Live coverage: Air Force dominates UNLV in finale, 48-14

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 | 10:30 a.m.

Updated Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 | 2:39 p.m.

That'll do it for UNLV football in 2021, as Air Force sent the scarlet and gray into the offseason on the losing end of a 48-14 blowout.

It was a gruesome 60 minutes for UNLV. They lost a fumble on the opening kickoff, trailed 24-0 at the half and generally couldn't get out of their own way en route to being out-gained 511 to 214 in total yards.

Air Force's option offense was so ruthlessly effective that the Falcons didn't bother to throw the ball once all day. They finished with 69 carries and 511 rushing yards, which helped them build a dominant time-of-possession advantage of 40:49 to 19:11.

UNLV's only bright spot was senior running back Charles Williams, who went out with a bang (16 carries, 137 yards, two touchdowns).

The scarlet and gray finish the season 2-10 overall and 2-6 in the Mountain West. They are 2-16 overall in two years under head coach Marcus Arroyo.

Air Force increases lead over UNLV to 38-7

UNLV is on the board! Of course, Air Force has already tacked on two touchdowns since the start of the second half, so that Falcons still lead, 38-7...but UNLV is on the board.

The big play was a 55-yard pass from Justin Rogers to Zyell Griffin that saw the freshman receiver brought down at the 1-yard line. On the next play Charles Williams scored perhaps his final touchdown in scarlet and gray to help UNLV avoid the shutout.

Midway through the third quarter, Williams has carried 14 times for 62 yards. Rogers has completed 7-of-16 passes for 125 yards.

UNLV trails Air Force 24-0 at halftime

The first half could not have unfolded any worse for UNLV, and they'll head into the locker room at Air Force trailing 24-0.

UNLV committed turnovers on each of its first two possessions, and the third possession looked promising until stalling out in the red zone. Marcus Arroyo sent out the field-goal team, but a high snap forced holder Evan Silva to tuck the ball and try to scramble for the sticks. With no blocking in front of him, Air Force easily dropped him behind the line of scrimmage for a turnover on downs.

The Falcons then drove for a field goal of their own to make it 17-0. After a UNLV three-and-out, AFA took over with 5:07 on the clock and got to midfield before the UNLV defense stuffed a QB keeper on third down and forced the Falcons to punt for the first time today. Good news, right? Well, UNLV went three-and-out again on the ensuing possession and punted back to midfield with a minute on the clock. Air Force's first play was an option pitch that Brandon Lewis took 41 yards to the end zone untouched.

Will UNLV have any fight left in the second half? And after being eliminated from Mountain West title contention earlier today, what does Air Force have to play for either? At this rate, we may see both teams punch the clock in the second half in an effort to lower the curtain on the 2021 season.

Air Force leads UNLV 14-0

Air Force fullback Brad Roberts just scored his second touchdown of the game, bulldozing UNLV linebacker Jacoby Windmon at the goal line to put the Falcons ahead 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The drive started when Justin Rogers was strip-sacked, and it only took Air Force five plays—all runs—to march 45 yards for the score.

The good news is Rogers just completed a clutch third-down pass to Gio Fauolo to move the chains at midfield, then followed it up with a long pass down the middle to give UNLV a first down at the Air Force 10-yard line. If they can put it in the end zone here, they'll be back within one score with almost 45 minutes remaining. Considering how this game started, that's not a terrible spot for UNLV.

Early miscue puts UNLV in 7-0 hole at Air Force

Midway through the first quarter, this game has been downright bizarre—and the bounces are going against UNLV.

First, UNLV received the opening kickoff and fumbled the return, allowing Air Force to recover at the 15-yard line. Three plays later fullback Brad Roberts scored a 1-yard touchdown to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead. Terrible start for the scarlet and gray.

The visitors caught a break on the next possession. After going three-and-out they punted the ball away, but Air Force was flagged for having two No. 11's on the field on the punt return. That rare penalty gave UNLV a free first down, and they took advantage by driving past midfield.

Just when it looked as though Justin Rogers was leading the offense into scoring range, he was sacked and fumbled 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Air Force again recovered, and now the Falcons will take over possession at the UNLV 45.

TL;DR: UNLV is making mistakes and Air Force has a 7-0 lead.

Justin Rogers starting at QB for UNLV

The UNLV football season has come full circle. Justin Rogers started the opener against Eastern Washington three months ago, and now the junior will start the finale at Air Force.

