LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV football earned both the Old Trapper Mountain West Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards in the same week for the first time in nine seasons as quarterback
Anthony Colandrea and defensive back
Aamaris Brown were cited by the league Monday.
It was the first time the Rebels grabbed both honors since quarterback Kurt Palandech and cornerback Torry McTyer were announced after UNLV's thrilling, 69-66 three-overtime victory over Josh Allen-led Wyoming at Sam Boyd Stadium in November 2016.
Colandrea (St. Petersburg, FL) completed 19 of his 23 pass attempts for 249 yards and two touchdowns to help UNLV down Sam Houston 38-21 on Friday. The junior signal-caller, who transferred in from Virginia, also ran for 23 net yards, including a game-sealing 13-yard scamper into the end zone in the fourth quarter. He opened the game by completing his first five passes on a drive capped by a 43-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Bradley. Colandrea, who is the program's first offensive honoree since 2023, is also the first Rebel quarterback to earn the MW weekly kudo since Doug Brumfield on Aug. 29, 2022.
Brown (Tampa, FL) was impactful throughout the night in Houston, with no play bigger than a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown in the middle of the second quarter. The former South Florida transfer had four solo tackles, three tackles-for-loss and two quarterback sacks. One came on third down to force a Bearkat punt and the other came on fourth down and resulted in a turnover on downs that allowed the Rebels to run out the clock in victory formation.
UNLV (2-0) returns to Allegiant Stadium on Saturday when it hosts UCLA of the Big Ten Conference. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. and tickets are available by visiting unlvtickets.com.
