LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV Athletics just finished posting its second-biggest win over UNR in the Silver State Series presented by IBEW Local 401 and Nevada Donor Network.
With all points now assigned after UNLV baseball downed UNR at the Mountain West Championship to capture three points, the Rebels took the all-encompassing competition with the Wolf Pack by the final score of 34.5-13.5. This marks the sixth win in seven years for the Scarlet & Gray and the 34.5 points rank second for either side, only bested by UNLV's 37.5 scored during the inaugural year of the competition, which was previously known as the Governor's Series.
Overall, the Wolf Pack have never scored more points than the Rebels as the 2017 competition ended in a 24-24 tie and the trophy moved North for the first time because UNR won the tiebreaker (whomever holds the famed Fremont Cannon).
The Rebels won early and often this time around as volleyball, women's soccer and football all took three points from the Pack in the fall. Women's indoor track & field led the way for UNLV's winter sports before the spring programs continued their domination in the series as men's tennis, women's tennis, men's golf, softball, women's outdoor track & field and baseball combined for 18 points. UNLV also won the three points for the academic component tied to the programs' Academic Progress Rate.
The Rebels also picked up 1.5 points by splitting in women's basketball. The Wolf Pack compiled its other points from the sports of cross country, men's basketball, women's golf and women's swimming & diving.
UNLV quarterback
Armani Rogers was named this year's winner of the Bill Ireland Award, which is selected through a vote by members of the UNLV Athletics Strategic Communications team. The honor is given annually to a student-athlete who shines in their respective sport while competing against the Wolf Pack as part of the Silver State Series. The honoree must come from a Rebel squad that won its competition vs. the Wolf Pack during the year, must have made a significant impact on that outcome and also be in good academic standing.
On November 24, Rogers (Los Angeles, CA/Hamilton HS) engineered the greatest comeback in UNLV football history to help his team capture three points and the famed Fremont Cannon. With his team trailing 23-0 in the second quarter, Rogers would go on to be responsible for five touchdowns -- two rushing and three passing -- including running in the game-winner with 2:34 remaining in the fourth quarter of the 34-29 final. He is the second football player to earn the Ireland as linebacker Ryan McAleenan was honored in 2016.
The individual award is named in honor of Mr. Bill Ireland, who was deeply tied to the history of the Wolf Pack and Rebels athletics programs. A 1952 graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, Ireland was the Wolf Pack's first baseball coach (1961-67). After his time at UNR, he went on to UNLV where he became the Rebels' first football coach (1968-72) and later served as athletics director (1973-80). Ireland is also credited with helping create the Fremont Cannon.
SILVER STATE SERIES ALL-TIME RESULTS
2019 – UNLV 34.5-UNR 13.5
2018 – UNLV 27, UNR 21
2017 – UNR 24, UNLV 24 (Wolf Pack won tiebreaker)
2016 – UNLV 28.5, UNR 19.5
2015 – UNLV 27, UNR 21
2014 – UNLV 30, UNR 18
2013 – UNLV 37.5, UNR 10.5
UNLV BILL IRELAND AWARD WINNERS
2019 – Armani Rogers, Football
2018 – Janine Petmecky, Softball
2017 – Lily Sender, Women's Soccer
2016 – Ryan McAleenan, Football
2015 – Janine Petmecky, Softball
2014 – Jenn Wolfe, Women's Soccer
2013 – Buddy Borden, Baseball
