3 takeaways from UNLV’s win, back-to-back bowl breakthrough — PHOTOS
CORVALLIS, Ore. — UNLV athletic director Erick Harper couldn’t help but chuckle at football coach Barry Odom’s opening statement to the media following a milestone 33-25 win over Oregon State on Saturday night.
The Rebels (6-1) survived a late push from the Beavers and picked up the sixth win required for bowl eligibility at the expense of Oregon State (4-3) on its homecoming night.
UNLV is now bowl eligible in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
Odom didn’t spend much time critiquing the officials, who incorrectly threw a flag in the final seconds to allow Oregon State time to take a final crack at the tying touchdown.
Instead, he cracked a joke.
“Finding a way to get that win against what I think is a good team, I thought our offense handled the atmosphere,” Odom began. “They handled the weedeater noise. They handled the things with the crowd. I mean, what a great environment that was.”
The noise Odom referenced was meant to emulate the “brrrr” of Benny Beaver’s decorative chainsaw, a sound effect that played at the start of the game and for every UNLV third down.
Moments after Odom’s postgame press conference, fireworks burst from the orange, black and oversized wood-cutting power tool in the empty stadium. The pyrotechnics would have been a celebratory taunt, but the Rebels ended up with the last laugh.
Senior wide receiver Ricky White III was vital in the win, blocking his nation-leading third punt of the year in the second quarter in another never-before-seen milestone for the Rebels.
White had nine receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown, while UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams completed 15 of 27 passes for 196 yards and a score. Williams also rushed for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
The Rebels next host No. 15 Boise State (5-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Allegiant Stadium, in what will be a marquee Mountain West showdown.
Here are three takeaways from the Rebels’ milestone victory:
1. Bowl eligible
Odom said and the Rebels took extra time in the locker room to reflect on their accomplishment. Once in the media room, he gestured for Harper to join him and address reporters. The athletic director declined, sticking to his chair by the door, and Odom opted to talk about Harper instead.
“If you can accomplish something that’s never been done as a team and as a program, I certainly want to celebrate that,” Odom said. “We’ve built a program that is sustainable, and it’s one that’s got a really, really strong foundation. And you know, the goal when (Harper) and I set into this deal was to continue to build a team that’s every year competing and winning championships.”
Odom went on to talk about conversations with Harper about graduation rate and academic progress and important prerequisites. Then he returned to his priority for the team: winning the Mountain West title.
“We’re going to turn the page here in the next few minutes, and start in on Boise on the flight home,” Odom said.
He later clarified that the team’s video director had all the Broncos intel the Rebels need downloaded on laptops that the team would study in the air.
2. Defense, special teams shine
White wasn’t the only impact player on special teams Saturday. Freshman kicker Caden Chittenden scored 15 of UNLV’s points.
Chittenden nailed a 29-yard field goal to give the Rebels a 26-17 lead with 13:28 left, his fourth make on four attempts. He also hit all three of his extra points — a perfect night for the Las Vegas-born freshman from Faith Lutheran.
The Rebels entered the second half down 17-16 after the Beavers led by 11 in the second quarter.
UNLV didn’t take its first lead until senior defensive back Jalen Catalon forced a fumble that Cameron Oliver recovered. That gave Williams the opportunity to reach the end zone on a 9-yard run, resulting in a 23-17 advantage for the Rebels with 4:21 remaining in the third.
Catalon had 10 tackles, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss. Defensive end Antonio Doyle had three second-half sacks and 10 tackles.
The defense was crucial until the final play. On first-and-goal from the UNLV 6-yard line with three seconds remaining, Oregon State quarterback Gevani McCoy thew a pass right into defensive back Tony Grimes’ face mask as the clock expired.
3. Not perfect
Odom is usually tough on the Rebels postgame, but he had mainly positives to share Saturday.
Williams threw an interception with under two minutes to go that gave Oregon State an opportunity to tie the game, and even that didn’t get a critique from Odom. The coach felt it was a better finish than what he saw in the Rebels’ loss to Syracuse on Oct. 4.
“Hajj is really upset with himself on that last play, but we wouldn’t have been in that situation had he not made some plays tonight for us,” Odom said. “… We’re still chasing and pursuing the perfect game, and we’re a long ways from there.”
Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X
