Blog: Boise State pulls away for 55-27 victory at UNLV

By Taylor Bern

Published Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 | 10:51 a.m.

Updated Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 | 4:41 p.m.

Boise State 55, UNLV 27

Game over

Boise State leaves Las Vegas with a few records, but UNLV made the Broncos earn it. The Broncos eventually wore down the Rebels' defense and broke through with four fourth-quarter touchdowns to get out with a 55-27 victory.

Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien set a Mountain West freshman record with 469 passing yards. Eleven players caught at least one pass, including Rypien himself, who snagged a 4-yard reception on a receiver pass for Boise State's first touchdown.

In the second and third quarters especially, UNLV came up with answers for the Broncos' drives and behind senior quarterback Blake Decker the Rebels' offense showed some signs of life. Devonte Boyd finished near career highs in catches and receiving yards, and Aaron Criswell shook off a big drop early in the game to finish with 105 yards on six catches.

UNLV returns to Sam Boyd Stadium next week against Hawaii. Check lasvegassun.com later tonight for a full report from the Rebels' defeat.

The first three weeks of the season were a fight for moral victories, because few people really expected anything other than losses. Today feels like a similar battle as the team with the Mountain West’s top scoring offense, total offense, scoring defense and total defense comes into Sam Boyd Stadium.

UNLV (2-5, 1-2) vs. Boise State (6-2, 3-1) kicks off at 12:32 p.m. and will air on ESPNU.

This game could have been picked up by ESPN or ESPN2, a decision that would have netted $500,000 for Boise and $50,000 for UNLV. Two weeks ago the Broncos committed eight turnovers in a blowout at Utah State and the Rebels squandered a lead at Fresno State, and it’s possible that those setbacks altered ESPN’s decision.

Boise State had been on track for a New Year’s Day bowl game and, behind a fiery first-year coach, UNLV was in contention for a bowl game period. Both of those things are all but off the table, so while Boise State tries to refocus to win the Mountain Division, the Rebels must figure out what the rest of this season is going to be.

Next week UNLV hosts Hawaii, then it’s a trip to Colorado State, San Diego State at home and then Wyoming on the road to finish the season. The Rebels could be favored in two of those games and none are unbeatable, although the Aztecs are starting to look like I thought they would back in the preseason.

While UNLV (plus-20.5) has little chance of pulling off the upset today, there’s value in playing this one close.

Senior quarterback Blake Decker returns, and other than seeing him stay healthy the Rebels would like to see him open up their passing game, which ranks ninth in the league. The defense had its worst collective tackling performance of the season in the last game vs. Fresno State, and a bounce-back performance on that side would add some confidence with the Rainbow Warriors coming to town next weekend.

What does UNLV have in store after the bye week? It’s been a year of many firsts for Sanchez, and this is the first time we’ll get to see what he and his staff put together with an extra week to prepare. It probably won’t matter to the final outcome, but it could do a lot to affect what to expect from this team down the stretch.

Bern’s prediction: If the Rebels’ defense plays like it did in Fresno then they’re in trouble, but I think they’ll be better and UNLV will manage to keep this within the number. Boise State 37, UNLV 20

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