score game for the Wolf Pack, 10-0.
Opening up the second quarter, UNLV’s defense denies Nevada at the goal line, however, the Wolf Pack get another set of downs as Rebels’ linebacker Brennon Scott gets an unsportsmanlike conduct flag on third down.
The Rebels' defense came up big again, holding Nevada to a field goal after Strong had six attempts at the goal line.
UNLV’s offense, unable to get anything going, hand the ball back over the Wolf Pack. In just three minutes, Strong led a 57-yard drive ending with a 28-yard connection with wide receiver (WR) Romeo Doubs for a touchdown.
It isn't too late into the second quarter when UNLV’s offense makes a complete pass over 10 yards as QB Cameron Friel throws a 21-yard pass to WR Steve Jenkins.
The Rebel’s drive ends shortly after as Nevada’s defense dominates UNLV’s run game.
Strong gets the ball back towards the end of the first half, just as they hope to make it into the Rebels’ territory, UNLV’s Phillip Hill picks off Strong’s bad throw on second down. Hill now leads the Rebels with three total interceptions this season.
With 20 seconds left in the half, Friel threw in the endzone only to be picked off by Nevada’s JoJuan Claiborne. With the interception, the Wolf Pack headed into halftime with a 20-0 lead over the Rebels.
UNLV is only able to open the second half with two plays before Nevada’s defensive back Tyson Williams gets a 49-yard pick-six off an attempted throw from Friel to WR Kyle Williams.
Back on offense and under pressure from a blitz, Friel threw a short pass to running back (RB) Charles Williams, who ran it up the field for 16-yards, putting hope into UNLV’s run game.
The Rebel’s offense, unable to convert on third down, handed the ball back over to the Wolf Pack with 11 minutes left in the third.
After being pushed out of the red zone by back-to-back penalties, Strong throws a 23-yard touchdown pass to Turner who catches it with one hand and dives into the end zone, extending Nevada’s lead to 34-0.
Off a play fake, Kyle Williams ran a slant route and caught his first touchdown of the year putting UNLV on the board 7-33. The Wolf Pack answered right back, however, scoring another touchdown in just three plays, putting them up 41-7 at the end of the third.
Entering the final quarter, UNLV catches a break after one of Nevada’s defensive players racks up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, setting up the Rebels with a new set of downs in the red zone.
On 4th-and-2, Charles Williams runs in his eighth rushing touchdown of the year to make the score 14-41. UNLV’s kicker Daniel Guiterrez kicks off to Nevada only for it to bounce off a player's helmet, making it a live ball and as a result, UNLV recovers the ball putting them back on offense.
Not long after, WR Steve Jenkins caught an 18-yard pass from Friel and ran it in for a touchdown, an unsuccessful two-point conversion put UNLV at 20-41 with over 12 minutes left of the game. Nevada’s offense only able to answer back with a field goal, put themselves up four scores 44-20.
In the last five minutes, Friel threw his second pick-six of the night, this time caught by Daiyan Henley who ran it in 50-yards to put Nevada up 31 points.
Rebels’ offense, down at the wire, are unable to convert on third down leading to the Wolf Pack taking a knee to seal their victory 51-20.
The Rebels will be on the road again next week traveling to Albuquerque to face the Lobos of New Mexico. Catch the game on the Stadium Network, kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
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