Live coverage: UNLV tops UTEP, wraps non-conference play at 3-1

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 | 12:34 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 | 9:25 p.m.

UNLV football is halfway to a bowl game.

The Scarlet and Gray finished off UTEP with a strong fourth quarter, securing a 45-28 win to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Senior running back Courtney Reese planted the dagger midway through the fourth, breaking free for a 32-yard touchdown run to make it 42-28 in favor of the visitors.

UNLV dominated on the ground, finishing with 306 rushing yards as a team; freshman Jai'Den Thomas accounted for 100 yards and four touchdowns, while senior Vincent Davis rolled for 97 yards.

With three wins UNLV is now halfway to acquiring the six necessary to qualify for the postseason. The last time the Scarlet and Gray played in a bowl game was the 2013 season.

With the non-conference portion of the schedule complete, UNLV will host Hawaii next week in the first Mountain West contest for both teams.

UNLV leads UTEP heading into fourth quarter

Heading into the fourth quarter, UNLV is holding onto a 28-21 lead over UTEP, with a chance to create some breathing room.

On the final play of the third quarter, freshman running back Jai'Den Thomas took a handoff and flashed up the middle for 46 yards, giving UNLV a 1st-and-goal from the 8-yard line to start the final quarter. Thomas has had a fantastic night, carrying 10 times for 84 yards and three touchdowns.

UTEP scored on the opening drive of the second half to trim UNLV's 14-point advantage. The Scarlet and Gray had a chance to answer on an 18-play, 77-yard drive, but freshman QB Jayden Maiava was intercepted inside the 10-yard line.

If UNLV can finish off this drive, all they'll have to do in the fourth quarter is protect a 14-point lead to secure another big win.

Strong finish to first half, UNLV takes 28-14 lead

The first half was riddled with sloppy plays by UNLV, but they pulled it together in the closing minutes of the half, scoring twice in the final minutes to take a 28-14 lead into the locker room.

The game was tied, 14-14, when Jayden Maiava feathered a pass over the middle to Ricky White, who raced 53 yards down the left side. White was tackled from behind at the 1, and Donavyn Lester walked into the end zone on the next play to give UNLV the lead.

UTEP's ensuing drive was disastrous, as UNLV cornerback Cameron Oliver stepped in front of a sideline pass for his first interception of the season. Taking over at the 32-yard line, UNLV needed just six plays before Jai'Den Thomas scored on a 6-yard run to make it 28-14.

The Scarlet and Gray offense has been operating at a high level. Thomas now has three touchdowns on the night, and Vincent Davis has 93 yards on 10 carries. UNLV is averaging 8.0 yards per play.

Defensively, UNLV has been just as dominant, forcing UTEP into eight negative plays already — and that's not including a blocked punt and Oliver's interception.

If UNLV can clean up the penalties in the second half, they'll have an excellent chance of improving to 3-1.

UNLV football has early lead at UTEP

UNLV's ground game is starting to gain momentum, and at the end of the first quarter the Scarlet and Gray have a 14-7 lead at UTEP.

The Miners went the length of the field and scored a 1-yard QB sneak touchdown to tie the score at 7-7, and UNLV answered right back with a scoring drive of its own. Running back Vincent Davis got it started by snapping off a 56-yard run, and freshman Jai'Den Thomas capped it with a 17-yard TD scamper.

Thomas now has two touchdowns on the night.

If UNLV can clean up its defense, they could create some separation. They allowed UTEP to convert a 3rd-and-18 early on their scoring drive, and they allowed UTEP to convert another long third down on their current drive via a roughing-the-passer penalty on linebacker Jackson Woodard.

Punt block gives UNLV 7-0 lead at UTEP

UNLV's special teams units continue to come up big, as a punt block has just given the visitors a 7-0 lead at UTEP.

UTEP went 3-and-out on its first drive, and Cameren Jenkins broke through the line to stuff the punt attempt on fourth down. Zavier Carter recovered deep in UTEP territory, and it didn't take long for UNLV to cash in; on the next play, Jai'Den Thomas ran for a 12-yard touchdown.

It's the second straight game a blocked punt has led directly to a touchdown for the Scarlet and Gray.

