SOUTH BEND, Ind. (UNLVRebels.com) – Missing multiple key starters because of injury, including its dynamic duo at quarterback and running back, UNLV (4-4/2-2) football made a historic trip to Notre Dame (4-3) and closed its non-conference schedule with a 44-21 loss on Saturday during a spring-like afternoon near the famed Golden Dome.
Playing before 73,165 at sun-bathed Notre Dame Stadium, which was the 10th-biggest crowd to watch the Rebels, UNLV struggled mightily in the passing game without regular starter Doug Brumfield available. Cameron Friel started his second straight game and was replaced at times by Harrison Bailey but the Rebels only completed two pass attempts in the first quarter as Notre Dame scored 23 points, including 10 off of a pair of blocked punts.
The visitors did get on the scoreboard early, however, thanks to a career-long 74-yard scamper by Courtney Reese, who was filling in for starting tailback Aidan Robbins. The ensuing touchdown came on a two-yard rush by walk-on Jordan Young-Humphrey, his first as a Rebel. Reese also set up UNLV's second score with a 47-yard scamper in the third quarter that eventually led to Bailey running it in for his first score as a Rebel. Young-Humphrey would find the end zone again in the fourth quarter on a fourth-down play.
Defensively, cornerback Nohl Williams had a hand in two turnovers in the first half alone, recovering a fumble caused by teammate Johnathan Baldwin and then picking off a pass deflected by Waisale Muavesi at the line of scrimmage. It marked Williams' third interception and the team's 12th of the season.
REBEL OF THE GAME:
Junior running back Courtney Reese, who entered the game with 299 career rushing yards in four seasons as a Rebel, finished with a net of 142 on just 11 carries to mark his first career 100-yard game at UNLV.
STAT OF THE GAME:
UNLV finished 0-12 on third down while the Irish converted on 9-of-17.
QUOTABLE:
"Great opportunity for us to come out and be in a game like this. Unfortunately, we weren't able to produce and execute a little better, but there was a lot of pride out there and a lot of fight. Our guys understand what our locker room is like these days, the determination, the will and all of the stuff that we're trying to teach as a culture to continue to play hard. We're in the middle round of a heavyweight fight (this season)."
-UNLV Head Coach Marcus Arroyo
REBEL NOTES:
-This marked not just the first meeting of these two football programs but also the first ever played in the Hoosier State by the Rebels
-It was the first time UNLV faced an independent team since BYU in 2017
-The Irish played at UNLV's home stadium – vs. BYU – just two weeks previous in the Shamrock Series held at Allegiant Stadium
-UNLV played in the Eastern Time Zone for the first time since 2017 at Ohio State
-The official temperature of 72 at kickoff was a full 20 degrees above normal in this Midwestern city for late October
-The Rebels came into the season without having a punt blocked since 2020 but now have had three blocked through the first eight games of the season
-Former UNLV quarterback and longtime ESPN personality Kenny Mayne flew in from Washington state to serve as the Rebels' alumni representative for the Peacock game production
NEXT FOR THE REBELS:
UNLV will enjoy a bye week before heading to San Diego State on November 5. Kickoff for the game vs. the Aztecs is set for 4 p.m. PT on CBS Sports Network.