Freshman Cameron Friel was not dressed for pregame warmups, meaning Rogers will be the No. 1 QB today. The 10 games in between his last start and today were nothing to write home about for Rogers—until last week, when he came on after Friel got hurt and passed for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns against a tough San Diego State defense.

Can Rogers keep up that level of play? Marcus Arroyo sure hopes so, because the primary backup is now walk-on freshman Matthew Geeting, who has never taken a college snap.

UNLV football wraps long season at Air Force

It’s been a long season for UNLV football—a long two seasons, actually—so the team’s focus this week has been on ending things on a high note and carrying some momentum into the offseason.

A win would certainly give the program a jump start on 2022 as it would cement a 3-1 finish over the final month of an otherwise hapless campaign, but a difficult road tilt at Air Force is standing in the way (12:30 p.m., Stadium).

A look at three keys for UNLV heading into the season finale:

Give-up potential against the option

It seems like we’ve been waiting for UNLV to give up all season, and aside from one blip at UNR a month ago in which the team clearly did not want to be there, this is a group of players that has fought hard every week.

Can they keep it up for sixty more minutes?

It’s going to be a challenge. Air Force runs a relentless, demoralizing option-rushing offense that can grind down any team and make them want to quit—the Falcons are No. 1 in the nation in rushing yards per game (321.7) and No. 2 in run ratio (85.9% of plays)—so 1-10 UNLV is certainly going to have its will tested as Air Force pounds the rock over and over again.

Senior tight end Gio Fauolo is a great example of not giving up, as he battled back from a potentially season-ending knee injury and will play his final college game on Friday.

Fauolo thinks his team will compete to the end, despite their record.

“Obviously our goals at the beginning of the season aren’t attainable anymore, but to win every [individual] game is still attainable,” Fauolo said. “So whether you’re 10-1 at this point or 1-11, 2-9, at the end of the day it’s still football and you’re trying to win every game.”

Of course that’s easy for him to say, as Fauolo is an offensive player and won’t have to line up against the option on every snap.

Last chance for QBs to make impression

Who is going to be UNLV’s quarterback in 2022? That’s the biggest question going into the offseason, as this looks like a program that might be a stable, quality passer away from respectability.

Will this final game provide any clarity on the position?

Redshirt freshman Doug Brumfield is out due to injury. True freshman Cameron Friel could cement himself in the pole position with another strong performance in the finale, but he is questionable after getting knocked out of last week’s loss to San Diego State. Junior Justin Rogers relieved Friel and went nuts, completing 15-of-21 passes for 305 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, but after a season of lackluster play can Rogers follow up with another good outing?

Of course, there’s a possibility that next year’s No. 1 quarterback isn’t on the roster right now, but for the passers hoping to get a jump on the offseason depth chart, today is the last chance to show their stuff.

Farewell Charles Williams

Charles Williams has accomplished a lot during his six years at UNLV. He is the program’s all-time leading rusher, he’s a former All-Mountain West first team selection and he has won the Fremont Cannon twice, including 2019 when he ran for 138 yards and a touchdown at Reno.

And now he’s suiting up in the scarlet and gray for the final time.

It’s been a productive farewell tour. Williams has already set a career high in touchdowns (13) and he’s just 139 yards away from breaking his previous single-season rushing high from 2019 (1,257 yards).

Air Force isn’t going to throw him a parade, though. The Falcons boast one of the stingiest run defenses in the nation, ranking 13^th in yards per attempt allowed (3.3) and seventh in yards per game allowed (101.6), so if Williams wants to go out on a high note he’s going to have to earn it.

What: UNLV (2-9, 2-5 MWC) vs. Air Force (8-3, 5-2 MWC)

Where: Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, Colo.

When: 12:30 p.m.

TV: Stadium

Line: Air Force -18

UNLV leaders

Passing

Cameron Friel: 62.4% (141-of-226), 1,608 yards, 6 TDs, 11 INTs

Rushing

Charles Williams: 237 carries, 1,119 yards, 4.7 yards per carry, 13 TDs

Receiving

Steve Jenkins: 45 receptions, 689 yards, 4 TDs

Defense

Jacoby Windmon: 103 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks

Air Force leaders

Passing

Haaziq Daniels: 45.7% (43-of-94), 932 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs

Rushing

Brad Roberts: 263 carries, 1,181 yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 11 TD

Receiving

Brandon Lewis: 16 receptions, 447 yards, 1 TD

Defense

Vince Sanford: 50 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks

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