Blog: Rebels fight back but come up short, losing 42-21 at UCLA

By Taylor Bern

Published Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 | 2 a.m.

Updated Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 | 8:16 p.m.

The Rebels were in it until they weren’t, going into the fourth quarter down only seven but eventually losing 42-21 thanks to a few unfortunate turn of events.

The big one was safety Kenny Keys getting ejected for a hit that would’ve been a big stop for the Rebels and instead helped UCLA continue its touchdown drive. After that the Rebels’ offense couldn’t muster much and had to punt, and UCLA casually marched down field for another score capped by a Josh Rosen rushing score.

UNLV had a lot of bright spots — Lexington Thomas was solid again, the defense held UCLA to 12 yards in the third quarter — but it ran out of gas and eventually the Bruins’ physicality became too much.

Junior quarterback Johnny Stanton threw two interceptions and had three other throws that easily could have been picked off. But he also made some nice tosses and rushed for 47 yards and a score on 10 carries.

This was a mostly positive night for UNLV because it fought through what could have been a blowout and put itself in position to win, but Tony Sanchez and company won’t feel good about any moral victories after getting this close.

UNLV travels to Central Michigan next week. Check lasvegassun.com later tonight for a full report from tonight’s game.

The one thing today’s UNLV game has in common with last week’s 50-point victory is that the outcome shouldn’t automatically be a judgment on the Rebels.

UNLV was clearly the better team entering last week’s season-opener against Jackson State, and it’s clearly the underdog today against UCLA. The game kicks off at 5:07 p.m. at the Rose Bowl and will air on Pac-12 Network.

If things play to the line, which has UCLA favored by 26.5, it doesn’t have to impact the rest of UNLV’s season because the competition level drops after this. At the same time, playing the game close into the fourth quarter could give the team a confidence boost similar to that of starting the year 1-0.

OFFENSE

There’s not much more UNLV quarterback Johnny Stanton could have done in his first Division I start. Now what’s he going to have in his first start against another Division I team?

In his debut against an overmatched foe, Stanton went 10-of-12 with 217 yards and three touchdowns, all of them to junior receiver Devonte Boyd.

UCLA fell out of the top-25 polls following an overtime loss at Texas A&M, and now the Bruins will be looking for a rebound. Last year they were able to effectively end the game in the first half, and in today’s home opener they’ll try to do the same.

The key difference on UNLV’s side is a bigger offensive line and a different (better?) quarterback. Junior Kurt Palandech, who’s available only in an emergency situation today because of a shoulder injury, had to enter in the first quarter last year and couldn’t muster any momentum all game.

UNLV will try to get things started with the run game, but at some point Stanton is going to be in some key third down situations or big-play opportunities. What’s going to happen?

It’s too early for anything declarative on Stanton, which makes this exciting or terrifying depending on your disposition.

DEFENSE

The lack of a significant pass rush against Jackson State wasn’t an issue. It will definitely be a problem if the same thing happens at UCLA.

The Bruins’ rushing attack did whatever it wanted in last year’s matchup and they’re once again formidable, but UNLV’s top concern has to be getting some kind of pressure on sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen.

Defensive end Antonio Zepeda had UNLV’s lone sack in last week’s victory, but coach Tony Sanchez said he wasn’t concerned because he felt the Rebels got a lot of pressure throughout the night. That absolutely has to be the case against the Bruins, or else Rosen is going to have plenty of time to target a secondary that lost several one-on-one battles to Jackson State.

Once they get into Mountain West play, the Rebels will run into a lot of quarterbacks who don’t pose the same threat. Today, Rosen is the primary concern, and the dirtier his jersey the better for UNLV.

SPECIAL TEAMS

What does it take to win as nearly a four-touchdown underdog? One of the best ways is big plays in special teams, especially the return game.

Cornerback Torry McTyer and receiver Darren Woods Jr. each handled two kick returns against Jackson State, and both of them averaged nearly 30 yards per return. Woods, especially, seems capable of breaking loose at any moment.

I think UNLV is going to be within two scores in the third quarter, and part of the reason that’s going to happen is that one of these guys is going to break a return of at least 50 yards. If the Rebels don’t create big momentum shifts in special teams, then this game might look a lot closer to last year’s meeting than most expect.

Vegas Connections

One of Sanchez’s former Gorman players, running back Nate Starks, had 35 yards on six carries against UNLV last season. Starks might see his first action of the season tonight, but only UCLA coach Jim Mora knows and he’s not divulging much.

“I’d have to decide to play him,” Mora said on Starks’ availability.

Starks, who was kicked out of Gorman prior to his senior season, didn’t travel to last week’s loss at Texas A&M for undisclosed reasons. Last year as a sophomore, Starks piled up 369 total yards and six total touchdowns.

Also, UCLA wide receivers coach Eric Yarber held the same position at UNLV in 1997 under coach Jeff Horton.

Quotable

“Once the game starts you don’t think about it much, but when you look back on your career, I’m sure for the players and coaches and everybody, if you love the game you love those iconic places. So being at the Big House, Rose Bowl, things like that, those are neat things.”

— Sanchez on UNLV playing gat the Rose Bowl a year after going to Michigan’s Big House

Song and Beer Recommendation

The game may be in Pasadena but Long Beach is your music and beer destination. Get ready for the game by listening to Long Beach rapper Vince Staples’ new album, Prima Donna, starting with the song “War Ready”, and enjoy a Pablo Escobeer (Colombian coffee porter, 5.8 percent ABV) or Robusta Ryhmes (robust porter, 7 percent ABV) from Beachwood BBQ and Brewery, the Best Large Brewpub in the World according to the 2016 World Beer Cup.

Random Stat

In last year’s meeting, UNLV’s offense had one of its worst performances in several years. The Rebels’ three points were the fewest since they were shutout 37-0 at UNR in 2011, and their 11 first downs were the fewest since a 58-13 home loss to Arizona in 2013.

Game Predictions

Ray Brewer

UCLA 41, UNLV 23

(0-1 ATS, 1-0 SU)

Case Keefer

UCLA 42, UNLV 17

(0-1 ATS, 1-0 SU)

Jesse Granger

UCLA 42, UNLV 24

(0-1 ATS, 1-0 SU)

Taylor Bern

UCLA 39, UNLV 19

(0-1 ATS, 1-0 SU)

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