Courtesy UNLV
UNLV wide receiver Ricky White looks for yardage after a reception against Air Force at Allegiant Stadium on Oct. 15, 2022
Published Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 | 2 a.m.
Updated Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 | 10:22 p.m.
The Rebel Room
4 football wins in September
The UNLV football team had its best start to the season in recent memory in winning four of its initial five games. And while they were blown out last week against San Jose State, the program is sitting in unfamiliar ground needing two wins over the remaining six games to qualify for a postseason bowl game. We discuss that and more in another edition of the Rebel Room.
That'll do it from Allegiant Stadium, as Air Force put the finishing touches on a dominant, 42-7 win over UNLV.
The Scarlet and Gray were never really in this one. Lost fumbles on their first two offensive possessions led directly to Air Force touchdowns and a 14-0 deficit, and the Falcons extended their lead to 28-0 before UNLV even got on the board.
The second half was academic, as AFA continued to hand off and run its option offense to perfection. Air Force came into the game ranked No. 1 in the nation in rushing yards per game and padded its average by compiling 406 yards on the ground. Fullback Brad Roberts carried 29 times for 144 yards and four touchdowns, while running back John Lee Eldridge ran for 116 yards and a touchdown.
UNLV is now 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Mountain West play after dropping two straight. The Scarlet and Gray will head out of conference next week, but the opponent doesn't get any easier as they'll travel to face Notre Dame on Saturday.
Air Force leads UNLV, 42-7
Air Force tacked on two more touchdowns in the third quarter, extending its lead to 42-7 over an increasingly helpless UNLV team.
The Falcons appear to be toying with UNLV at this point. Air Force received the kickoff to begin the third quarter and proceeded to hand off to fullback Brad Roberts on the next 11 plays, including a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 35-7. After Cameron Friel was intercepted on UNLV's first possession of the half, Emmanuel Michel got in on the action for Air Force, rushing for a 1-yard TD.
Harrison Bailey is now in the game at quarterback for the Scarlet and Gray; he went 1-of-2 for six yards on his first drive, resulting in a punt.
Air Force blowing out UNLV at half, 28-7
The Scarlet and Gray are in the process of turning in their worst performance of the season, as Air Force has taken a commanding 28-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.
It's been nothing but bad football on UNLV's part since the opening kickoff. Quarterback Cameron Friel has fumbled twice, and Courtney Reese fumbled on a kick return in the first quarter; Air Force recovered all three. Two of the turnovers set up the Falcons for easy, short-range touchdown drives.
The Falcons have run the ball at will, racking up 218 yards on the ground and 6.1 yards per carry. Running back John Lee Eldridge has 116 yards and a touchdown, while fullback Brad Roberts has 65 yards and three touchdowns.
Friel has struggled in his first start of the season, throwing for 92 yards while taking two sacks. He did get into a bit of a rhythm on the final drive of the half, leading UNLV the length of the field and hitting Ricky White for a 31-yard touchdown. We'll have to see if that's enough for Marcus Arroyo to stick with Friel for the second half, or if the coach turns to backup Harrison Bailey at some point.
Air Force will receive the kick to open the third quarter.
UNLV fumbles twice, Air Force takes 21-0 lead
Well, 17 minutes into this game and it might already be over, as Air Force has dominated in every facet while running out to a 21-0 lead.
The Falcons have already rushed for 163 yards (8.6 per carry) and scored touchdowns on all three of their possessions, while UNLV has run only 12 plays and committed two turnovers.
After Air Force scored to make it 7-0, Courtney Reese fumbled the kickoff return, giving the ball right back to the Falcons. AFA needed only four plays to punch in another TD to make it 14-0.
UNLV went 3-and-out on its next possession, with Cameron Friel taking a sack on third down to force a punt. Air Force then methodically marched 64 yards in 11 plays, with Brad Roberts punching in his second touchdown of the night to make it 21-0.
UNLV was on the ropes 10 minutes ago. Now they're on the verge of throwing in the towel, unless they can ignite some kind of spark real soon.
Air Force jumps out to 7-0 lead over UNLV
UNLV was hoping to get off to a good start tonight, but that has not happened, as Air Force has jumped out to a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
UNLV's opening drive appeared to be heading somewhere, as they marched 57 yards and breached the red zone, but on 2nd-and-short Cameron Friel kept the ball on an option run and fumbled. Air Force recovered, and three plays later reached midfield.
