LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV (4-1/1-0) scored at least 40 points for the third straight game for the first time in school history as the Rebels opened Mountain West play with a 44-20 victory over Hawai'i 2-4/0-1) before 25,328 fans at Allegiant Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
The Rebels won their third straight outing and reclaimed the famed Island Showdown Trophy, affectionately known as the Golden Pineapple, as Barry Odom became the first UNLV coach to win his first three home games since Wayne Nunnely in 1986.
 
UNLV's ground game was merciless, racking up 307 yards compared to 46 for the visitors as six different Rebel runners finished with more than 30 yards on the ground, led by Donavyn Lester's best day with the program (98 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries). Courtney Reese came off the bench to score a pair of rushing TDs as part of his 32-yard day.
 
Safety Johnathan Baldwin finished with nine total tackles, including two of the squad's 10 tackles-for-loss.
 
Quarterback Jayden Maiava completed only 11 passes but two of them were for touchdowns, including a 16-yarder to running back Vincent Davis Jr. to open the scoring as the Rebels built a 20-3 halftime lead and never looked back.
 
REBEL OF THE GAME:
Senior kicker Jose Pizano was money yet again – nailing all three of his field goal attempts and adding five extra points for a total of 14. His day included making a career-long 52-yarder, which tied for the ninth-longest in school history and helped improve him to an eye-popping 11-of-12 on field-goal attempts this fall.
 
STAT OF THE GAME:
UNLV had six sacks by six different players and did not allow one on offense. That means in the last two games combined, the Rebels had 10 sacks to zero by opponents
 
QUOTABLE:
"This game was not only important to our team and to our university, but also to Las Vegas. With conference play starting, the ability to continue the momentum we have built so far in our program, the importance of every single conference game, that's so huge for where we are trying to get to. This is the first time we have scored 40 points in three straight games, that's tremendous. We had a great offensive performance. We had six sacks and didn't give up any on the other side. That's complimentary football. When we can do that and play well in all three phases together, we've got an opportunity to continue to play winning ball … I'm proud of this team for what we've done now through five weeks."
-UNLV Head Coach Barry Odom
 
REBEL NOTES:
-UNLV improved to 15-27 in conference openers and has won two straight
-The Rebels have won seven of their last nine home games
-This marked the earliest game staged between the Rebels and Warriors since Sept. 17, 2011
-UNLV has now started 4-1 for the second consecutive season
-The home team has won 13 of the last 15 games in this series
-UH still leads the overall series 19-14 but UNLV improved to 11-6 vs. UH in Las Vegas, having won 9 of the last 11 in the Silver State
-UNLV won the turnover battle 2-0 and now is plus-six after five games
-With defender Jerrae Williams out with an injury, running back Jordan Younge-Humphrey served as one of UNLV's four team captains but then was injured himself after rushing for 44 yards on just two carries
 
NEXT FOR THE REBELS:
UNLV will enjoy its only open week of the season before traveling to Reno to take on UNR in the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon on October 14.