UNLV loses to Hawaii, drops to 0-6 in Mountain West play

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 | 5:06 p.m.

UNLV set itself up for success on Saturday, as the Rebels defense forced three first-half turnovers and chased Hawaii's starting quarterback from the game early in the second quarter. It did not matter.

Hawaii persevered and eventually took advantage of UNLV's inert offense in handing the Rebels their fourth consecutive loss, 21-7.

UNLV is now 2-8 on the season (0-6 in Mountain West play), and with just two MWC games remaining the Rebels are staring at the very real possibility of going winless in conference this season.

Tony Sanchez's squad played some of its best defense of the season in the first half, as cornerback Jericho Flowers intercepted two passes to keep the Warriors off the board in the first quarter. The second pick turned into points for UNLV when freshman quarterback Kenyon Oblad hit Darren Woods with a 31-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0 late in the opening quarter.

Hawaii benched quarterback Chevan Cordeiro after that turnover and installed former starter Cole McDonald, and the Warriors' fortunes changed immediately. McDonald led the team on a 10-play, 90-yard touchdown drive to close out the first half, and McDonald finished it off himself with a 2-yard touchdown run with less than 30 seconds on the game clock.

The game was still tied late in the third quarter when Oblad made the biggest mistake of the game. He threw high on an in-cut intended for receiver Randal Grimes, and the ball was tipped into the waiting arms of Hawaii defensive back Cortez Davis, who returned it 43 yards for a touchdown.

UNLV punted on its ensuing drive—a recurring theme, as the Rebels converted just 2-of-11 third downs—and Hawaii drove 58 yards for an insurance touchdown, with McDonald again running it in on the goal line to make it 21-7 with 11 minutes to play.

UNLV had one more chance to make a game of it on the next drive, but after getting down to the precipice of the end zone Oblad was intercepted on the goal line on an ill-advised throw into coverage.

For the game, Oblad completed 10-of-22 passes for 118 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.

The freshman owned up to his two picks, calling them "costly," and pinned the loss on the offense's inability to move the ball through the air.

"We ran the ball pretty good, but our passing game never really connected," Oblad said. "You need the passing game to win the game and we couldn't get that today."

After coming on in relief, McDonald sparked Hawaii by hitting 20-of-26 for 211 yards.

Though the players would probably be within their rights to trudge toward the finish line in such a disappointing season, Sanchez applauded their effort and said maintaining that level of intensity will be the team's top priority for the next two weeks.

"I think the biggest thing now is our guys continuing to show up to work and doing the things that they've done every single day to get themselves prepared," Sanchez said. "They looked like a prepared football team. They looked like a team that had a lot of energy and they played with it, so I'm proud of them for that."

Flowers, a senior, said it comes down to personal responsibility.

"I mean, win lose or draw you have to get better," Flowers said. "All of us have a goal. Some of us want to continue playing [professionally], some of us are coming back next year. If we want to keep playing, crying about the loss or crying about something bad that happens isn't going to make you better. It's not going to help you out, so keep grinding."

UNLV will host San Jose State next week in the final home game at Sam Boyd Stadium, then travel to Reno on Nov. 30 for the season finale at UNR.

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