FSM Essential Recap: Week 9 - UNLV vs New Mexico

FSM Essential Recap: Week 9- UNLV vs New Mexico

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UNLV Rebels (1-8) | New Mexico Lobos (3-9)

 

The Rebels won their first game under head coach Marcus Arroyo, 31-17 over New Mexico Saturday night. 

 

UNLV snapped a 14-game losing streak Saturday night and saw their senior runningback make history. The Lobos scored first on their initial possession, but UNLV quickly turned two fumble recoveries into a 14-7 lead, en route to posting 17 points off turnovers compared to zero for the hosts.

Running back Charles Williams became UNLV’s all-time leading rusher during the game. The Chuck Wagon scored two short touchdowns, and true freshman quarterback Cameron Friel tossed two scores in the first half (15 yards to Las Vegas product Marcus Phillips Jr. and 75 yards to Kyle Williams) to account for the four Rebel TDs. Daniel Gutierrez’s 26-yard field goal wrapped up the visitors’ scoring.

The 2020 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, Kyle Williams, turned in his second 100-yard receiving game in the last three outings, finishing with seven catches for 137 yards, including the long score. Friel, who was not sacked in this game, completed 20 of 33 attempts for 227 yards and two touchdowns, as UNLV won the passing-yard battle 227-36.

Linebacker Jacoby Windmon led all tacklers with 12 total, including one of eight UNLV quarterback sacks.

 

Liberty High School product Kyle Beaudry filled in for injured starter Austin Ajiake.

 

Beaudry started his first game as a Rebel, and the junior linebacker did not disappoint. The former Liberty Patriot standout forced two critical first-half fumbles, recovering one, posting ten total tackles, and creating 1.5 quarterback sacks.

The win marks the first for head coach Marcus Arroyo. After leading by four at halftime, the Rebel defense held New Mexico scoreless the rest of the game to earn the win.

“I’m just proud of my team — proud of these guys and the coaches and the staff to hang in there. I think I’ve said it from the beginning, hanging in there when things aren’t going your way, it says a lot about your character as a team, as a program.” UNLV football head coach Marcus Arroyo “It’s so easy nowadays with the influences and outside pressures and the talk to quit. It’s so easy for someone to say something and the guys to believe it, so it’s a lot tougher to go back to work when things aren’t going your way. It just says a lot about our group and where we are headed. We’ve got more.”

 

Running back Charles Williams moved to the top of the UNLV record books.

 

Williams became his school’s all-time rushing leader during the third quarter with an 11-yard gain. He passed Tim Cornett, who rushed for 3,733 yards from 2010-13. Williams is only the second man to hold the title of UNLV rushing king since Mike Thomas became the record-holder in 1974 (3,149). Williams now has 3,763 yards in his run as a Rebel.

Williams needed 45 yards to pass Cornett for the all-time record, and he finished with 74 and two scores for UNLV. Williams has rushed for ten touchdowns this season and 29 in his career.

In typical Williams fashion, he didn’t make a big deal of it once he broke the record during the game. Instead, he ran the ball again for a short gain, went to the sideline, and was congratulated by coach Arroyo and a few of his teammates. However, Williams did say a few weeks ago that he was looking forward to breaking the record and getting it out of the way. In a text message after the game, Williams said, “I am blessed to become the (all-time) leading rusher. I couldn’t have gotten to this point without all my family, coaches, and teammates, so I thank them. Now I want us to finish out the year with some more wins, and I want to get to 4,000 career rushing yards.”

 

UNLV returns home for two straight home dates at Allegiant Stadium. First up the Rebels host Hawai’i on Saturday with kickoff at 1. The game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.

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– Joe Arrigo

– Franchise Sports Media

Follow Joe on Twitter @JoeArrigoFSM

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