COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV (9-2/6-1) football reached the nine-win mark for the first time since 1984 with a thrilling 31-27 victory at Air Force (8-3-4/5-2) before 23,574 fans at Falcon Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Rebels led 7-0 after just two plays on offense but a couple of interceptions powered Air Force to a 27-14 halftime lead. However, for the second straight game, UNLV shut out its opponent in the second half, which allowed the Rebels to build their four-point advantage. AFA drove into a first-and-goal situation with under a minute remaining but the visitors held firm as a final throw into the end zone fell incomplete and sent the Rebs into unfamiliar territory all alone atop the league standings.
After a 78-yard receiving touchdown romp to open the scoring, All-America and Biletnikoff Award candidate Rickey White III only needed two receptions to reach the 100-yard mark. He finished with 169 yards on eight grabs and tied Randy Gatewood's (1993-94) school record for consecutive 100-yard games with four – and became the first to do it in one season. White also flew up the UNLV single-season receiving yards list as he stands fourth with 1,197 this fall.
Speaking of records, All-America and Groza Award candidate kicker Jose Pizano scored seven total points and his lone field goal from 39 yards out was a big one. The Super Senior made his 18th consecutive attempt (breaking Daniel Gutierrez's mark set just last season) and his 22nd three-pointer of the season (breaking Hall of Famer Nick "The Kick" Garritano's record set way back in 1994).
Defensively, the Rebels were led by a pair of linebackers as Marsel McDuffie totaled 15 tackles (10 solo) and a forced fumble while Jackson Woodard added nine stops and notched a key quarterback sack in his unit's game-winning stand.
REBEL OF THE GAME:
Sophomore punter Marshall Nichols turned in one of the most impressive overall outings at his position in school history to help his team down Air Force. He averaged 47.4 yards on seven attempts with a long of 55, and the Falcons, remarkably, totaled zero yards on punt returns. Nichols repeatedly dropped footballs in strategic areas, including three inside the AFA 20-yard line. The highlight was a 50-yarder that ended at the opponent's two-yard line and led to a Falcons punt of their own. What's more, the former Mississippi State transfer pulled off a sparkling fake punt in the second half that resulted in him passing for a first down to Kris Williams and extend a drive that eventually ended in a key UNLV field goal.
STAT OF THE GAME:
Combined with last week's win over Wyoming, UNLV has outscored its last two opponents in the second half, 30-0.
QUOTABLE:
"What a great performance by our kids. We started the game extremely well. Then they made some adjustments and were having success. We made some adjustments there in the second quarter and then at halftime. On defense, Coach (Mike) Scherer and his staff did an unbelievable job. The kids showed toughness, resolve and resilience, overcoming some penalties and adversity. Staying in the arena is something we've talked about since we got started – let's go 60 minutes and play one play at a time – and tonight was a really great test of that for everybody in the organization. I'm so happy for our guys, our team and our university to get that win."
-UNLV Head Coach Barry Odom
NOTABLE:
-UNLV snapped a five-game losing streak to Air Force
-The Rebels' most-recent win vs. the Falcons came in 2013 during a drive for the team's last bowl trip
-UNLV won despite having 120 penalty yards marked off against it compared to just 30 for Air Force
-UNLV scored at least 24 points in the ninth straight game for the first time since moving to Division I in 1978
-The Rebels got rushing scores from Donavyn Lester (tied for team lead with nine) and Vincent Davis Jr. (fifth of the season)
-The two ground scores gave UNLV 33 rushing touchdowns, which ranks third in school history
-UNLV scored first for the eighth time this season
-Tight end Kaleo Ballungay had another big day as his 84-yard catch and run that set up a touchdown went down as the fourth-longest pass play in Rebel history. Ballungay also added a six-yard TD catch
-Despite a pair of picks, freshman QB Jayden Maiava improved to 7-1 as a starting quarterback, finishing 15-of-29 for 339 yards and two TDs through the air and 36 net yards on the ground
-The Rebels remained stellar in the red zone, going 4-for-4 vs. AFA
NEXT FOR THE REBELS:
Looking to clinch a spot in the Mountain West Championship, UNLV returns home for Senior Day on Saturday vs. San Jose State. Kickoff is set for noon PT and tickets are available by calling (702) 739-FANS or visiting UNLVTickets.com.
