Ricky White leads UNLV to record-setting victory
UNLV Rebels wide receiver Ricky White III (11) fends off a tackle attempt by Utah Tech Trailblazers defensive back Scooter Jackson (1) and runs for a touchdown after a pass reception during the first half of an NCAA football game at Allegiant Stadium Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 | 4:23 p.m.
On the first play of Saturday’s home opener against Utah Tech, UNLV called an end-around handoff to senior receiver Ricky White.
The play only went for one yard, but it did signal an intention. White, a preseason All-American selection, notched just two catches for 11 yards in Week 1, so head coach Barry Odom and his staff wanted to get him more involved by any means necessary.
Good gameplan.
White hauled in three touchdown catches in the first quarter, and UNLV set a new program record for total offense while rolling to a 72-14 victory at Allegiant Stadium.
White subbed out for good late in the second quarter, his day finished with five receptions, 111 yards and the three scores. From that point on, he was able to sit back and watch the Scarlet and Gray rushing attack go to work.
Twelve UNLV ballcarriers combined for 504 rushing yards, a gargantuan total that now ranks third in team history. Freshman Greg Burrell led the way, carrying 11 times for 101 yards and a touchdown (the first collegiate TD for the Desert Pines alum).
UNLV’s 695 total yards broke the previous team record of 671 yards, set in a win over Idaho in 1977.
White is, of course, no stranger to the UNLV record book, having set the record for receiving yards in a season last year (1,483). On Saturday, he was proud to play a part in smashing some team records.
“It’s a great feeling,” White said. “We set a goal before the game of 70 points, and we executed that. It feels good.”
Odom confirmed that getting the ball to White was a priority against a Utah Tech defense that had no one capable of matching up with him.
“We were pretty direct on trying to feed him the ball,” Odom said. “He executed and made some big-time catches, which he’s done since I’ve been here. He’s one of the dynamic playmakers in college football, and there’s a number of ways, I believe, that we can showcase or get guys the football, and that’s one example.”
White’s first touchdown catch with 10:59 left in the first quarter, as quarterback Matthew Sluka rolled right and hit White with a 5-yard strike to give UNLV a 14-7 lead. On the next offensive possession, Sluka hit White streaking down the left sideline for a 55-yard score. Following a defensive stop, UNLV went for a 4th-and-goal, and White caught a 7-yard slant to make it 28-7.
When he wasn’t hauling in deep bombs, White also delivered on a preseason promise to block a punt. Midway through the second quarter, he broke across the line and got two hands on a Utah Tech attempt, giving UNLV possession inside the red zone.
Despite his star status, White regularly (and enthusiastically) plays on the punt-block unit, and before the start of the season he expressed his desire to stuff a kick.
“I knew he was going to get a blocked punt at some point,” Odom said. “That won’t be the only one.”
White’s afternoon was done shortly thereafter, as he ceded snaps to Corey Thompson and other reserve receivers. Sluka exited at halftime as well, allowing backups Hajj-Malik Williams and Cameron Friel to gain some real game experience. Sluka finished 8-of-17 for 161 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing for 70 yards and a score.
As a team, UNLV averaged 8.6 yards per play and 8.0 yards per rush, a sign that the offense is getting on track after a stop-and-start showing in last week’s season-opening 27-7 win at Houston.
“Early on we hit on some things, designers, offensively,” Odom said. “I thought we were cleaner. I thought we played catch better. Guys made plays out in space. I still believe this offense is going to be explosive.”
UNLV is now 2-0 for the first time since the 1999 season, and next week’s showdown at No. 19 Kansas figures to be one of the most important games in team history. A victory on Friday would not only avenge last year’s loss to the Jayhawks in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, but also vault UNLV into serious discussions for the College Football Playoffs.
Senior safety Jalen Catalon was already looking forward to that big game just minutes after the clock hit zeroes on a record-setting victory.
“Okay, we won this game, did what we’re supposed to do, now we’re off to face a good team in Kansas,” Catalon said. “We’re going to watch them play later (Saturday), see what they got for us.”
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.