LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV football (1-1) fell behind early and could not make up the difference in a 43-17 loss to Arkansas State (1-1) Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.
On the opening drive, UNLV's Armani Rogers threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and the Red Wolves of the Sun Belt Conference opened a 23-3 lead at halftime.
The Rebels' lone bright spot came at running back where junior Charles Williams rolled up a career-high 168 yards on 19 carries, including a scintillating 78-yard burst that he followed up with a three-yard rush into the end zone for his team's first touchdown.
Senior cornerback Jericho Flowers led the way defensively, totaling seven tackles and two pass breakups.
TURNING POINT:
UNLV received the opening kick and faced third-and-six when Rogers' pass was tipped a couple of times before being picked off and returned for a 35-yard touchdown that set the tone.
STAT OF THE GAME:
After having four sacks and allowing none in last week's opener vs. Southern Utah, UNLV got zero sacks and allowed six vs. Arkansas State.
REBEL OF THE GAME:
Charles Williams continues to run wild. After two games the junior has 311 yards on just 34 carries to go with four touchdowns.
QUOTABLE:
"I just shared with the guys -- it's an unacceptable deal, we're a better football team than that."
-UNLV Head Coach Tony Sanchez
REBEL NOTES:
-On what was Back to the '80s Night as part of the season-long Sam Boyd Stadium Farewell celebration, former Rebel running back great Ickey Woods served as honorary captain. Woods led the NCAA in rushing yards in 1987 and helped the Cincinnati Bengals reach the Super Bowl as a rookie sensation the following season
-Arkansas State improved to 2-1 all-time against UNLV in what was its first trip to Las Vegas since the Rebels won in 1995
-UNLV stayed perfect in the red zone this season. After scoring both times vs. ASU, the Rebels are now 8-8 on the year
-Freshman Kenyon Oblad relieved Rogers late in the game and completed all three of his attempts, including a 56-yard scoring strike to Randal Grimes. Grimes, who transferred to UNLV from USC during the off-season, scored his first touchdown as a Rebel and led his new team with 74 receiving yards on three grabs
-Senior punter Hayes Hicken had an up-and-down night, booting a season-short 17-yarder in the first half and a career-long 71-yarder in the second. The 71 yards tied for the 12th-longest in UNLV history
-The interception on the opening drive was the only turnover in the game by either team
-The Rebels opened the season with back-to-back home games for the first time since 2012
NEXT FOR THE REBELS:
UNLV heads out for its first road game of the season when the Rebels play at Northwestern Saturday starting at 12:30 pm PT on Big Ten Network. It will mark the program's first visit to Evanston since 1998.
