LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Trailing 23-0, UNLV football (4-8/2-6) engineered the largest comeback in school history to stun arch-rival UNR (7-5, 5-3) 34-29 Saturday on Senior Night at Sam Boyd Stadium.
The Rebels' previous largest comeback was 21 points (done twice). UNLV took possession of the famed Fremont Cannon with its first win over the Wolf Pack in Las Vegas since 2004 in what was the final meeting between the programs before the Rebels move into the under-construction Las Vegas Stadium in 2020.
Sophomore quarterback
Armani Rogers, making his first start since being injured September 22, was responsible for all five of his team's touchdowns, throwing for three and rushing for two, including the game-winner from three yards out with 2:34 left on the clock.
UNLV outscored UNR 34-6 after the first minute of the second quarter and junior linebacker/safety
Javin White picked off Ty Gangi for the second time on the night at the UNLV 33-yard line to shut down the Pack's final drive with just over a minute remaining.
TURNING POINT:
Trailing 23-0, UNLV faced a fourth-and-eight. Desperate for something positive to happen, the Rebels went for it and Rogers hit running back
Lexington Thomas for a catch and run that ended up as a 38-yard touchdown that spurred a 21-point outburst.
STAT OF THE GAME:
UNLV's defense, which had just one interception through the first seven games, picked off Ty Gangi three times Saturday night.
REBEL OF THE GAME:
Armani Rogers threw three touchdowns in a game for the second time in his career. He completed 13 of 20 attempts for 172 yards and did not turn the ball over. He also rushed 14 times for 46 yards, including touchdown surges of 1 and 3 yards.
QUOTABLE:
"I'm really proud of our guys, they've been through a lot, it's been a bunch of weeks since I've been able to sit next to this young man [quarterback
Armani Rogers] and you saw the impact he had on the game. He's a special guy and he came in there and played tremendous and gave us the opportunity to go win that game. When you are down 23-0 and you've had the type of season and been through some of the adversity we've been through this year – the injuries on defense and losing Armani for all those weeks – and our guys just kept their heads down and kept on grinding … I'm just really proud of those guys right now."
-UNLV Head Coach Tony Sanchez
REBEL NOTES:
-UNLV won its final game of the season for the first time since 2009 when it downed San Diego State at home, 28-24
-The Rebels' previous school record for largest comeback (21-point deficit) came vs. Central Michigan in 2013 and vs. Nebraska-Omaha in 1976
-UNLV came into the game 0-6 when its opponent scored first
-The Rebels improved to 2-6 when trailing at halftime
-UNLV honored 18 seniors before the game
-UNR had won six consecutive times at Sam Boyd Stadium
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Tony Sanchez became just the second UNLV head coach since 1981 to defeat UNR more than once in his Rebel career (John Robinson was the other, going 4-1 vs. the Wolf Pack from 1999-2004)
-After grabbing only one interception in the first seven games of the season, UNLV's defense had nine in the last five outings
-For the second week in a row, sophomore WR
Drew Tejchman played on offense (started, one reception), defense (one tackle) and special teams
-Senior Lexington "Lightning" Thomas, who rushed 41 yards, finished his stellar career with 3,555 rushing yards, which ranked second in school history and eighth in Mountain West history
-Thomas added to his school record for career touchdowns as his 36-yard reception gave him 43
-Senior running back
Xzaviar Campbell led UNLV in rushing with 65 yards on nine carries. The big Texan closed his collegiate career with 1,307 yards on the ground
