FSM Essential Recap: Week 5 - UNLV vs UTSA

FSM Essential Recap: Week 5 – UNLV vs UTSA

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UNLV Rebels (0-5) | UTSA Roadrunners (5-0)

 

 

The Rebels headed to San Antonio to take on the Roadrunners for their Week 5 matchup. In the last game before their bye week, UNLV put up a good fight against the Roadrunners, who remain undefeated on the season after a 24-17 win.

 

The Rebels had to go without their starting quarterback Doug Brumfield, as well as Tate Martell, so Cam Friel started the game against UTSA. The first 10 minutes of the game saw each team holding each other without a score. That changed when UTSA quarterback Frank Harris opened the scoring with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Cephus to make it a 7-0. UNLV would quickly answer back with a drive that lasted just 17 seconds. Friel threw a deep bomb on a skinny post to a wide-open Steve Jenkins for a 63-yard touchdown to tie the game.

On their next drive, the Rebels would settle for a field goal from kicker Daniel Gutierrez. The 34-yard kick was successful to give the Rebels a 10-7 lead six minutes into the second quarter. While the Roadrunners got deep into Rebels territory on their ensuing drive, the UNLV defense was able to hold them back enough to force a 25-yard field goal attempt from UTSA kicker Hunter Duplessis, tying the game at 10 apiece.

The next Rebels possession would shift the momentum in the game, as a five-play drive ended with an interception by Tariq Woolen of the Roadrunners to regain possession with 6:02 left in the second quarter. 12 plays into the drive and UTSA running back Sincere McCormick punched in the touchdown from the one-yard line.

 

The Roadrunners took a 14-9 lead at halftime. The Rebels would get the ball to start the second half.

 

Both teams traded punts to start the second half. That was followed by each team turning the ball over on downs after they both failed to convert on a 4th-and-1 in the opponent’s territory. The ensuing possession for UNLV only lasted three plays and went without gain as Cam Friel threw his second interception of the game, this one to Jahmal Sam of the Roadrunners. UTSA took advantage of the turnover with a 31-yard passing touchdown from Harris to De’Corian Clark.

The third quarter ended with another turnover committed by the Rebels, as Friel lost a fumble that was recovered by Lorenzo Dantzler of the Roadrunners. The score was in favor of UTSA 24-10 after three quarters.

UTSA took the possession into the fourth quarter, but the Roadrunners failed to capitalize on the fumble recovery, as a 33-yard field goal attempt from Duplessis was no good. The Rebels took over from their own 20-yard line, needing a score to get back into the game.

The next drive for the Rebels lasted 6:43, with the 15th play of the drive ending with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Justin Rogers to Zyell Griffin to cut the Roadrunner lead to 24-17. Rogers entered the game when Friel was injured on a failed attempt to pick up a first down on a quarterback sneak.

UTSA took their time to methodically march down the field on their next possession. The Roadrunners melted over five minutes off the game clock while looking to put the game away. UNLV’s defense forced a 45-yard field goal attempt from Duplessis, which went wide left.  This was UTSA’s second missed field goal of the game and gave the Rebels one last shot to tie the game.

The drive started with a 16-yard completion from Friel to Jenkins, resulting in a 1st-and-10. Two plays later, the Rebels got another first down from a 16-yard completion to Charles Williams. After three straight incomplete passes, the Rebels needed to convert on 4th-and-10. The UTSA defense stepped up as Clarence Hicks and DeQuarius Henry sacked Friel to end the game and secure the 24-17 win for the Roadrunners.

 

Next week UNLV is off for their bye week. The Rebels return to action on October 16th at home in Allegiant Stadium against the Utah State Aggies. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 4:00 and can be seen on CBS Sports Network.

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– Matt Dobbs

– Franchise Sports Media

Follow Matt on Twitter @RecordBowlerFSM

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