UNLV beats Nevada for its third straight win in a rivalry game

UNLV defeated Nevada in the rivalry game Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Updates with more statistics

UNLV showed why it is one of the best football teams in the country and Nevada couldn’t overcome a host of mistakes as the Rebels cruised to a 38-14 win Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

UNLV, ranked No. 22 nationally entering the game, has won three straight in the rivalry game. Nevada (3-10, 0-7 MW) ended the season with its sixth straight loss.

UNLV (10-2 overall, 6-1 Mountain West) earned a spot in the Mountain West championship game against Boise State on Dec. 6.

It is UNLV’s first 10-win season since 1984. Nevada experienced its second season in three years without a conference win.

The Battle of the Fremont Cannon was the 50th all-time meeting between Nevada and UNLV. Nevada has a 28-22 lead in the all-time series.

For Nevada coach Jeff Choate, it was his first loss in a rivalry game as he won four straight against Montana as coach at Montana State.

He said there will be a lot of scrutiny and some difficult conversations this coming offseason.

“One thing is clear: We have to be better defensively on third down,” Choate said. “You have to evaluate every single aspect, from the way we recruit to the way we train to the preparation of our people. Schematically speaking, what we do. This process has already begun. I’m here to win.”, but unfortunately that also means that you have to have these experiences when I say that every single aspect of this program is being examined.

Halftime

UNLV led around the clock at halftime.

Nevada tied the score at 7-7 in the first quarter on a 45-yard pass from Brendon Lewis to Cortez Braham. But that was all the Wolfpack could muster until Jaden Smith caught a 20-yard pass from Lewis one-handed with 1 minute, 19 seconds left.

Some statistics

Lewis was 27 of 37 for 292 yards and two touchdowns and one interception, all career bests. He was also the Pack’s leading rusher with 30 yards on 16 carries. He still has one year of eligibility left.

UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, who took over the starting role in mid-September, was 14 of 21 for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

UNLV had two 100-yard rushers, Jai’den Thomas with 135 yards and a touchdown and Williams with 104 yards and a TD on 10 carries.

UNLV had 519 total yards compared to 359 for Nevada.

Nevada was 2-for-10 on third down conversions, while UNLV was 8-for-12. The Rebels averaged 8.2 yards per play while the Wolfpack averaged 5.4 yards.

Choate said UNLV had a lot of team speed.

“We didn’t handle it well on the perimeter of our defense all night,” Choate said. “We were able to put together some rides, but weren’t able to consistently complete them the way we wanted. You can’t really sugarcoat it.”

The 24-point loss was Nevada’s worst in the series with UNLV since a 48-13 loss in 2004.

Nevada posted a season-high six sacks in the contest.

Nevada finished the night with 67 rushing yards, the sixth time this season it was held under 100.

UNLV’s 351 rushing yards is the season-high by a Nevada opponent and the second straight game in which a Wolf Pack opponent posted over 300 yards (Air Force had 318 on November 23).

Smith and Cortez Braham Jr. finished their college careers with one touchdown each – Smith finished the game with nine catches for 92 yards and a score, while Braham Jr. caught two balls for 56 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown.

Nevada linebacker Stone Combs recorded a career-high 12 tackles on Saturday, one game after setting his career-high with 11 against Air Force (Nov. 23).

Nevada had six penalties for 64 yards, while UNLV had six penalties for 35 yards.

The Wolfpack earned one more win than in the previous two seasons while playing the 20th toughest schedule in the country.

Mountain West Championship

Boise State, ranked No. 11, will host No. 22 UNLV in the 2024 Old Trapper Mountain West Football Championship on Friday at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The game will be a rematch of the 2023 title fight.

Boise State has an 11-1 overall record and went 7-0 in MW play to earn the right to host the title game. The Broncos have won 10 straight games and 11 straight games at home.

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UNLV beats Nevada for its third straight win in a rivalry game

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