On 2nd-and-7, AFA quarterback Haaziq Daniels pitched to running back John Lee Eldridge, who found a wide open lane and raced 53 yards untouched for the first score of the night.
The Scarlet and Gray were having success on the ground before Friel's fumble. Let's see if they can put together another drive, and this time finish it off with points.
UNLV resets for season's second half with Friel at QB against Air Force
UNLV saw its three-game winning streak snapped last week at San Jose State, so Marcus Arroyo will try to get his team back on track on Saturday when the Scarlet and Gray host Air Force at Allegiant Stadium (7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network).
A look at UNLV’s homecoming matchup:
Friel World
With Doug Brumfield not appearing on this week’s depth chart due to a concussion, UNLV will turn to sophomore quarterback Cameron Friel to lead the huddle.
Though Brumfield has been a breakout star this year, Friel is about as good as a Mountain West team can hope for when it comes to the backup QB situation. He started eight games last year and earned MWC Freshman of the Year honors, and though his stats were modest, he was under center for both of UNLV’s wins in 2021.
At his weekly press conference, Arroyo put a lot of stock in the experience Friel gained as a true freshman.
“The thing we know about Cam is he played a lot last season,” Arroyo said. “Cam’s a tough kid. We really like his poise and his presence. Now we see if he can be really effective and efficient in all that we’re doing now different than last season.”
Friel was not the issue in UNLV’s loss to San Jose State. He came on early in the second quarter, and aside from a fumbled shotgun snap that led directly to a SJSU touchdown, he played a mistake-free three quarters: 15-of-22, 153 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions.
If he can give UNLV that level of performance against Air Force, the Scarlet and Gray will take it.
Rout rematch
All of UNLV’s returning players remember last year’s matchup at Air Force — but they’re not fond memories.
The Scarlet and Gray traveled to Colorado Springs for the 2021 season finale and were throttled by the Eagles, 48-14, in the least competitive effort put forth by the program in years. Saturday’s rematch should be a more spirited contest, as UNLV has gotten much stronger in the meantime while Air Force has taken a step back.
AFA is still a force to be reckoned with on the ground, as their option-powered offense currently ranks No. 1 in the nation in rushing yards per game (315.4) and No. 8 in yards per carry (5.7).
Junior cornerback Nohl Williams thinks the defense will be better equipped to slow down the option this team around.
“I definitely still have a chip on my shoulder for this game, because nobody wants to go out like that like we did last year,” Williams said. “It’s just paying attention to the details more. With this type of offense, your eyes have to be in the right spots.”
Good start
Lost in the excitement of UNLV’s 4-2 start to the season has been the team’s difficulties early in games. Slow starts have become the norm, and while the Scarlet and Gray have showed an ability to come back, they’d prefer not to fall behind in the first place.
The problem has been pronounced. Through the first six games, after each team has possessed the ball once, opponents have cumulatively outscored UNLV, 28-14. After two possessions apiece, the gap widens to 49-19 in favor of opponents.
Against a team like Air Force, which has the ability to take the air out of the ball and keep the clock running, an early deficit could be a death sentence.
Williams wants to see the players come out with more passion in the first quarter.
“I feel like we need to bring more energy going into those type of games,” Williams said. “The energy we bring has to be magnified 10 times more than we did in the beginning of the season.”
Who: UNLV (4-2, 2-1 MWC) vs. Air Force (4-2, 1-2 MWC)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at Allegiant Stadium
TV: CBS Sports Network
Line: Air Force -10
UNLV leaders
Passing: Doug Brumfield — 68.4%, 1,231 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing: Aidan Robbins — 561 yards, 4.3 per carry, 8 TDs
Receiving: Ricky White — 29 receptions, 386 yards, 3 TDs
Defense: Austin Ajiake — 60 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 2 INTs
Air Force leaders
Passing: Haaziq Daniels— 46.8%, 469 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: Brad Roberts — 709 yards, 5.9 per carry, 8 TDs
Receiving: David Cormier — 6 receptions, 224 yards, 3 TDs
Defense: Thadius Blackmon— 34 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
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