New FSM Essential Recap: UNLV vs Reno - Week 13

New FSM Essential Recap: UNLV vs UNR – Week 13

Franchise Sports Media

UNLV Rebels (4-7)  |  University of Nevada Reno (2-9)

 

The time would be now for UNLV to get off their six game losing streak with in-state rival Nevada Wolfpack making their way into Las Vegas for the season finale. Rebels lose Brumfield, refuse to be belittled as Harrison Bailey leads comeback in first half.

 

Doug Brumfield would go down with a lower-body injury in the first quarter, and as the Rebels trailed 13-0, it felt like a route was seemingly on for the UNR Wolfpack. 

After a blocked punt on the opening drive set up a scoring opening field goal from UNR, a three-and-out led to another field goal and then ultimately a Nate Cox 75-yard bomb to CJ Casteel for a touchdown. It had felt like without Brumfield behind center, and the outcome would be the same as the other outings without him, lopsided.

As the first quarter began to wind down, UNR would make a costly mistake that would change the entire momentum of the game. A fourth-and-one call to go for it from their own 45-yard line led to a triple option that went wayward on the pitch. However, Rebels safety Jonathan Baldwin would pick it up for a scoop and score to cut the UNR lead.

From that moment forward, it had felt like UNR’s message to belittle the Rebels was duly noted, and UNLV would respond behind the arm of Harrison Bailey. Bailey would connect with Kyle Williams for one of the more beautiful touchdown passes of the season, connecting for 49 yards in tight coverage for a touchdown to take the lead 14-13.

As the first half closed, each team shared multiple punts, and this game quickly became a battle of field position. Bailey would lead a drive to close the half with a Daniel Gutierrez field goal to take a 17-13 lead into the break.

 

Rebels defense finds a way to hold on and Bailey plays with no fear

 

Turnovers were the highlights of the third quarter. After UNLV held UNR to a three-and-out, Bailey tossed an interception right to a Wolfpack defender as he was absolutely flattened on the play. UNLV’s defense would stand firm, though, and hold UNR to a field goal, keeping a one-point lead at 17-16. 

After a stalled UNLV drive, Jonathan Baldwin got his hands on another ball, this time off of a tip-drill interception. UNLV would be forced to punt again but would pin the Wolfpack inside the five-yard line. As the Rebel defense forced Reno off the field, Aiden Robbins would pop for a 38-yard run to set the Rebels up inside the red zone to end the third quarter. 

UNLV would be held to a field goal to start the fourth quarter, as Gutierrez was good from 41 yards to make it a 20-16 lead. As UNR began to make a lead-taking drive, Cox was flushed out of the pocket, attempted to make a cross-body throw over the middle, and was intercepted by BJ Harris, who made an incredible diving catch. 

The interception would lead to a touchdown drive off the arm of Bailey as he lifted a ball into triple coverage to find Nick Williams for a touchdown. A truly gutsy throw by the quarterback, who was listed as the third string on the opening-day depth chart. 

Trailing 27-16, the Wolfpack would not go away easily. As on, they would go down and score to cut the lead down to 27-22; after an ugly three-and-out from the Rebels in close-out efforts, UNLV would have to lean on their defense one last time this season.

With 2:05 remaining in the season, Cox would throw out of a sack to complete a pass along the sideline to Dalevon Campbell. The Wolfpack could feel the energy turning back in their direction as Cox began to mark up the Rebels’ secondary.

Cox would have three chances to stun the Rebels from the three-yard line in a rabid comeback. It came down to a fourth and goal with Freemont Cannon on the line, when Cox would try to throw a needle low and outside at the pylon, to have it be broken up by the defensive player of the game for the Rebels, Jonathan Baldwin. 

 

UNLV ends their season on top. 

 

Nobody could have guessed that Harrison Bailey would have tossed two beautiful touchdowns and helped the Rebels get off a six-game losing streak in a relief effort. But he did, and it happened. As a result, UNLV finally found their way back into the win column.

An exuberant locker room was rightfully deserved as the Rebels took back the Freemont Canon and saw their defense return to their earlier dominant ways. With three forced turnovers and a ton of QB hits, fans saw the Rebels play a brand of ball that was reminiscent of their dominant start of the season. And it would only be right to close out their regular season with a game-saving play from their defense, which had been the broad shoulders to lean on for many months.

UNLV ended their season 5-7, the best record this far into the Marcus Arroyo era. By hanging on to defeat the Wolfpack, UNLV will hear back from the NCAA on a potential bowl game appearance. Nevertheless, their conference play has come to an end with a victory.

 

UNLV host rival UNR on Saturday inside Allegiant Stadium, kick-off is 3:00pm and can be seen on CBSS Sports network.

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– Brandon Steele – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Brandon on Twitter and IG @SteeleBomb17

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