LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV (0-7/0-3) football team saw its 19-play drive to potentially tie the game ultimately end at the 19-yard line of San Jose State (4-4/2-2) as time expired in another heartbreaking defeat, 27-20, in front of 19,318 fans at Allegiant Stadium Thursday night.
The Mountain West defending-champion Spartans spoiled the Rebels' Homecoming game by outscoring the hosts 24-3 after falling behind by two touchdowns in the second quarter.
UNLV used a six-yard touchdown pass from Cameron Friel to Steve Jenkins, a 53-yard field goal by Daniel Gutierrez and a one-yard rush by Charles Williams to build a healthy 17-3 advantage. The Rebels, however, fumbled with just seconds remaining before halftime and SJSU found the end zone to capture momentum.
The 53-yard field goal by Gutierrez not only tied for the fifth-longest in school history but also gave the senior a school record with his 15th consecutive field goal, breaking a tie with longtime record-holder Jim Cook, who hit 14 straight in 1987. Gutierrez stretched his record to 16 with a 30-yarder in the third quarter, which proved to be his team's only points in the second half. His 40-yard attempt with under 10 minutes remaining, however, was blocked.
REBEL OF THE GAME:
True freshman QB Cameron Friel completed 20-of-28 pass attempts for 240 yards with zero turnovers
STAT OF THE GAME:
SJSU's field goal block, which kept the game tied at 20, marked the first time a UNLV opponent blocked a field-goal attempt in six years (Colorado State on Oct. 24, 2015)
QUOTABLE:
"I know we're crushed. It's the fith game now in the 4th quarter. We feel like we're matched up. We have to make sure we go back and look at exactly how we finish a game."
-UNLV Head Coach Marcus Arroyo
REBEL NOTES:
-The Rebels lost by a touchdown or less for the fourth straight outing and fifth time this season
-UNLV fell to 26-27 all-time on Homecoming
-Charles Williams' first-half touchdown gave him 26 in his career, breaking a tie for fourth at the school with Mack Gilchrist (1968-71)
-Williams' 94 yards rushing gave him 3,659 yards for his career, which is 74 yards short of school-record holder Tim Cornett (2010-13)
-WR Kyle Williams posted his first 100-yard game of the season and the third of his young career with seven catches for 117 yards
-True freshman quarterback Cameron Friel started for the fourth time this season and became the first UNLV signal-caller to play the entire game this season
-Austin Ajiake led UNLV with 10 total tackles while Jacoby Windmon added nine plus a forced fumble
-This marked the fourth time this season that UNLV led at halftime (17-10) and the second straight outing the team held a lead after the third quarter this fall (20-13)
-UNLV has trailed after the first quarter in just one game this season – 7-0 vs. Iowa State
-UNLV head coach Marcus Arroyo played quarterback, graduated from and coached at San Jose State. He is the third Rebel coach to face his alma mater while at the school (Bill Ireland and Tony Knap)
NEXT FOR THE REBELS:
It's rivalry week for UNLV, which travels to Reno to face the Wolf Pack on Friday at 7 p.m. PT in the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon. The game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
