Live Blog: UNLV football season over after another defeat to UNR

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017 | 2 a.m.

Updated Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017 | 2:58 p.m.

RENO —The UNLV football season is over — no bowl game; no Fremont Cannon.

Needing a win to reach bowl eligibility, the Rebels were limited to three points in the second half today at UNR in a 23-16 loss to end the season.

The Rebels struggled in UNR territory, either settling for a field goal instead of a touchdown, or being stopped on fourth down.

UNR scored the winning points on a Kelton Moore 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Wolf Pack their second straight Fremont Cannon game victory against UNLV.

The Rebels finish the season with a 5-7 record, which is a one-game improvement in coach Tony Sanchez’s second season. However, they won’t ball in a bowl game for the fourth straight season.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more

UNLV, UNR tied at 16 entering fourth quarter of Fremont Cannon game

The UNLV football team squandered a scoring opportunity late in the third quarter against UNR when running back Lexington Thomas was stopped on a fourth down run at the Wolf Pack 9.

After the turnover, Reno took the ball 91 yards on 11 play to even the score, 16-16.

UNLV has settled for field goals instead of touchdowns on multiple possessions, including a 53-yard field goal from Evan Pantels on the opening possession of the second half.

We’re all even entering the fourth quarter.

Rebels lead UNR 13-9 at halftime in Fremont Cannon game

UNLV is one half away from becoming eligible to be selected for a postseason bowl, using a touchdown run from Armani Rogers and two Evan Pantels field goals for a 13-9 halftime lead against host UNR in the Fremont Cannon game.

UNR needed just three plays and less than one minute to score the game’s initial touchdown, but the Rebels tightened defensively the remainder of the half. They’ve forced a pair of turnovers, including a fumble recovery from Jameer Outsey inside the UNLV 20. Outsey returned the ball into UNR territory, and the Rebels turned the UNR miscue into a field goal.

The Rebels have converted 6-of-9 third down attempts. Darren Woods Jr. has three receptions for 40 yards for the Rebels in the first half and Lexington Thomas has 46 rushing yards on seven carries.

UNLV, with a 5-6 record, needs a victory to become eligible for a bowl. It hasn’t played in the postseason since 2013.

TD run from Armani Rogers puts UNLV ahead of UNR, 7-6

Armani Rogers has given the UNLV football team a 7-6 lead against UNR in the Fremont Cannon game, avoiding the pass rush on a third down play from the 12-yard line and muscling his way into the end zone to get the Rebels on the scoreboard.

And UNLV, unlike UNR, converted the point after touchdown kick for a one-point lead just second into the second quarter.

Rogers was brilliant on the scoring drive, converting on third down three times — once on a pass to Darren Woods Jr. and twice rushing the ball, including the touchdown. The 12-play drive went 88 yards.

Rogers is 4-of-6 for 57 yards through the air and the Rebels have converted 4-of-5 third down attempts.

UNLV falls behind UNR in game’s initial minute

UNR has an early 6-0 against UNLV in the Fremont Cannon game, scoring less than one minute into the annual Silver State rivalry.

The Wolf Pack needed just three play to score, bringing the ball deep into Rebel territory on the first play of the game on a 43-yard pass. Two plays later, Ty Gangi lofted a 21-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Wyatt Demps in the middle of the endzone.

The teams have exchanged turnovers in the first quarter, including UNLV quarterback Armani Rogers fumble inside the UNR 20 when he was trying to avoid the pass rush.

The Rebels, of course, are playing for bowl eligibility.

Pregame: 3 keys for a UNLV win against rival UNR

It’s an easy scenario for the UNLV football team: Beat UNR and become eligible to be picked for a bowl.

The Rebels at noon today in Reno will try to potentially extend their season against two-win UNR, attempting to win a third straight road Fremont Cannon game.

“I know what it is like to see that thing pulled over to our sideline and how exciting that is,” UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said of the cannon. “But we also know how it is to have it pulled away and taken back over there. Those are both different emotions. We know which one we prefer.”

UNLV (5-6) scored a late second touchdown last week at New Mexico to remain in the hunt for a postseason game, adding more significance to the season finale with the Wolf Pack — not that the annual rivalry game needed more meaning.

Here are three keys for a UNLV win:

Managing emotions With a week of buildup, players on both teams will surely come out emotional and ready to play. The team that controls emotions the best, everything from avoiding unsportsmanlike penalties to executing their game plan, will be best-suited for success.

“That is a big thing is making sure you have the right approach and demeanor to it,” Sanchez said. “You have to be careful of getting so jacked up that you aren’t executing at a high level. At the same you can’t come out even-keeled about it. You have to go out there and doing a really good job of matching energy.”

Balance on offense UNR ranks 116th nationally in points allowed at 35.5 per game, meaning the Rebels will have plenty of chances to score points. Its running game features two rushers — quarterback Armani Rogers and Lexington Thomas — who threaten to gain more than 100 each game. But, as witnessed in the late rally at New Mexico, it will be Rogers’ success in passing the ball that will be the difference. If the Rebels can’t complete passes, UNR defenders won’t be able to stay near the line of scrimmage to slow the run.

Watch for trick plays Between its offense and special teams, Sanchez says UNR has put more trick plays on film that any other team in the country. Needless to say, the Rebels are on high-alert — especially in the kicking game. “We have to be ready for that,” Sanchez said.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21