Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Ray Brewer:

Instant Analysis: After another ugly UNLV loss, beating UNR should be team’s sole focus

UNLV surrenders 542 yards against Air Force, falls to 2-8 overall

UNLV vs. Air Force

John Locher / AP

UNLV wide receiver Devante Davis (81) catches a pass over Air Force defensive back Gavin McHenry (20) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Las Vegas. Air Force won 48-21. (AP Photo/John Locher)

UNLV vs. Air Force

Air Force defensive back Jordan Mays, back, breaks up a potential touchdown pass intended for UNLV wide receiver Devonte Boyd (83) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Launch slideshow »

This game got ugly fast for the UNLV football team.

The Rebels drove 75 yards in 13 plays to open the game today against Air Force to take a quick lead on Blake Decker’s 11-yard touchdown run.

UNLV 7, Air Force 0. And just five minutes into the game.

The Rebels, who entered with two wins, appeared to have a fighter’s chance for one of the rare times this season. Well, not so fast.

Air Force scored 24 unanswered points to squash any chances of a victory, doing whatever it wanted offensively against UNLV’s overwhelmed defense in a 48-21 win. Air Force, which in the first half racked up 288 yards (193 on the ground), scored on its initial six possessions.

By halftime, when Air Force led 31-14, the only thing in doubt was how many points the Falcons would win by. Then, to open the second half, Air Force needed just four plays and 72 seconds to score.

Simply put, UNLV is one of the nation’s worst football teams. And, even worse, there are no signs of the program fixing its problems in the near future.

Here are some observations from the game:

What went wrong: Where to start? UNLV’s defense, which entered ranked No. 111 in points allowed, was as bad as advertised. Air Force rushed for 386 yards and gained 542 total yards. It punted just once in the initial three quarters before reserves were inserted for both teams. UNLV’s offensive line was also miserable. Again. The Rebels surrendered five sacks and eight tackles for a loss, and their quarterbacks were pressured numerous other times. Decker, after being drilled seemingly all season because of the line's inadequacies, was knocked out of the game in the third quarter.

Decker wildly inconsistent: At this point in the season, when the Rebels (2-8 overall) are guaranteed to finish with a losing record, the remaining games need to be about determining what pieces they have moving forward. The junior Decker is clearly the best quarterback on the roster, which, unless he improves in the offseason, will likely signal another losing season in 2015. Decker has more interceptions (14) than touchdown passes (nine) and hasn’t been able to settle into a rhythm all season. Some games he’s serviceable; others he’s overwhelmed. Sure, he’s been without his top target of Devante Davis most of the season, and injuries on the offensive line have made him a tackling dummy some weeks. But he’s had 10 games to prove himself and isn’t showing many signs of getting better. It’s just impossible to say how much of his struggles are the result of no pass protection.

Welcome back, Devante: In a game of miscues, there was one bright spot for UNLV. Wide receiver Devante Davis returned to the lineup after missing five games with a wrist injury, catching six passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. It was his 21st career receiving touchdown, which is third-best in school history. It was also his 10th career game of more than 100 receiving yards. Davis, a senior, could have entered the NFL Draft after last season. He could have also transferred to another school when the Rebels were briefly banned from competing for a bowl. While sticking it out at UNLV didn’t go as planned, Davis is clearly making the most of his last few games. That gives UNLV faithful one reason to be optimistic in the final three games.

What’s left to play for? Forget about playing for pride or to develop players for next season. The lone focus for UNLV needs to be beating UNR on Nov. 29 in the Fremont Cannon rivalry game. UNLV has games at BYU and Hawaii in the upcoming weeks. Wins there would be a welcome change, but the only saving grace for the season would be retaining possession of the Cannon. Beat UNR and salvage the season. Have an embarrassing effort like today against Air Force, and the natives will surely be calling for a head coaching change. Something, after all, needs to drastically change with Rebel football.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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