Jayden Maiava did draw the start at quarterback, as expected. He led UNLV to midfield on its first possession, but the drive stalled. Maiava is 2-of-3 for 12 yards, though both of his completions were essentially handoffs. 

Brumfield out, Maiava making first start

UNLV is on the field for pregame warmups, and injured quarterback Doug Brumfield is nowhere to be found. Redshirt freshman Jayden Maiava is leading the position group and will get his first career start against UTEP.

Brumfield suffered injured ribs early last week against Vanderbilt, and Maiava stepped in to finish the contest, leading UNLV to a comeback win.

Brumfield's status was up in the air all week; head coach Barry Odom said Brumfield is still the starter if he's healthy, but he is clearly not ready to take the field.

Maiava overcame a late interception to turn in a very productive line against Vanderbilt, posting 261 passing yards and a touchdown.

UNLV football riding high at UTEP

The UNLV football team will look to nab its second straight non-conference win on Saturday when they travel to UTEP (4 p.m., ESPN+). Can the Scarlet and Gray win on the road to improve to 3-1 on the season?

Three keys to watch:

Quarterback question

It’s only Week 4, but UNLV is already running into quarterback questions.

Starting QB and team captain Doug Brumfield was knocked out of last week’s game after taking a hard hit on a sack, and his status for Saturday remains uncertain. If he’s unable to go, the Scarlet and Gray will turn to Jayden Maiava, the redshirt freshman who led the team to victory over Vanderbilt.

Head coach Barry Odom sounded confident in the backup plan, if it comes to that. Maiava’s first extended playing time produced enough highlights (deep completions to Jacob De Jesus and Ricky White in crunch time) to outweigh his rookie mistakes, like a last-minute interception that fortunately did not come back to haunt.

If Brumfield is too sore to take the field, look for UNLV to let Maiava air it out again.

Big-play Jerrae

The UNLV defense hasn’t been consistent this season, but the unit has survived by creating big plays. That’s by design, according to senior linebacker Elijah Shelton.

Shelton was one half of the biggest defensive play of last week’s game; he forced a fumble in the second quarter that was recovered by Jerrae Williams and returned 41 yards for a touchdown.

Through three games, the Scarlet and Gray have forced six turnovers.

“That’s really been an emphasis this year,” Shelton said. “They’re eventually going to show up [in games] when keep doing it day in and day out in practice.”

Williams has been the driving force from his slot corner position, blitzing and creating havoc on both sides of the line of scrimmage. The senior has 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, an interception and the fumble recovery that went the distance against Vanderbilt.

UNLV is likely going to need Williams and the rest of the defense to make some game-changing palys against UTEP.

“It just comes down to practice,” Shelton said. “With Jerrae, you see Jerrae everywhere in practice, running to the ball. Good things happen when you run to the ball. Everyone that’s in on those plays, it’s not just by luck. Some of it is luck, but most of it is due to your practice habits.”

UTEP two-step

The defensive gameplan against UTEP is pretty streamlined: Put the Miners in third-and-long situations and have some fun.

It sounds simple, but executing will be a different story. UTEP’s top two running backs, Deion Hankins and Torrance Burgess, both average better than five yards per carry, so much of UNLV’s attention will be aimed at limiting them — especially on early downs.

According to Shelton, UNLV will load up to stop the run, then unleash its playmakers in an effort to create big plays in obvious passing situations.

“The big focus is the run,” Shelton said. “Once you stop the run, you make them pass, and that’s when the fun happens on third down and long.”

What: UNLV (2-1) at UTEP (1-3)

When: Saturday, 6 p.m.

TV: ESPN+

Radio: 1100AM, 100.9FM

Line: UNLV -2.5

UNLV leaders

Passing

Jayden Maiava: 60.9%, 369 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Rushing

Jai’Den Thomas: 111 yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 3 TDs

Receiving

Ricky White: 16 receptions, 201 yards, 0 TDs

Defense

Jerrae Williams: 16 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 1 INT

UTEP leaders

Passing

Gavin Hardison: 60.2%, 722 yards, 4 TDs, 4 INTs

Rushing

Deion Hankins: 289 yards, 5.3 yards per carry, 1 TD

Receiving

Tyrin Smith: 19 receptions, 191 yards, 1 TD

Defense

Tyrice Knight: 51 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks 

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