FSM Essential Recap: Week 4 - UNLV vs Fresno State

FSM Essential Recap: Week 4 – UNLV vs Fresno State

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UNLV Rebels (0-4) | # 24 Fresno State Bulldogs (4-1)

 

 

The Rebels traveled to Fresno to take on the Bulldogs Friday night. It was the final time running back Charles Williams would play in Bulldog Stadium. The Fresno native prepped at local powerhouse Bullard High School where he was the Central Valley’s top player his senior season.

 

The Rebels got off to a hot start. After the defense forced a Bulldogs punt, Doug Brumfield led the Rebels offense out. On the first play of the game, Brumfield took off for 37 yards to give UNLV the spark that they needed, and the first big punch of the game. A few plays later Brumfield connected with Stevie Jenkins for his first collegiate touchdown pass.

After another Bulldogs punt, UNLV went on a 95-yard drive which was capped off by a Charles Williams touchdown run. That was the 22nd touchdown run in Williams‘ career at UNLV moving into the top 6 all-time. The Rebels led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs opened the second half with a 25-yard field goal, which cut the Rebels lead to eleven at 14-3.

Brumfield went out with an injury at the end of the Rebels‘ fourth drive of the first half, and freshman Cam Friel took over for him. Chuck Williams had a very productive first half, rushing for 69 yards on ten carries before Brumfield’s injury. Without Brumfield, the Rebels offense stalled right before the half and was forced to punt. After the punt, the Bulldogs took over at the Rebels 45.

 

The Bulldogs scored a TD to make it a 14-9 Rebels halftime lead. But the story is Brumfield and the severity of his injury.

 

The injury to Brumfield was a full-body cramp. But he came in and hit Tyleek Collins for an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the 2nd half. After each team punted, the Bulldogs answered back with a touchdown of their own, to cut the UNLV lead to 21-16 with 7:35 in the third quarter.

With Brumfield’s body still cramping him, Friel came back in the game. He hit Williams on a screen pass for 50-yards to get into Bulldogs’ territory, but the Rebels were forced to punt.

Fresno State took over at their 25. Jake Heaner promptly hit Keric Wheatfall for a 55-yard gain down to the UNLV 25-yard line. Cam Olver, who gave up the long reception, got picked on again, this time for a touchdown on a Heaner pass to Jalen Cropper. The Rebels now trailed 22-21 after the Bulldogs failed 2 point conversion. The Rebels’ offense would show signs of life but suddenly stall, forcing them to punt on all but their first possession in the third quarter.

The score remained the same going into the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs continued to drive down the field and scored a touchdown on a controversial call. Cropper, who made a great catch on an even better throw from Heaner, looked as if his foot was not in-bounds. The officials went to look at the replay and decided that there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the call. The Rebels now trailed 29-21 with 12:21 to go in the game.

The Rebels would answer back. On third down, Friel escaped pressure, nearly fumbled the ball, and picked up the first down. The next play he hit Jenkins for a 44-yard gain and two plays later Courtney Reese scored from six yards out. The Rebels failed on the two-point conversion and trailed 29-27 with 9:57 to go. On the first Bulldogs play, Rebels safety Phil Hill intercepted Heaner. UNLV took over at the Bulldog’s 44-yard line with 9:36 left in the game.

Charles Williams took a screen pass down to the Bulldog 25 yard line, but the drive stalled. Daniel Gutierrez nailed a 30-yard field goal to give UNLV a 30-29 lead with 6:38 left in the game. The Bulldogs went down and scored again, with the same connection, Heaner to Cropper, and took a 35-30 lead. Friel then got hit and fumbled with the Bulldogs recovering the ball at the Rebels 21-yard line. The Bulldogs kicked a field goal to make it 38-30 with 2:29 left in the game.

UNLV had one more chance to at least try to tie the game but the Rebels couldn’t move the ball and after going four-and-out, lose to the Bulldogs 38-30. On the day, Chuck Williams had 102 yards rushing and a career-high 96 yards receiving to go along with a touchdown. The Chuck Wagon averaged nearly 110 yards rushing per game in five career matchups with the Bulldogs. The Rebels offense put up 433 yards of total offense but gave up 461.

 

Next week UNLV will travel to San Antonio Texas to take on UTSA. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 3:00 and can be seen on ESPN+  next Saturday afternoon.

UNLV vs Fresno State                 UNLV vs Fresno State                 UNLV vs Fresno State                 UNLV vs Fresno State                 UNLV vs Fresno State                 UNLV vs Fresno State                 UNLV vs Fresno State                 UNLV vs Fresno State                                                                                     

– Joe Arrigo

Follow Joe on Twitter @JoeArrigo

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