3 takeaways from Rebels’ blowout win over Aztecs — PHOTOS
With 10 seconds left on the clock, opposing players on the field at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday were already deep into the usual postgame pleasantries, shaking hands and offering embraces.
It felt like the game had been over since halftime.
The UNLV football team walked away with a 41-20 win over San Diego State after leading 28-6 at the half. The Rebels (8-2, 4-1 Mountain West) had a 515-270 edge in total yards over the Aztecs (3-7, 2-3).
UNLV still has a chance to win out and earn a rematch with Boise State (9-1, 6-0) in the Mountain West title game, but the Rebels need Colorado State (7-3, 5-0) to lose one of its last two games.
“We’ve developed some things in our program about winning in November, making them meaningful games, competing for championships,” UNLV coach Barry Odom said. “And I don’t know how everybody else did (in the conference) today. I didn’t see any scores, and really didn’t care to. … We got 14 days to go make the most of it, and then whatever happens, happens from there. Let the chips fall.”
UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams completed 20 of 29 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown. He also had two rushing touchdowns.
All-American kick returner Jacob De Jesus caught seven passes for 75 yards and added 42 rushing yards. It was his first appearance for UNLV since he exited the team’s 29-24 loss to Boise State on Oct. 25 with a leg injury.
Here are three takeaways from the blowout victory:
1. Hot start
Williams opened the scoring on UNLV’s third possession with a 2-yard pass up the middle to tight end Kaleo Ballungay.
Those were the only points in the first quarter, but the Rebels added three touchdowns in the second. After freshman running back Greg Burrell ran 20 yards for a score in the first minute of the period, UNLV showed the importance of persistence.
With 9:20 left in the first half, Williams came up short on a scramble, and the Rebels decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the 4. Sophomore running back Jai’Den Thomas pushed through the line to give UNLV a 21-0 lead.
Williams capped the half with a 12-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds left. He opened the scoring in the third quarter with a 7-yard touchdown run, giving him a team-leading eight this season.
2. De Jesus returns
At halftime, De Jesus led the Rebels in receiving and rushing yards with 56 and 42, respectively.
His explosive 43-yard run opened the drive that ended with UNLV’s first touchdown.
De Jesus was also instrumental in the Rebels’ final score before halftime, providing crucial blocking for Williams’ TD run.
After the game, Odom shared that De Jesus’ father, Richard De Jesus, died a day after the team played Boise State. Williams said watching De Jesus motivate the team since his loss has been like watching a “superhero.”
3. Defensive highlights
It only took two plays of the Aztecs’ first possession for Cameron Oliver to snag an interception on a pass from San Diego State quarterback Danny O’Neil. It was Oliver’s 12th career interception, which ranks fourth in UNLV history.
Jalen Catalon also had a highlight interception at the end of the first half on a pass intended for San Diego State’s Jordan Napier. Catalon leads the team with five picks this season.
But it was star senior linebacker Jackson who led the defense, with an eye-popping 14 tackles, seven of them solo.
“He continues to have an All-American run in the way he approaches things and the way he plays,” Odom said.
Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.