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UNLV fall to 0-8 after blowout by UNR

The avalanche continued as the UNLV Rebels fell to 0-8 on the year after being blown out by intra-state rival, Nevada -- Reno, 51-20, Friday, Oct. 29.


UNLV is 2-4 in its last six games against UNR, winning both games by an average of 4 points while the losses average 22.8 points.


The loss drops the team to 0-14 under head coach Marcus Arroyo in two seasons.


In addition, the Rebels are 0-4 in the Mountain West and will look to get its first win in 700-plus days against the New Mexico Lobos Saturday, Nov. 6.


That last win exactly 700 days ago came with former head coach Tony Sanchez at the helm in the very same MacKay Stadium.


Slow start is an understatement as UNLV was in danger of suffering its first shutout since 2011 against none other than, UNR.


This one got out to a 34-0 start for the Wolf Pack with the Rebels not getting on the board until late in the third quarter.


On its first play scrimmage, already trailing 7-0, UNLV was able to draw UNR offside but the drive stalled as the team would punt.


Later in the first quarter, now down 13-0, the Rebels suffered a delay of game on their first play of a new drive that would also end with a punt.


Even an interception by junior defensive back Phillip Hill late in the first quarter couldn’t spark the offense as freshman quarterback Cameron Friel would throw an interception one minute and four seconds later.


Friel would throw another interception, this time it was returned for a touchdown, on the team’s first drive of the second half.


At that point, UNLV trailed 27-0.


With a one-hand touchdown grab from UNR to run the lead to its largest of the game at 34-0, the away team mounted some offense.


Facing a fourth and four, Friel found wide receiver Steve Jenkins on a drive that produced more offense than in the entire first half.


That drive ended with a touchdown pass from Friel to wide receiver Kyle Williams for his first score of the year.


Williams caught five passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.


Friel threw his second touchdown of the night on a 18-yard strike to Jenkins, who finished with a career-high 12 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown.


Jenkins was seven yards short of tying his career-high which also came against the Wolf Pack.


Moreover, four of his eight career touchdowns have come against UNR.


Friel went 27-for-41, with 283 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.


The last interception was also a pick-six for the last Wolf Pack score of the game.


Freshman quarterback Doug Brumfield, who hasn’t played since Sept. 24, was dressed and on the sideline.


Senior running back Charles Williams came into the game No.1 in the FBS in rushing and No. 2 in the conference in the same category.


He scored his eighth touchdown of the year on a fourth and two in the fourth quarter.


Williams rushed for 30 yards on 17 carries with that one score and is now 49 yards away from becoming the all-time leading rusher in UNLV history.


This Rebel defense had no answer for a Carson Strong-led Wolf Pack which scored their first touchdown on a drive that took five plays before using 14 to score their second.


By halftime, sitting with a 20-0, UNR held a dominant advantage in total yards, 245-50 over UNLV.


In addition, the Rebels had -5 rushing yards halfway through the game.

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