LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -- UNLV (1-1) scored 24 second-quarter points to run away from visiting UTEP (0-2), 52-24, on a hot Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Facing the Miners for the first time since 1993, the Rebels took their home opener by rushing for 414 yards and winning the turnover battle 3-0. It marked the first time UNLV hosted a team that was a member of Conference USA at the time of the game.
The Rebels produced two 100-yard rushers as running back
Lexington Thomas went for 127 and two scores and quarterback
Armani Rogers totaled 103 and one touchdown on the ground. Rogers also threw three touchdowns – all to different receivers – as UNLV twice built its lead to 35 points.
THE TURNING POINT:
With both teams driving up and down the field early, UNLV held the Miners to a field goal, which kept the Rebels ahead 14-10. That allowed UNLV to eventually build a 38-10 halftime advantage.
STAT OF THE GAME:
Four different UNLV running backs finished with at least 70 yards on the ground and all of them posted per-rush averages of at least 6.7 yards.
REBEL OF THE GAME:
Armani Rogers completed only six passes but three of those went for touchdowns. He also rushed for 103 yards on just 10 carries.
QUOTABLE:
"It was good to get the first victory here at home. Offensively, I thought our guys came out and played really well – we scored on five of our first six drives. On defense, started a little slow, maybe had a hangover from last week, but they found their footing and did a good job down the stretch."
-UNLV Head Coach Tony Sanchez
REBEL NOTES:
-Game time temperature was 106 degrees at 6 pm PT.
-By making all seven of his extra points vs. UTEP, UNLV senior
Evan Pantels broke the school record for consecutive PATs. The former record was 75 set by Kyle Watson in 2008-09. Pantels has now made all 80 his attempts.
-Pantels also made his one field-goal attempt (35 yards) to finish with 10 total points vs. the Miners.
-Sophomore quarterback
Armani Rogers threw for three touchdowns in a game for the first time as a Rebel.
-Rogers finished with 103 net yards rushing on just 10 carries (including one TD). It marked his third 100-yard rushing game as a Rebel, which tied the school record by a quarterback (Jason Thomas had three from 2000-02).
-Senior
Lexington Thomas posted his 14
th 100-yard rushing game with 127 on 17 carries, including TD runs of 40 and four yards. He now sits just three scores away from tying Mike Thomas (1973-74) for the most in UNLV history.
-Thomas also moved up one spot on the career rushing yardage list. His total of 2,747 ranks fourth in school history.
-New UNLV punter
Hayes Hicken finished with a 56.2-yard average on five attempts. The former Utah transfer is a junior graduate transfer.
-UNLV senior safety
Dalton Baker finished with a game-high 14 total tackles.
-The Rebels' 414 yards rushing was the sixth most in school history and most since going for 517 vs. Idaho State in 2015.
-The 52 points scored by UNLV tied for the 18
th most in school history and fourth most under head coach
Tony Sanchez.
NEXT FOR THE REBELS:
UNLV hosts Prairie View A&M next Saturday starting at 7 p.m. Individual tickets for all of UNLV's 2018 home football games are on sale now, while season tickets are also still available. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit UNLVtickets.com or call 702-739-FANS (3267). Parking is free at Sam Boyd Stadium for Rebel football games.
