Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

UNLV football:

Take 5: Rested Rebels prepare to hit the road for trip to Utah State

UNLV vs. Fresno State

AP Photo/John Locher

UNLV Rebels defensive lineman Mike Hughes Jr. (99) celebrates after his team defeated the Fresno State Bulldogs in overtime of an NCAA college football game Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, in Las Vegas. The Rebels won 30-27.

The Rebel Room

Out on the Dancefloor

Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Case Keefer, Ray Brewer and Taylor Bern debate UNLV football's remaining number of victories and reflect on the basketball showcase while preparing for this weekend's Life is Beautiful music festival.

With the bye week behind them, the Rebels begin the second half of their season Saturday afternoon at Utah State. The game kicks off at 1:02 p.m. Las Vegas time and will air on ESPNews.

As of Thursday evening, the Rebels were getting 17 points, which is only the fourth-biggest underdog they’ve been this year. The biggest reason the number isn’t bigger is that Utah State is without its top two quarterbacks, although UNLV (2-5, 1-2) is also coming off its best performance of the season paired with an extra week to rest up and prepare.

Here’s a look at the five most important questions or factors heading into the Rebels’ road trip:

1. Are the Rebels down with the blowout losses?

Depending on how you view a Taysom Hill-less BYU, Utah State (4-3, 1-1) is probably the best team remaining on UNLV’s schedule. The Rebels have already been knocked around by lesser teams (Houston, San Jose State) because UNLV couldn’t get out of its own way or keep its offense on the field.

That changed two weeks ago at home in the 30-27 overtime victory against Fresno State. Some of that is due to the opponent, sure, but the Rebels had already played middling teams and gotten blown off the field. This was different largely because of the sustained offensive drives.

Those kept the defense fresher, which helped the Rebels avoid letting the game get out of hand in the second half. Aberration or the new normal? That will depend on the answer to this:

2. Did the Rebels’ offense figure something out?

With the exception of Blake Decker’s first-half overthrown interception, the UNLV offense played its best overall game against Fresno State. Decker completed passes to nine receivers, and running back Keith Whitely tallied 87 yards on 18 attempts.

The Rebels are the only team in Division I to not lose a fumble, and their 86 plays against the Bulldogs were a season high. Now they are trying to do the same thing against a defense that, on paper, is significantly better than Fresno State's.

A realistic goal for UNLV’s offense is probably somewhere between their past two performances. It’s unreasonable to expect the exact same production against Utah State that they had against Fresno State, but they also can’t slip back into the one-drive-and-done offense that’s appeared most of the season.

A key to finding some of that success requires this:

3. Avoid the Vigils, at least in the backfield

The Brothers ’Backer — Zach, a senior, and sophomore Nick Vigil — lead the Aggies defense, and they’re one of the best duos in the country.

Zach Vigil ranks first in the Mountain West and 10th in the country in tackles for loss (1.6 per game), and he’s second in the league in total tackles (11 per game). Nick Vigil is right behind, ranking third in the league in total tackles (9.9 per game) and fourth in tackles for loss (1.1 per game).

Obviously those two are going to make some stops. The Vigils’ combined 147 tackles make up 28 percent of the team’s total tackles, but their real talent is blowing up plays in the backfield. If they get loose a few times, the Rebels aren’t going to have much chance to keep their drives going.

And in that case, it wouldn’t matter as much if they can accomplish this:

The Rebel Room

Life is Beautiful Preview

Las Vegas Sun reporters Case Keefer and Taylor Bern toss aside sports for the day to get into the anticipated highs and lows of this weekend's Life is Beautiful festival in downtown Las Vegas.

4. Stopping Utah State’s running game

Utah State is one of only two teams with a lower yards-per-game rushing total than UNLV at 132.7. Of course, the Rebels’ rushing defense is one of the 10 worst in the country, allowing 276 yards per game.

It’s even more important for UNLV to excel in that area in this game because Utah State is going with senior Craig Harrison at quarterback. Harrison has years of practice experience, but most of his in-game performances have been mop-up duty with only one career start to this point.

If the Aggies can lean on the running game, they will do so to take pressure off Harrison. That’s something the Rebels can’t allow to happen if they’re going to keep this within reach.

Then there’s this:

5. If the Rebels are in position, can they finish?

This doesn’t have to mean win the game. The Fresno State game was the first fourth quarter in which UNLV had been competitive since Sept. 13 against Northern Illinois. Although the Rebels got the victory, it was far from a clean finish.

UNLV got help from a missed extra point that let them settle for a game-tying field goal, then went to overtime only after missing a chip shot field goal attempt. It was very possible for the Rebels to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

If this game is within a couple of possessions heading into the fourth quarter, progress could be UNLV’s ability to keep it in that range. With home games against New Mexico and Air Force coming up, the Rebels need to get momentum out of this road trip even if it’s not a win, and a strong finish would qualify.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.

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