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    Cannon stays red as UNLV secures berth in Mountain West Championship

    Writer's picture: Terrel EmersonTerrel Emerson

    Four weeks ago, UNLV football head coach Barry Odom spoke about what was still left to accomplish after losing a mid-season chance at first place in a loss to Boise State. A 10-win season was the mission.


    It’s accomplished now after his Rebels beat the Nevada — Reno Wolf Pack, 38-14, Saturday, Nov. 30 from Allegiant Stadium in the 50th Battle for the Fremont Cannon. The program has now won three straight meetings in the rivalry.


    “For whatever reason, there was a narrative or noise throughout the week from the other team that the rivalry meant more to them,” Odom said. “I don’t know why — I don’t spend time talking about our opponent, I talk about us and focus on us. We know where the cannon will stay.”


    UNLV needed a win in the team’s final home game of the season in order to clinch a spot in the Mountain West Championship for the second straight season. It’s the first time in program history that the school has been bowl-eligible in back-to-back seasons.


    “To get 10 wins in college football is tough to do,” Odom said. “Speaks volumes about the leadership of our football team with our players, their toughness, their resolve, their willingness to continue to work.”


    It will now play No. 11 Boise State with a chance to take the Mountain West. Earlier this season, the two met in Las Vegas with the Broncos edging the Rebels, 29-24.


    The upcoming matchup will have a different backdrop as Boise State will host unlike last year where it clinched the title inside Allegiant Stadium. However, this year’s UNLV squad sports a 6-0 record away from home.


    “It creates other opportunities,” Odom said. “Now in a short week, we know what’s at stake and [we’re] certainly excited about getting back-to-back years in the Mountain West Championship game. The clock doesn’t stop, it’ll be here quick.”


    A win in the Mountain West title game means moving on to the College Football Playoff. Presently, Boise State is in the fourth slot of the playoff and are set to receive a first round bye.


    “This team’s been a lot of fun to coach,” Odom said. “I don’t want it to stop because obviously we’ve got a lot of opportunities in front of us that we can go create. It’ll come down again to our preparation and our habits because those always become game day reality.”

    In the second half against the Wolf Pack, the Rebel defense nearly pitched a shutout. It nearly kept its opponent scoreless for the final 55 minutes of the 60-minute ball game before the visitors scored with just 1:19 left in regulation.


    Before that, UNLV’s only hiccup on defense came on the first drive of the night. UNR scored from 45 yards out through the air on blown coverage.


    Through the air was the Wolf Pack’s only option as the Rebel defense had any possible running lanes sewn up for most of the game. By the first possession for the visitors in the second quarter, the team had -23 rushing yards to its credit.


    At the final buzzer, the defense compiled six sacks, 12 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.


    Senior defensive lineman Alexander Whitmore secured a second quarter sack. On the very next play, senior defensive back Jarvis Ware forced a fumble with another sack. Senior linebacker Jackson Woodard scooped up the fumble at the goal line before scoring the touchdown to take a 10-point lead.


    “I’m extremely proud,” Woodard said. “This team has poured so much into it. This defense goes to work every single day.”


    Senior cornerback Cameron Oliver snagged the team’s lone interception just before halftime on a play where the receiver had gotten behind him before the underthrown ball was lofted toward the end zone. The secondary also added three pass breakups.


    With just one rushing yard logged for UNR, UNLV continued to rely on its rushing attack. At one point of the second quarter, the home team led that category, 125-1.

    By the end of the game, the Rebels rushed for 352 yards while holding its opponent to just 67.


    ”The rushing yards,” fifth-year quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams said with a smile. “We dominated the line of scrimmage and that’s one of the points of emphasis for winning football.”


    Sophomore running back Jai’Den Thomas scored the team’s first touchdown of the game which accounted for his seventh of the season. He finished with a game-high 135 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.


    Fifth-year quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams got in on the rushing touchdown action too. He raced to the end zone for his ninth of the year, which leads the team. The transfer didn’t start until Week 4.


    “I have such great respect for how Hajj has approached every single day since he’s been here in January,” Odom said. “Things early on in the season, he didn’t get his number called but every single day at practice, in meetings, his process did not change. Hajj is going to be so successful in life.”


    Williams rushed for 104 yards on 10 carries in addition to that touchdown. He also went 14-for-21 through the air for 168 yards and two touchdowns. In 10 games played this season, he’s racked up 768 yards on 130 touches with 1,735 passing yards on 64% completions with 17 touchdowns to just four interceptions.

    When and where he could, Williams went to All-American receivers. Senior receiver Ricky White III made a touchdown grab on his way to 55 yards and a score on five catches. He nearly blocked another punt which would’ve added to his country-leading mark already.


    Fellow senior receiver Jacob De Jesus burst for 30 yards on a quick touch pass on the team’s first play of the game. He’d end the night with a team-high 84 yards on six catches.


    Senior tight end Kaleo Ballungay caught the other Williams touchdown pass on the night. His touchdown opened the day’s scoring on the team’s first offensive possession of the night.


    UNLV started fast to the tune of 69 yards on six plays on a drive that took just two minutes and 11 seconds.


    With the game out of reach, backup quarterback Cameron Friel was able to get some burn on his Senior Night. Friel has spent all four of his collegiate seasons in Rebel red.

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