Live coverage: UNLV can’t stop rival UNR, drops initial game at Allegiant

By Ray Brewer (contact), Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 | 2 a.m.

Updated Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 | 10:22 p.m.

UNLV has a new stadium, coach and program outlook. But it no longer has the Fremont Cannon.

That belongs to UNR.

UNLV surrendered nine yards per play Saturday against the Wolf Pack in the inaugural college game at Allegiant Stadium, hanging tough into the second half but unable to slow down the UNR attack in a 37-19 defeat.

UNR quarterback Carson Strong make his case for Mountain West Player of the Week, completing 21 of 27 passes for 350 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Romeo Doubs had six catches for 211 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown reception in the first half.

UNLV trimmed its deficit to five points with 2:20 to play before halftime on a Max Gilliam to Tyleek Collins scoring strike, but UNR needed only five plays to quickly score and extend the lead back to double digits before the break.

And when the scarlet and gray cut the deficit to eight points on a Gilliam touchdown to Steve Jenkins late in the third quarter, UNR flexed its muscles by scoring 10 unanswered points to end the game.

Gilliam was solid in completing 27 of 40 passes for 207 yards and Charles Williams rushed for 103 yards.

While UNLV falls to 0-2 on the young season under first-year coach Marcus Arroyo, it did show improvement — the team gained 42 yards on the first possession of the game, which was more than the entire first half last week. It hosts Fresno State at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 7.

Check back later for more coverage.

UNLV cuts deficit to 8 points late in third quarter

UNLV is making things interesting in the second half against UNR in the Fremont Cannon rivalry game.

The scarlet and gray trimmed its deficit to 27-19 late in the third quarter on a 5-yard Max Gilliam to Steve Jenkins touchdown to cap a 14-play, 86-yard scoring drive.

Now, the Rebel defense has to hold up its end of the bargain — which it hasn’t done all night.

UNR has scored on five of six possessions, but on its last scoring drive, was held to a field goal after bringing the ball to the UNLV 1.

UNLV trails UNR at halftime, 24-12

The UNLV defense is giving up more than nine yards per play against UNR in the Fremont Cannon rivalry game and trails 24-12 at halftime.

UNLV scored its first touchdown in Allegiant Stadium history on a 2-yard scoring strike from Max Gilliam to Tyleek Collins with 2:20 to play in the first half to trail by just by five points.

But Reno quickly answered in riding the accurate passing of Carson Strong, who is 15 of 19 for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Romeo Doubs has five catches for 189 yards for UNR.

UNLV has scored on three of its four possessions, but two of those drives only netted field goals from Daniel Gutierrez.

UNLV receives the ball to start the second half, and will likely need to piece together another scoring drive to keep the game close.

UNLV can’t stop UNR offense, trails 17-6 in second quarter

The UNLV football team is struggling to stop the UNR offense in the Fremont Cannon rivalry game.

The Wolf Pack have scored on all three of their possessions, including a 65-yard touchdown pass from Carson Strong to Romeo Doubs on the first play of a scoring drive for a 17-6 UNR lead early in the second quarter.

Strong has faced very little pass rush from UNLV, picking apart the hometown defense for 175 yards on 6 of 8 completions.

UNLV has scored on each of its two possessions, but have had to settle for Daniel Gutierrez field goals.

UNLV has twice brought the ball to inside the Wolf Pack 20 yard line, but had the drive stall because of penalties.

UNLV, UNR tied at 3 midway through first quarter

Both UNLV and UNR have put points on the scoreboard in their initial possession of the Fremont Cannon rivalry game.

But both had to settle for field goals, including a 36-yard boot from UNLV’s Daniel Gutierrez to even the game at 3-all with 7:37 to play in the first quarter.

UNLV’s scoring drive went 46 yards over eight plays, with the offense gaining more yardage on the possession than in the entire first half last week against San Diego State.

Charles Williams, who labored for 80 yards last week, had the big play of the drive with an 11-yard gain.

UNLV football making debut at Allegiant Stadium

This is one of the most significant nights in the history of UNLV football.

After years of trying to get into a new venue, the program is about to make its debut at the nearly $2 billion Allegiant Stadium near the Strip.

And the opponent is perfect: instate rival UNR in the Fremont Cannon rivalry game on Nevada Day.

