The temperatures are rising in Las Vegas, which means it's a perfect time for some light summer sports reading.
Indeed, before the 2020-21 school year is here, UNLV Athletics takes a look back by rolling out each of its teams' Top 10 Moments/Plays from the just-completed decade.
Our (non-scientific) lists will be unveiled from now through the middle of August. Kicking it off, fittingly, is the sport of football, which originally debuted this list in December.
Hope you enjoy!
NO. 10: NEVER NERVOUS GOING TO THE HOUSE
KR Deante Purvis 98-yard kickoff return vs. Colorado State (Oct. 29, 2011)
In this memorable Mountain West matchup, UNLV took an early 3-0 lead and was looking for more when Colorado State linebacker Shaq Barrett picked off a Sean Reilly pass and returned it 52 yards for a defensive score. The Rebels, who had only downed the Rams in Las Vegas once before this day, needed to answer and boy, did they. Veteran defensive back Deante Purvis fielded the ensuing kickoff and winded his way down field as part of a 98-yard kickoff return for a score to give the home team a big surge in a game that featured eight lead changes and ended as a 38-35 Rebel victory. The play earned the crowd some free chicken in a sponsored promotion and, remarkably, remains the most-recent kick return for a touchdown by a UNLV player..
NO. 9: RECEIVING NATIONAL ATTENTION
QB Nick Sherry 33-yard pass to TE Taylor Barnhill at La Tech (Oct. 6, 2012)
UNLV's Taylor Barnhill was a versatile weapon during his collegiate career. He started two games for the Rebels at quarterback but also lettered at H-back, tight end and even spent a spring at linebacker. His career highlight came in an otherwise forgettable loss at Louisiana Tech as the sophomore tight end hauled in a long touchdown that brought national attention. In fact, his 33-yard catch of a Nick Sherry pass thrown into triple coverage gave his team an early 7-3 lead, ranked No. 3 on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays that night and would go on to win online voting for that week's nominee for the GEICO Play of the Year.
NO. 8: PICKING OFF THE PACK
DB Javin White second interception vs. UNR (Nov. 24, 2018)
Another memorable play from a recent Battle for the Fremont Cannon. After falling behind 23-0 in the first quarter the Rebels went on a record-breaking run but trailed in the fourth quarter. The UNLV defense had stiffened, holding UNR to just a pair of field goals after the initial burst. However, dangerous quarterback Ty Gangi seemed en route to increasing his team's one-point lead when safety
Javin White picked him off on second down at the 15-yard line with just over six minutes left. After the Rebels drove for the go-ahead touchdown, the Pack was on the move again, trailing just five. However, on second down with 1:19 left, White jumped high to intercept another pass attempt, this time at the UNLV 33-yard line, to end the threat.
Javin White with the BIGGEST PLAY of the game for @unlvfootball.
Huge interception. pic.twitter.com/hO3AA2mnkJ
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 25, 2018
NO. 7: FOURTH DOWN FORTUNES
QB Armani Rogers 38-yard pass to RB Lexington Thomas vs. UNR (Nov. 24, 2018)
UNR, on its way to a bowl game, scored touchdowns on its first three possessions and then added a field goal on its fourth (one extra point was missed) to seemingly end the Battle for the Fremont Cannon in the first quarter. Trailing 23-0, UNLV had already entered a must-score situation to at least remain in hailing distance of its arch rival. Staring at fourth-and-eight near midfield, the Rebels had no choice but to go for it. Quarterback
Armani Rogers took the snap, stepped up into the pocket, moved to his left to avoid the rush, tucked it to run a few yards and then coolly threw it across his body to find a streaking running back over the middle. That man was
Lexington Thomas, who not only picked up the first down on the play but also zipped his way down the sideline and into the end zone to give his team new life. The Rebels took full advantage of the sudden spark, eventually clawing their way to the lead and holding off the visitors for a 34-29 victory that went down as the biggest comeback in school history – all with the famed Fremont Cannon on the line.
NO. 6: ROAD DEMONS EXORCISED
RB Tim Cornett 75-yard rushing touchdown at New Mexico (Sept. 28, 2013)
In a game that featured 1,149 yards of offense, receiver Devante Davis had a trio of touchdown catches, including the go-ahead score from Caleb Herring from seven yards out late in the fourth. However, to finally put away the Lobos for good and clinch an end to a soul-crushing 23-game road losing streak, the Rebels posted a 75-yard scamper to the end zone by tailback Tim Cornett with just 3:03 remaining. The future all-time leading UNLV rusher finished with 179 yards and three scores to his name as part of the 56-42 Old West shootout.
