UNLV’s Armani Rogers injured in 52-28 loss to Utah State
By Mark Anderson Las Vegas Review-Journal
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1), top left, runs the ball for a touchdown against the Utah State Aggies during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1), right, after scoring a touchdown against the Utah State Aggies during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels band and cheerleaders face the American flag during the national anthem before the start of a football game against Utah State Aggies at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels head coach Tony Sanchez and his team run onto the field before the start of a football game against Utah State Aggies at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
The UNLV Rebels run onto the field before the start of a football game against Utah State Aggies at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels mascot cheers before the start of a football game against Utah State Aggies at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies quarterback Jordan Love (10) runs with ball against the UNLV Rebels during the first quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels running back Lexington Thomas (3) runs the ball against Utah State Aggies during the first quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels running back Lexington Thomas (3) runs the ball against Utah State Aggies during the first quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies wide receiver Savon Scarver (81), left runs the ball against the UNLV Rebels during the first quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels linebacker Brian Keyes (5), bottom second from left, recovers a fumble against Utah State Aggies during the first quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels running back Xzaviar Campbell (35) is tackled by the Utah State Aggies during the first quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels running back Xzaviar Campbell (35) is tackled by the Utah State Aggies during the first quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) prepares to pass the ball against the Utah State Aggies during the first quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1), left, runs the ball against the Utah State Aggies during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels running back Lexington Thomas (3), right, runs the ball past the Utah State Aggies for a touchdown during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels offensive lineman Jaron Caldwell (75), center, lifts running back Lexington Thomas (3), right, after he scored a touchdown against the Utah State Aggies during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels running back Lexington Thomas (3), right, scores a touchdown against the Utah State Aggies during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies quarterback Kent Myers (2) runs the ball against the UNLV Rebels during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies quarterback Kent Myers (2) runs the ball against the UNLV Rebels as an offensive flag was thrown during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels running back Lexington Thomas (3), right, runs the ball past Utah State Aggies safety Gaje Ferguson (23), left, during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) throws a pass against the Utah State Aggies during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies quarterback Jordan Love (10), right, prepares to throw a pass against the UNLV Rebels during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies running back LaJuan Hunt (21), bottom left, runs the ball against the UNLV Rebels during the second quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies quarterback Jordan Love (10), right, scores a touchdown against the UNLV Rebels during the third quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies quarterback Jordan Love (10), right, scores a touchdown against the UNLV Rebels during the third quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies running back LaJuan Hunt (21) runs the ball for a touchdown against the UNLV Rebels during the fourth quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies running back LaJuan Hunt (21) runs the ball for a touchdown against the UNLV Rebels during the fourth quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies running back LaJuan Hunt (21), center, jumps in the air as he falls after running the ball against the UNLV Rebels during the fourth quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
UNLV Rebels linebacker Javin White (16), left, tackles Utah State Aggies tight end Dax Raymond (87), right, during the fourth quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies safety Dallin Leavitt (2) jumps as he celebrates after catching an interception against the UNLV Rebels during the fourth quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies running back Tre Miller (20), left, is tackled by the UNLV Rebels during the fourth quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies running back Justen Hervey (34) scores a touchdown against the UNLV Rebels during the fourth quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies running back Justen Hervey (34), left, celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the UNLV Rebels during the fourth quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
Utah State Aggies linebacker Ofa Latu (40), left, catches an interception against the UNLV Rebels during the last seconds of the fourth quarter of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
The Utah State Aggies celebrate after defeating the UNLV Rebels at the end of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
The Utah State Aggies celebrate after defeating the UNLV Rebels at the end of a football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Utah State Aggies won 52-28. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto
For the second consecutive week, UNLV gave up a multiple-touchdown lead, but that’s not the Rebels’ only concern.
They lost quarterback Armani Rogers to a head injury in the second quarter, and he didn’t return in Saturday’s 52-28 loss to Utah State at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Rogers’ status for next Saturday’s game at Fresno State will be determined later in the week as he enters the concussion protocol. Kurt Palandech and Johnny Stanton will prepare to play in the 7 p.m. game.
UNLV (2-5, 1-3 Mountain West) took 14-point leads three times in the first half against the Aggies (4-4, 2-2), going up 14-0, 21-7 and 28-14. Utah State rallied to tie the game at 28 before halftime and took the lead at 35-28 with 6:38 left in the third quarter on quarterback Jordan Love’s 5-yard touchdown run.
Love was the surprise starter in place of Kent Myers, and he completed 19 of 27 passes for 316 yards and touchdowns of 70 and 75 yards. He also rushed for 42 yards and a score.
But Love didn’t have to get Utah State out of as deep a hole as Air Force emerged from a week earlier when the Falcons erased a 27-0 UNLV lead to win 34-30.
Lexington Thomas led the Rebels with 161 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Before he went out, Rogers had completed 5 of 12 passes for 37 yards and rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
“We’re at a low right now, so we’ve got to figure out how to fight our way back out of this,” UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said. “There’s a lot of accountability that needs to be addressed, and there are some areas that immediately we need to see improvement and play better in.”