‘Did what we’re supposed to do’: UNLV sets record in blowout win — PHOTOS

The win included a program record for offensive yards in a game with 695, passing the 671 against Idaho in 1977 and giving UNLV its first 2-0 start since 1999.

But the Rebels aren’t putting too much stock into their record. Coach Barry Odom described the Rebels as “stoic in nature.”

“It’s a very mature team,” he said. “We’re thrilled that we’re 2-0, and I don’t want to minimize that. I’ll never diminish or not make a big deal about winning. I know it’s hard to win. Understand that. But also, the prize is in the preparation. The prize is the relentless chase of perfection.”

UNLV (2-0) next gets a rematch of last year’s 49-36 Guaranteed Rate Bowl loss to Kansas. The No. 19-ranked Jayhawks (1-1), who lost to Illinois 23-17 on Saturday, host the Rebels at 4 p.m. Friday in Kansas City, Kansas.

On Saturday against a Football Championship Subdivision foe, the Rebels fell short of the program’s record for points in a game (80 against Idaho State in 2015), but produced the highest scoring output in Odom’s two seasons (56 last year at New Mexico).

Senior wide receiver Ricky White had three touchdowns in the first quarter alone, finishing with five catches and 111 receiving yards for UNLV.

Only four other college players recorded at least three touchdown catches in a first quarter in the past 10 seasons, a group that includes Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for USC against Washington State in 2020.

But the play that drew the largest smile from White was his blocked punt at the end of the first quarter, which was recovered by transfer safety Jalen Catalon.

“It won’t be my last one,” White said.

Quarterback Matthew Sluka completed 8 of 17 passes for 161 yards and the three TDs to White. He also rushed for 70 yards and a score.

More QBs in action

The win offered a glimpse at the Rebels’ other two signal-callers, Hajj Malik-Williams and Cameron Friel. Malik-Williams made his season debut at the start of the third quarter, while the final frame belonged to Friel.

UNLV stopped throwing the ball after taking a 44-7 halftime lead, but Friel completed his only attempted pass for 30 yards to senior wideout Timothy Conerly to set up Friel’s touchdown on a “tush push” to extend the Rebels’ lead to 65-14 midway through the fourth quarter.

Malik-Williams lost a fumble early but rushed for 88 yards on 10 carries.

Odom said “all three quarterbacks executed,” and credited their competition with one another for pushing them to get better.

Las Vegas freshman Greg Burrell from Desert Pines High scored his first career touchdown in the third quarter on a 4-yard run and became the first Rebel to reach 100 rushing yards in a game this season, finishing with 101 on 11 carries.

Catalon had four solo tackles, three of which came in the first quarter. He and Odom smiled postgame as they noticed that Utah Tech (0-2) converted only one third down (1-for-13), a nod to the secondary’s efficacy.

‘Same mentality’

While Catalon laughed at Odom calling him a “coach on the field,” he was all business when asked what kind of confidence UNLV would take from the win.

Catalon mentioned that the team would be watching Kansas take on Illinois, which kicked off shortly after the Rebels left the field.

“We’re more focused on just keeping the same mentality: not getting too high, just staying neutral,” Catalon said. “Just saying: ‘OK, we won this game. We did what we’re supposed to do.’ Now we’re on to the next, to face a good team in Kansas. So we’re going to watch them play later today, in about 30 minutes, see what they got for us and keep the same approach we always do.”

The Rebels wore retro helmets in honor of the 1974 UNLV football team, which completed the only undefeated regular season in the program’s history and advanced to Division II semifinals.

Multiple members of that squad were present at Allegiant Stadium, which boasted 24,512 fans, UNLV’s biggest home-opening crowd since 2015.

Contact Callie Lawson-Freeman at clawsonfreeman@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.