Game Day: UNLV football routs UNR for fourth straight win

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 | 2 a.m.

Updated Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 | 5:09 p.m.

UNLV will keep the Fremont Cannon for another year.

The Scarlet and Gray came into this game as big favorites, and they played like it, building a 28-7 lead at the half and rolling over UNR for an easy 45-27 victory.

It is UNLV's fourth straight win, moving Barry Odom's squad to 5-1 on the season and 2-0 in the Mountain West. With the second half of the schedule still to play, UNLV needs just one more win in order to qualify for a bowl game.

While UNLV's defense generated three turnovers and recorded three sacks, the offense consistently churned out big-yardage plays against UNR's bottom-ranked defense. The visitors averaged 7.1 yards per play and topped 250 yards rushing for the third straight contest.

Jayden Maiava was on target for most of the day, completing 20-of-25 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was Ricky White (eight catches, 174 yards, 2 TDs), and Donavyn Lester shoulder most of the workload in the backfield (nine carries, 93 yards, three TDs).

UNLV will attempt to become bowl eligible on Saturday when they host Colorado State at Allegiant Stadium.

UNLV routing UNR, cannon will stay red

This one is over; the only question now is the final margin.

UNLV received the kick to open the third quarter and only needed three plays before Donavyn Lester broke free for a 66-yard touchdown run. That made it 35-7 in favor of the visitors.

UNR did manage a touchdown on its ensuing possession, but UNLV just answered with a field goal by Jose Pizano to restore a 38-14 advantage with 1:43 left in the third.

It's been another dominant day for the Scarlet and Gray offense, as they're averaging 6.1 yards per rush and 8.3 yards per play overall. Lester is the leading ballcarrier with 92 yards and three touchdowns on only eight carries. As a team, UNLV has run for 209 yards.

UNLV leads UNR at half, 28-7

Thanks to a couple big plays late in the half, UNLV has blown this game wide open and will take a 28-7 lead into the locker room.

The Scarlet and Gray were protecting a 21-7 lead with six minutes left when Jackson Woodard snagged a goal-line interception to stop UNR's momentum cold. Three plays later, UNLV faced a 3rd-and-12 from their own 18, and the play call was a deep shot down the left sideline to Ricky White.

White got good separation behind the defense, and Jayden Maiava hit him in stride for an 82-yard touchdown. Just like that, UNLV's advantage was 28-7.

White has been unstoppable today, already pulling down six catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Maiava has also played well, connecting on 12-of-16 passes for 224 yards and two TDs. Donavyn Lester has carried five times for 25 yards and a pair of scores.

UNLV will receive the kick to start the second half, with a chance to really put this one out of reach. After 30 minutes, it certainly seems as though Barry Odom's squad is heading for its fourth straight win, a 5-1 record and continued possession of the Fremont Cannon.

UNLV up 21-7 at UNR as first half winds down

UNLV has a chance to break this one open before halftime.

Donavyn Lester broke loose for a 16-yard touchdown run to give UNLV a 21-7 lead, and Jackson Woodard just snagged an interception on the goal line to keep UNR out of the end zone.

The Wolf Pack drove the length of the field and faced a 3rd-and-goal from the 5. Woodard appeared to read quarterback Brendon Lewis all the way, allowing him to jump in front of the intended receiver and make the pick.

UNLV now has a two-touchdown lead and the ball, though they'll be starting deep in their own territory. If they can convert another score before the half, though, the visitors will have to like their situation, especially since they'll be receiving the kickoff to open the second half.

UNLV stakes out 14-7 lead at UNR

It looked like UNLV might run away with this one early, but UNR has weathered an early storm, trimming the visitors' lead to 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.

UNLV went up, 14-0, on a 1-yard touchdown run by Donavyn Lester, and at that point UNR had barely managed a single first down on their two possessions. The Wolf Pack's next drive was more fruitful, however, as a breakdown in the UNLV secondary allowed Brendon Lewis to hit his receiver over the top for a 43-yard score to cut the deficit in half.

UNLV failed to respond on the ensuing possession, stalling out at midfield on a failed screen pass on third down, but punter Marshall Nichols was able to pin his kick at the 11-yard line.

A defensive stop would be key for the Scarlet and Gray as they attempt to snuff out any UNR momentum.

Maiava has looked sharp in his first game since being declared the starting quarterback, as he has hit on 9-of-12 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.

Early touchdown gives UNLV early 7-0 lead at UNR

Talk about a fast start.