Of course, it doesn’t feel like a big-time game inside the 65,000-seat stadium. Pandemic restrictions are limiting the crowd to 2,000 fans, although artificial noise will strategically be pumped into the stadium.

There are three gigantic screens showing the players going through their final warmups. UNLV, in all gray uniforms, will attempt to beat Reno for the third straight season.

But after a poor performance last week against San Diego State, the Rebels are two touchdown betting underdogs.

Preview

UNLV has a big opportunity to change the narrative of its 2020 season today.

Week 1 went poorly, as anemic offense, shoddy tackling and uncertain coaching decisions all contributed to a 34-6 blowout loss at San Diego State. But a win today would erase most of that from the minds of UNLV fans and set the team on a new course for the rest of the season.

UNLV has won the Fremont Cannon two years in a row, and nothing would bolster the credibility of Marcus Arroyo more than claiming his first win over rival UNR. Doing it in the first game at Allegiant Stadium, with fans in the stands (even if it’s just 2,000 people) would rejuvenate some of that “new coach” excitement around the program and give Arroyo a lot of leeway over the final six games.

Arroyo downplayed the importance of the contest earlier in the week, but it’s safe to say that beginning his tenure with an 0-2 start and a loss to the big in-state rival would not exactly be ideal.

What can UNLV do in order to keep the cannon? A few keys to watch:

Gilliam gets the nod

UNLV rotated three quarterbacks in its season-opening loss at San Diego State last week, and none of them performed well. But senior Max Gilliam led the offense on its only scoring drive, and so Arroyo will lean on him against UNR.

Gilliam is listed as the starter in this week’s depth chart after being a “co-starter” along with sophomores Kenyon Oblad and Justin Rogers in Week 1. Oblad and Rogers may see snaps, but it looks like the cannon will be Gilliam’s to win or lose.

In Week 1, Gilliam completed 13 of 21 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown, and while he threw two passes that could have been intercepted he was able to escape without a turnover.

Senior running back Charles Williams said the team has confidence in Gilliam as well as the team's entire stable of QBs.

“I don't see any difference when the rotation comes in," Williams said. "They're all my brothers, so I've got a bond and connection with them. When we were on the field, it could have been anybody — it could have been my mama throwing to me and I wouldn't have felt any differently."

Chuck looking to put stamp on series

Speaking of Williams, the fifth-year senior is probably going to be UNLV’s sharpest weapon against UNR. In last year’s cannon game, Williams carried 20 times for 138 yards and scored a touchdown in UNLV’s overtime win. It might take another heroic effort from the 5-foot-9 bruiser in order to give the scarlet and gray a chance today.

Arroyo will have to commit to keeping Williams involved. UNLV did not do that last week at San Diego State, as Williams received just four carries in the first half; the result was a disjointed, pass-oriented offense without a quarterback and a 27-0 deficit at halftime.

Arroyo corrected the game plan in the second half and began feeding Williams, who finished with 20 carries. The final stat line was pedestrian (80 yards, no touchdowns), but it was important to get Williams into a rhythm; he is UNLV’s best player and he should receive another 20 carries (or more) against UNR. It will be up to Arroyo to make sure Williams is a factor while the game is still within reach and not just during garbage time.

"I felt like me getting going, it got the team going, too," Williams said of his first- and second-half splits in Week 1. "As a leader and a key player on this team I feel like I've got to get the team going in the first half, and that's on me. The slow start was on me, honestly. I don't we'll have that problem this week."

Secondary matchup

UNR went pass-happy in its season-opening win against Wyoming, with quarterback Carson Strong completing 39 of 52 passes for 420 yards and four touchdowns. The bulk of his passes were aimed at receiver Romeo Doubs (12 catches, 117 yards, one touchdown) and tight end/receiver Cole Turner (seven catches, 119 yards, two touchdowns).

Doubs and Turner are a dangerous duo, and at 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-6, respectively, they are tough matchups for defensive backs. The good news is that UNLV’s starting cornerbacks are 6-foot Nohl Williams and 6-foot-3 Sir Oliver Everett; the bad news is that both are freshman.

Williams and Everett did a nice job against San Diego State, but the Aztecs are a ground-and-pound team. UNR will let it fly today, and there will be tremendous pressure on the secondary to keep up.

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