Rebels grounded at Colorado Springs.
The Air Force Falcons remember last year’s shootout at Sam Boyd Stadium that left them on the short end of the stick in a 42-39 loss.
Despite coming off two straight tough losses, the Falcons much improved running game was looking to run to a victory. Throughout the season, the Rebels have shown an inability to stop any form of a running attack, often leaving their secondary to do the dirty work.
UNLV meanwhile came in reeling off a tough heartbreaking loss to rival Reno in the Cannon game. On the flip side, the Rebels spread offense was starting to click, as the Rebels has mustered a solid 20 points last week and racked up 454 yards of total offense.
As expected another offensive explosion took place…for the Falcons that is. The Falcons ran all over UNLV accumulating 309 yards…on the ground. That coupled with a decent 123 through the air doomed the Rebels in a 31-14 romping. Even though the Rebels accumulated 471 total yards of offense, they were unable to capitalize on turnovers, excellent field position, and clock management. UNLV was inefficient on fourth down being stopped four times, including a fourth and goal from the 1 yard line in the first quarter when the Rebels trailed 7-0.
Time and time again Falcons quaterback Shaun Carney and wide receiver (yes a wide receiver was burning us on the ground…damn reverses and short shovel passes) Chad Hall plowed through for large gains, including 5 runs of runs of 50 yards or more.
The Rebels first score came as time expired at the half, as Travis Dixon rolled to his left on a bootleg and scampered into the endzone untouched. The score fueled the Rebels who had failed to score in the first quarter after marching down to the Falcon 1 yard line.
The Falcons got two more scores and never looked back jumping out to a 21-7 lead before Frank Summers who rushed for 100 yards got the Rebels second score of the night. Responding right away the Falcons scored another touchdown and sealed the deal. Air Force put the finishing touches on the game after nailing a 34 yard field goal with 1:40 to go in the game sealing the marker 31-14.
Inconsistency on behalf of the defense as well the clutch special teams unit doomed the Rebels. Aguayo missed another field goal falling to 9/12 on the year and leaving him one short of second all time in school history. He has now missed three out of his last four attempts. The ever reliant Brian Pacheco also struggled, netting a seven yard punt midway through the 3rd quarter.
UNLV fell to 2-4 (1-2 Mountain West) on the year after dropping two in a row. For now the Utah victory seems but a distant memory following two tough losses. The Rebels will return home after the two game road swing and face the defending Mountain West Conference Champions BYU at Sam Boyd. This game can either make or break the season for UNLV, which is much need of a confidence booster.
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