UNLV forced UNR into a quick punt on the game's opening possession, then it took the Scarlet and Gray just two plays before Jayden Maiava found Ricky White for a 59-yard touchdown. Maiava rolled right on the play and found White uncovered; White turned the corner, picked up a block and covered the distance untouched.

Just like that, the visitors have a 7-0 lead and are eyeing their fourth consecutive 40-point scoring performance.

UNLV football takes win streak into rivalry game at UNR

UNLV head coach Barry Odom called Saturday’s matchup at UNR (2 p.m., Mountain West Network) the biggest game of the season to this point, and he’s right about that.

With a win today, not only would the Scarlet and Gray keep the Fremont Cannon they claimed by virtue of last year’s dramatic victory, but they’d also move within one win of qualifying for a bowl game. Add in all the rivalry stuff between the passionate fan bases, and yes, this is a huge game for resurgent UNLV.

Can Odom and his squad make it four victories in a row and keep the cannon? Three keys to watch:

Maiava is the man

Odom had been pretty steadfast in declaring that Doug Brumfield was still UNLV’s starting quarterback, and that the junior would return to the No. 1 job as soon as he was healed from the injury that kept him out for most of the past two games. But that changed this week, when offensive coordinator Brennan Marion said redshirt freshman Jayden Maiava is now the top quarterback — and will remain so until someone outplays him.

Where does that leave things for Saturday's game at UNR? UNLV should be able to win with either signal caller, simply because the offense is on a roll, having scored 40-plus points in three straight games for the first time in program history. Most of that production has been powered by the running game, which has topped 300 yards in each of the last two contests.

After UNR, things become a little less clear. Is Maiava really "the man," or will Brumfield be given a chance to win the job in practice? It's a question that could hang over the team as they head into the second half of the schedule.

Maiava has been fine in his first extended playing time, as he has completed 57.4% of his passes for 701 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He has been most impressive in getting the ball out on time, as he hasn’t taken a sack in the last two games. That was enough for the coaches to name him the starter. Now let's see how he performs as the top guy.

Can defense contain?

UNR’s passing game is among the worst in the country, ranking bottom-10 in yards per attempt (6.3), so UNLV should be okay there. Where the Scarlet and Gray defense will have to be on alert is when quarterback Brendon Lewis pulls it down and runs.

Lewis has 196 rushing yards on the year, and that’s including the lost yardage from sacks, so his true rushing number is well over 200. And given how UNLV has struggled to contain scrambling quarterbacks at times, this could become a decisive factor on Saturday.

Junior linebacker Jackson Woodard said it will be up to the defenders on the second level to keep Lewis hemmed in.

“It’s another dangerous quarterback,” Woodard said. “We’ve played a few and he might be the best we’ve seen so far at escaping the pocket. That’s a huge responsibility on the linebackers.”

Who’s got the hot hand?

One of the strengths of the UNLV offense is the deep rotation at running back. Depending on the week, it seems like any one of a handful of backs are ready to step up and post a breakout performance, whether it’s Jai’Den Thomas scoring four touchdowns at UTEP or Donavyn Lester tallying 97 yards and a score two weeks ago against Hawaii.

Odom said the offensive coaches divvy up the playing time based on practice performance, week-to-week scheme nuances, and just figuring out which guy has the hot hand.

So who will it be against UNR? Given that the Wolf Pack rank dead last in the nation in rushing defense, allowing a staggering 6.6 yards per carry, it seems likely that more than one UNLV running back will get hot on Saturday.

What: UNLV (4-1, 1-0 MWC) at UNR (0-5, 0-1 MWC)

When: Saturday, 2 p.m.

TV: Mountain West Network, Silver State Entertainment Network (TV Channel 5.2, Cox Channel 125)

Radio: 1100AM, 100.9FM

Line: UNLV -9.5

UNLV leaders

Passing

Jayden Maiava: 57.4%, 701 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs

Rushing

Jai’Den Thomas: 273 yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 7 TDs

Receiving

Ricky White: 23 receptions, 319 yards, 0 TDs

Defense

Jerrae Williams: 19 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 1 INT

UNR leaders

Passing

Brendon Lewis: 59.4%, 620 yards, 0 TDs, 4 INTs

Rushing

Sean Dollars: 175 yards, 3.0 yards per carry, 2 TDs

Receiving

Jamaal Bell: 26 receptions, 247 yards, 1 TD

Defense

Emany Johnson: 22 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 2 INTs

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.