Game Recap - Week 2: UNLV vs Arkansas State

UNLV vs Arkansas State

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The Rebels are now 1-2 in the history of the two teams playing each other with their lone win coming in 1995 at Sam Boyd Stadium. They won that game 28-23 as they finished 2-9 that year under head coach Jeff Horton.

This was the first game of UNLV vs. Arkansas State at Sam Boyd since 1995.

Quarter 1

This game started off good with it being 80’s night and the team honoring former Rebel Ickey Woods. However, it soon turned ugly when Armani Rogers threw a pick-six on the Rebels’ opening drive. It didn’t get much better the next two drives, and the Red Wolves scored on their second offensive drive to lead 10-0 with 4:40 remaining in the first quarter. The tide soon turned near the end of the quarter, when Rebels starting running back Charles Williams gained 14-yards on a carry and Armani Rogers went on to gain another 14-yards. The Rebels were in business. It gave the offense some life and confidence and Rogers completed short passes up the field. The offense came alive for this drive and this drive only. Even though it was 10-0 at the end of the first quarter, it could have easily been 14-0 had Arkansas State running back Marcel Murray not tripped on a rush. Toward the end of the first quarter, the Rebels looked to have gained some life and were looking to capitalize off of a so-far successful drive. Unfortunately, the offensive line allowed two sacks in this quarter alone. 

Quarter 2

The drive that was looking successful for the Rebels at the end of the first quarter stalled and only led to a field goal.

A 43-yard pass completion to Omar Bayless on a Red Wolves’ drive, led to a fourth-down stop by UNLV after defensive back, Jericho Flowers, deflected a pass. Rayshad Jackson put immense pressure on Red Wolves’ quarterback Logan Bonner, pushing him back as he was throwing the ball. The next drive didn’t look much better with the Rebels punting on the cusp of their own endzone and allowing the Red Wolves to score and go up by 14 with 8:45 remaining in the quarter. The Red Wolves’ Ryan Graham scored another seven with 2:45 remaining in the half to lead by 20. However, the Rebels made a play after Montrice Johns blocked an extra point attempt. UNLV quarterback Armani Rogers was sacked three times in this half, which is three times more than last week when he was sacked zero times. The home crowd booed the team as they went into the tunnel for halftime.

Quarter 3

The first Red Wolf drive of the second half ended with a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Logan Bonner to Kirk Merritt on a drive that took only two minutes. The defense started looking even more tired after the break. On the Rebels’ subsequent drive, UNLV went for it on fourth down and did not convert. The Rebels scored on their next drive after Charles Williams’ 3-yard rush and 78-yard sprint down the field. The score was 30-10 with 7:55 remaining in the quarter. Williams hit the 100-yard rushing mark for the second consecutive game. After allowing a 37-yard rush on the next drive, the Rebels only gave up a field goal. Red Wolves led 33-10 with 5:55 left in the quarter. The Rebels were good when they ran the ball. However, they put themselves in the hole too often, dropping passes and allowing too many sacks on Armani Rogers, who was sacked again this quarter.

Quarter 4

The Rebels started off this quarter being sacked. Arkansas State wide receiver, Omar Bayless, scored on a 71-yard touchdown reception. That was his first touchdown of the game but second passing touchdown from quarterback Logan Bonner. It did not get much better for the Rebels who allowed six sacks on the night after only allowing three sacks total in last years’ game in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Back-up quarterback, Kenyon Oblad, would put air under the ball once he took the field and launched one pass 63-yards to Randal Grimes for a touchdown. This was the Rebels’ first receiving touchdown in the game, which brought the final score to 43-17, Red Wolves. 

Takeaways

It seemed as if The Rebels did not respect the pass or run. They allowed receivers to get wide open and backs to pick up large gains, both sides, run and pass. Arkansas State scored and did what they wanted to do against UNLV. The Rebels wished they had this one back, but it started ugly with a pick-six and ended up even uglier as the Rebels lost badly. However, running back Charles Williams gave it his all and tried to carry the Rebels on a one-man-show, rushing 19 times for 170 yards and a touchdown. Randal Grimes had a couple of bad drops in this game but ended up with a 63-yard touchdown from backup quarterback Kenyon Oblad in garbage time.

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