11/14/2018 12:25:00 PM | Football, General
Football senior Lexington Thomas earns honor after leading the Rebels to their first win at San Diego State since 2000
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -Â UNLV football senior running back Lexington Thomas has been named the Outstanding Rebel of the Week, the school announced Wednesday.Â
The award goes to the student-athlete who turned in the best individual performance during the previous week of competition from Monday through Sunday as voted on by the UNLV Athletic Communications department.
Thomas, from Houston, Texas, helped earn his team a stunning 27-24 victory over the Aztecs in San Diego Saturday with 21 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns to go along with three receptions for 34 yards (167 all-purpose yards). The senior's first touchdown - a two-yard rushing score - in the second quarter gave UNLV a 13-7 lead. After SDSU eventually took a 24-13 lead to start the fourth quarter, the Rebels faced third-and-20 at their own 41-yard line. Needing to score to keep the game competitive, quarterback Max Gilliam found Thomas with a pass in the flat and Lex turned it into a 25-yard reception for a first down. Five plays later, UNLV scored a touchdown to make it 24-19. After UNLV's defense forced a punt, with less than four minutes remaining in the game, Lexington took a handoff and weaved his way down field for a thrilling, game-winning 75-yard touchdown. The memorable score not only gave UNLV its first win in San Diego since 2000 and helped snap the Rebels' six-game losing streak, it also allowed Lex to break a 44-year-old school record for career rushing touchdowns with 38 (old record was 37 by Mike Thomas in 1973-74). Thomas also tied Mike Thomas' school record for all-time 100-yard rushing games with 17.
For his performance, Thomas was honored by the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award for the first time this season and the third time in his career.
Thomas and the Rebels will by eyeing a second straight win this week as they take on Hawaii in Honolulu Saturday, November 17 at 8 p.m. PT.Â
The award goes to the student-athlete who turned in the best individual performance during the previous week of competition from Monday through Sunday as voted on by the UNLV Athletic Communications department.
Thomas, from Houston, Texas, helped earn his team a stunning 27-24 victory over the Aztecs in San Diego Saturday with 21 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns to go along with three receptions for 34 yards (167 all-purpose yards). The senior's first touchdown - a two-yard rushing score - in the second quarter gave UNLV a 13-7 lead. After SDSU eventually took a 24-13 lead to start the fourth quarter, the Rebels faced third-and-20 at their own 41-yard line. Needing to score to keep the game competitive, quarterback Max Gilliam found Thomas with a pass in the flat and Lex turned it into a 25-yard reception for a first down. Five plays later, UNLV scored a touchdown to make it 24-19. After UNLV's defense forced a punt, with less than four minutes remaining in the game, Lexington took a handoff and weaved his way down field for a thrilling, game-winning 75-yard touchdown. The memorable score not only gave UNLV its first win in San Diego since 2000 and helped snap the Rebels' six-game losing streak, it also allowed Lex to break a 44-year-old school record for career rushing touchdowns with 38 (old record was 37 by Mike Thomas in 1973-74). Thomas also tied Mike Thomas' school record for all-time 100-yard rushing games with 17.
For his performance, Thomas was honored by the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award for the first time this season and the third time in his career.
Thomas and the Rebels will by eyeing a second straight win this week as they take on Hawaii in Honolulu Saturday, November 17 at 8 p.m. PT.Â
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