UNLV’s Lexington Thomas (3) leaps over a Hawaii defender into the end zone securing the win at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
Published Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 | 2 p.m.
Updated Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 | 6:41 p.m.
UNLV 41, Hawaii 21
Game over
Keith Whitely and Lexington Thomas each eclipsed 100 rushing yards, receiver Devonte Boyd went for 120 yards and a touchdown and the defense came up with a couple of fourth-down stops that helped UNLV pull out a 41-21 victory against Hawaii.
It snaps a three-game losing streak for the Rebels and moves them over the preseason win total (2.5). The Rebels still have road trips to Colorado State and Wyoming plus the home finale on Nov. 21 against San Diego State.
UNLV's running game had success from the start. The problem was so did Hawaii as Paul Harris piled up nearly 200 yards on the ground. The Rebels' defense looked about as bad as it has all season, but in the fourth quarter that unit came up with the necessary plays to hold of Hawaii and the Rebels eventually pulled away.
Check lasvegassun.com later tonight for a full report from the Rebels' victory.
The Rebel Room
What Could Have Been and What Shall Be
UNLV football kept things close with Boise State until it didn't, and now sports writers Case Keefer and Taylor Bern say eclipsing the 2.5 season win total very much relies on this week's game against a Hawaii team that just fired its coach. In basketball, Las Vegas Sun sports editor Ray Brewer tries to explain why he's so confident in this year's team and ends up just yelling about how a really good Utah State team isn't any good.
More Coverage
You can expect a beautiful afternoon for UNLV’s homecoming game today against Hawaii. What to expect on the field is anyone’s guess.
The Rainbow Warriors (2-7, 0-5) come into Las Vegas off a home blowout to Air Force that cost fourth-year coach Norm Chow his job. Now interim coach Chris Naeole, a former NFL offensive lineman, has made some changes to the captains and the quarterback in an effort to inject some life into Hawaii down the stretch.
The game kicks off at 3:07 p.m. and will stream on the Mountain West Network.
UNLV (2-6, 1-3) has lost three straight since winning the Fremont Cannon, and if they don’t get the victory as a sizable favorite today it’s possible the Rebels won’t eclipse their preseason 2.5 win total.
After this it’s a road trip to Colorado State, San Diego State at home and then at Wyoming. None of those matchups are impossible and UNLV is probably a better team than Wyoming, but the road brings with it some doubt, as do the Rebels’ late-game collapses the last three games.
Toss out the game against Boise State, which is simply the better team, but the issues against San Jose State and Fresno State have not exactly been solved. That’s because many of them are related to depth and UNLV’s overall penchant for running out of gas.
One way to combat that is by building a bigger lead, something the offense wasn’t able to do under sophomore Kurt Palandech against San Jose State and Fresno State. Senior quarterback Blake Decker is listed as questionable today and his status could very well determine the Rebels’ fate.
Bern’s prediction: UNLV is a 9.5-point favorite, the biggest they’ve been since 2010. The Rebels are going to make it four straight wins against Hawaii in Las Vegas, but it’s going to be an ugly one. UNLV 29, Hawaii 25
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.
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