UNLV Rebels running back Aidan Robbins (9) makes a run past the Air Force Falcons defense during the first half of their game at Allegiant Stadium Saturday Oct. 15, 2022.
Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 | 11:03 p.m.
Get well soon, Doug Brumfield.
That had to be the prevailing sentiment on the UNLV sideline on Saturday night, as the Scarlet and Gray took the field without their ascending star quarterback and got summarily pounded by Air Force, 42-7.
It was the second straight week UNLV has looked helpless without Brumfield under center. Brumfield was knocked out of last week’s game at San Jose State early in the second quarter after sustaining a concussion; SJSU proceeded to outscore UNLV 26-7 from the point he exited the game en route to a 40-7 blowout.
Brumfield was on the sideline with his teammates on Saturday but was unable to contribute as Air Force jumped out to a 28-0 lead and pretty much ended the game midway through the second quarter.
Of course, Brumfield’s presence would not have solved every issue that plagued the Scarlet and Gray. He wouldn’t have helped the run defense, which allowed Air Force to rush for an astronomical 406 yards at an rate of 5.3 yards per carry, and he wouldn’t have been able to help Courtney Reese hold onto the ball on his fumbled kickoff return in the first quarter, which led directly to Air Force’s second touchdown.
But the fact is, UNLV was 4-1 through the first five games and had followers hyped for a potential run at the Mountain West title game. Since Brumfield went down, however, opponents have outscored UNLV, 68-14, and the schedule doesn’t let up, with trips to Notre Dame and San Diego State looming next.
UNLV is now 4-3 on the year and 2-2 in conference play.
Arroyo said Brumfield's absence was felt, but stressed that the team needs to do a better job of pushing through with collective contributions from the rest of the squad.
"Anytime you lose those guys and they go out, for [other] guys to step into those shoes is hard," Arroyo said. "It happens to everybody and it's happening to us right now."
Sophomore Cameron Friel looked jittery in his first start of the season, fumbling twice in the first half. His first fumble derailed UNLV’s promising opening drive, and the second came on a play where Friel saw the oncoming defender in plenty of time to brace for impact and protect the ball, but failed to do so. Both cough-ups led directly to Air Force touchdowns.
Friel completed 8-of-10 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, but he committed three turnovers, including a third-quarter interception that prompted Arroyo to replace him with sophomore Harrison Bailey. Bailey connected on 2-of-5 passes for 10 yards.
As expected, Air Force never deviated from its run-first game plan, flummoxing the UNLV defense with option pitches from beginning to end. Running back John Lee Eldridge finished with 116 yards and a touchdown, while fullback Brad Roberts served as the workhorse and racked up 144 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries.
It got to the point where Air Force could have announced their offensive play call to UNLV before each snap and still churned out first downs. Case in point: UNLV finally got on the board via a 31-yard touchdown pass from Friel to Ricky White in the final minute of the first half to inch within 28-7, but Air Force shut down any semblance of momentum by taking the kickoff out of halftime and driving 75 yards on 11 plays — all handoffs to Roberts — capped off by Roberts’ fourth touchdown of the night.
The Falcons only attempted a total of three passes on the night.
Brumfield had to watch it all unfold from the bench area, where he was dressed in street clothes and wearing sunglasses to protect himself against any lingering light sensitivity due to his concussion.
Arroyo said Brumfield participated in a light workout on Friday and went through some of UNLV's walkthrough preparations for the Air Force game, indicating he is in the later stages of the concussion protocol and nearing a return to action.
"It's touch and go until they say he's cleared to go," Arroyo said. "See how he is with certain aspects of the environment — there's lights and there's noise and stuff like that — some things that play into some of that protocol to get tested out of. Hopefully we get him back on the field here ASAP."
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy