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Wild is the best way to describe the most recent outing for the UNLV Rebels but ultimately the team managed to overcome losing both their quarterback and linebacker captains to win a war of attrition.
UNLV got the better of Vanderbilt, 40-37, Saturday, Sept. 16 from Allegiant Stadium in a game where both teams combined for 37 points in the final 17 minutes of the game. Coming into play, the Commodores were favored by four and a half points.
“We joked for a second in the locker room, that's just how we drew it up,” head coach Barry Odom said. “The mental toughness, the resolve, the ability for our kids to continue to make plays in all three phases of the game.”
The Rebels won the first part of the home-and-home in 2019 however, this marked the first time the program has hosted an SEC school. With his SEC history, Odom now has a 4-1 all-time record against Vanderbilt.
UNLV will hit the road again next week for a matchup against UTEP Saturday, Sept. 23 in Texas. The program lost its only other road game so far this season which was last week against the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines, the highest-ever ranked opponent in team history.
“This team can be a good football team,” Odom said. “We’ve got to continue to grow, we’ve got to learn from the things we didn’t do well today – the things we did well, apply them. And then go make sure we’re ready and in position in six and a half short days to play a good UTEP team.”
There was a wild field goal swing that shifted momentum back in favor of the Rebels and in their favor for good. A late turnover in regulation provided Vanderbilt with a prime opportunity to take the lead with a field goal or a touchdown. The Commodores would settle for a 33-yard field goal from the right hash mark but would have its attempt fade to the right.
“[It was] surreal,” senior defensive back Jerrae Williams said. “Because I was going to try to block it. I didn’t even look back, I just heard the crowd. Our fans were so into it tonight man, that’s the best feeling."
With new life injected and 44 seconds left on the clock, UNLV had a string of three straight plays that catapulted it to its second win in three games to open the year. Facing a 3rd and 6, senior running back Jordan Younge-Humphrey broke free for 10 yards and a new set of downs.
“We work on the two-minute drill - how many times fellas?” Odom asked during the postgame press conference. “Every end of practice we’re in some sort of game situation and you just hope and pray as a coach that you get in those situations as a team and those habits become gameday reality.”
In quick strike fashion, freshman quarterback Jayden Maiava hit junior receiver Ricky White III for 48 yards deep down the sideline, setting the team up in prime field goal position. White finished with a game-high 161 yards on a game-high 12 receptions.
“We’ve got good chemistry going on,” Maiava said. “Not just with Ricky White but with all the receivers in the receiving core.”
First-year Rebel kicker Jose Pizano drilled the game-winner from 36 yards out with five seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Maiava nearly went from hero to goat late in regulation with a vital interception before returning to hero status with the aforementioned trio of plays. With just under two and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter, he found junior receiver Jacob De Jesus for a 48-yard score to give the home team a 37-30 lead.
On the next possession, Maiava was picked off following the game-tying touchdown by Vanderbilt. Earlier in the second half, the visitors scored 13 unanswered points as a response to 30 straight points by UNLV.
“After I threw that pick I was like, ‘What am I doing,’” Maiava said. “My whole demeanor changed but my team brought me back up so I felt confident going out there again for the next drive.”
It was a wild turn of events that even led Maiava to being the lead man for the Rebels as junior quarterback Doug Brumfield. From kickoff, Brumfield was under fire, suffering big hit after big hit.
“It’s just next man up mentality,” Maiava said. “You’ve got to be ready when your name is called so I told coach, ‘I was ready and confident.’”
Brumfield was leveled on a 3rd and 11 that resulted in a pick-six for the first Vanderbilt points of the night. That’s how the first UNLV drive concluded. It’s second drive stalled after he was sacked facing a 3rd and 12.
On ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) it was circulating that Brumfield was seen on the sideline vomiting after taking a shot to the ribs. At that time, the offense had mustered just six total yards.
“I think he’s going to be cleared and ready to go,” Odom said. “It seemed like all tests were in a good way for him so that’s positive.”
Through two-plus games this season, Brumfield had posted starkly different numbers than he did to start last year’s campaign. This year, he has posted 201 yards on a 56% completion percentage with zero touchdowns and two interceptions to go along with a 1.6 average rushing the ball.
For comparative purposes, he recorded 773 yards on 71% of his passes with seven touchdowns and an interception with 120 rushing yards and two rushing scores through the first three games last year.
“It would not be wise of me to judge anything based off last year,” Odom said. “Once we had the opportunity to become the coaching staff here we removed – it doesn’t matter what year you are, walk-on, scholarship, it does not matter. This is our team, let’s coach them and try to get them in position to play their best ball.” Maiava made the throws when it mattered most in many cases to the tune of 19-of-33 on the night with 257 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 29 yards on seven carries with a rushing score for the 30th straight point.
A little over 16 minutes into the game, the Commodores had built a 17-0 lead over the Rebels after a long touchdown pass pretty much sucked whatever remaining energy in the building out.
“I was hopeful that we would respond and keep blinders on,” Odom said. “No matter if we’re up by 17 or down by 17, let’s go play ball and play one snap at a time.”
Although, it was a facemask penalty on the Vandy defense that provided a glimmer of hope for UNLV. Freshman running back Jai’Den Thomas scored the program’s first touchdown of the night on a 22-yard scamper.
More fortune nearly came on the ensuing kick return after the Rebels’ special teams unit forced a fumble but couldn’t come up with the recovery. To that point, the Commodores had fumbled twice but had yet to commit a turnover.
UNLV would get exactly what it had come so close to on the final play of the drive, forcing another fumble on the punt attempt. That turnover sparked a drive that allowed the home team to climb to within seven points of tying the game after a Pizano field goal.
The biggest moment of the first half came from Williams, who scored the program’s first defensive touchdown of the year on a scoop-and-score following the team’s fourth forced fumble of the game. That game-shifting play tied the game at 17 points apiece.
“That’s just my coaches having faith in me,” he said. “They called my blitz, they called me to go everytime I’m told [that], I’m going to get that for you, I’m going to try my best - my full effort.”
Williams’ big play came on a drive where the defense lost captain Jackson Woodard to a targeting penalty which disqualified from the contest.
“We lost some good players today,” Odom said. “And guys behind them, stepped up and made big time plays.”
Williams had another big day for the UNLV defense, recording eight tackles (three tackles for loss) and a sack. His first sack was followed by another one from teammate Cameron Oliver while one of his tackles for loss was coupled with an interception from junior defensive back Johnathan Baldwin.
That defensive sequence set Pizano and company up to take the team’s first lead of the game at 20-17 heading into the halftime locker room.