NO. 5: WHAT AN ANSWER
QB Kurt Palandech 75-yard rush vs. Wyoming (Nov. 12, 2016)
Arguably the greatest game ever played at Sam Boyd Stadium, the three-overtime, record-smashing TD-fest had dozens of big moments on both sides. However, Wyoming probably wins it in regulation if not for quarterback
Kurt Palandech's biggest play of his career. The Rebels held a 37-24 lead but the Cowboys scored a touchdown and then, after a three-and-out by UNLV, returned a punt 60 yards to take their first lead of the day with 11 minutes left in regulation. However, on first down at his own 24-yard line, Palandech called his own number and ran right up the gut of the Pokes' defense, found no one home, and then turned on the burners to go untouched for a shocking 76-yard touchdown that eventually led to a memorable Rebel victory.
NO. 4: A LIGHTNING STRIKE IN SAN DIEGO
RB Lexington Thomas 75-yard rush at San Diego State (Nov. 10, 2018)
The Rebels had not won a game in this SoCal city since 2000 and the conference heavyweight Aztec host quad came in with a 7-2 record. However, after San Diego State built a 24-13 lead in the fourth quarter, fill-in starter at quarterback
Max Gilliam led a 75-yard scoring drive to draw UNLV closer. The Rebels still trailed by five points with under four minutes left in a game that seemed destined to go down as another Aztec home victory. That's when Lightning struck as
Lexington Thomas, well-known for his various long sprints into the end zone, took the handoff and repeatedly cut back and forth, shaking tacklers along the way and then finally outrunning the rest of the SDSU defense to the far pylon to score a stunning, glorious, 75-yard, game-winning touchdown. After a game-sealing interception, the Rebels soon had their first conference win of the season and Lightning had his signature TD run.
NO. 3: PICK-SIX MAKES PACK SICK
LB Ryan McAleenan 52-yard interception return at UNR (Oct. 3, 2015)
Tony Sanchez became just the second UNLV coach to win his debut in Reno – just barely – because of one of the biggest defensive plays in school history. UNLV led 13-0 at halftime but starting quarterback Blake Decker was knocked out with an injury. With the Rebel offense slowed, UNR pulled within a field goal and was driving to take its first lead with eight minutes remaining when junior linebacker Ryan McAleenan tipped a Tyler Stewart pass attempt. The Rebel leader grabbed the ball out the air and ran 52 yards the other way to score UNLV's only touchdown after halftime in what ended as a 23-17 victory – its second straight at Mackay Stadium.
NO. 2: K.O. KO'S UNR IN OT
QB Kenyon Oblad 19-yard pass to WR Steve Jenkins at UNR (Nov. 30, 2019)
UNLV sprinted to a surprising 17-0 early lead at snow-lined Mackay Stadium and enjoyed a 27-13 advantage with under seven minutes remaining when the bowl-bound Wolf Pack rallied to tie things and force the first overtime in the history of the storied in-state rivalry. UNR lost the coin flip and settled for a 42-yard field goal to earn its first lead of the day. For their part, the Rebels completed a pass for no gain and then another for six yards to set up a third-and-four situation. Quarterback
Kenyon Oblad, who completed 13 of his first 14 attempts on the record-cold day, shook off the unfriendly conditions, settled into the pocket and threw a strike over the middle to fellow-freshman
Steve Jenkins who hauled it in just above his shoulders and continued into the end zone to deliver a historic 33-30 victory that kept the Fremont Cannon Rebel Red.
.@kenyonoblad calls GAME! The signal caller hits Jenkins for the 2nd time for a TD ... this 1 goes for 19 yards to beat UNR, 30-27, in OVERTIME! The Fremont Cannon stays 🔴! #KEPTITRED #BEaREBEL #UNLVFB pic.twitter.com/gPDJYMtlcH
— UNLV Football (@unlvfootball) November 30, 2019
NO. 1: SAFETY DANCE
QB Dalton Sneed 91-yard rush vs. Fresno State (Oct. 1, 2016)
Filling in for an injured
Johnny Stanton, freshman Dalton Sneed made the most of his first collegiate start at quarterback, leading the Rebels to a 45-20 romp over the Bulldogs. The game is most remembered for one play, however, that came when the outcome was still in doubt. Leading 21-10 in the third quarter the Rebels faced third-and-11 deep in their own territory. Sneed took the snap at the nine-yard line, dropped back to pass and quickly moved forward. Finding no daylight, Sneed instead bounced backwards and retreated all the way into his own zone. With a defender draped on his back a game-changing safety looked inevitable. Instead, he escaped to his left and then broke a tackle while moving toward the home sideline on the right, picked up the first down and then ... just ... kept ... going, splitting multiple Fresno State defenders at the 35-yard line who seemingly thought the quarterback was headed out of bounds. Instead, Sneed made his way 91 yards to the opposite end zone and posted not only what was the longest-ever rush by a Rebel but also in Sam Boyd Stadium history, which includes all Las Vegas Bowls and WAC championship games. Simply unforgettable.
.@daltonsneed's 91-yard touchdown run made the @SportsCenter Top-10 cut. 10 by them but number 1 in our hearts #UNLVFB #LightTheFuse 🏈🏃 pic.twitter.com/N5tsHGiN7k
— UNLV Athletics (@UNLVathletics) October 2, 2016
