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UNLV Football is staring at its first 0-2 start since 2015 and it’s sixth in the last 11 years.
On Halloween night, the Rebels dropped their season opener at Allegiant Stadium to their in-state rivals, Nevada Wolf Pack, 37-19.
With the win, UNR takes back control of the Fremont Cannon and will turn it blue for the first time since 2017.
“I’m proud of some of the improvements,” head coach Marcus Arroyo said. “But again, we’re not into moral victories.”
UNLV won’t have to wait long to try again for its first home win as it takes on Fresno State at Allegiant Stadium Saturday, November 7.
“It’s exciting to come to a great and amazing venue that people worked so hard to get us into, so we’re grateful for that,” he said. “Allegiant Stadium is amazing and the people that put the blood, sweat and tears into putting this together did a phenomenal job to get this ready for all of us in a really tough time.”
Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m.
While the Rebel offense did show major signs of improvement, a slow start kept the team from keeping pace with their arch rival.
Junior kicker Daniel Gutierrez nailed his first two field goal attempts on UNLV’s first two drives from 36 and 31 yards out respectively.
At that point, UNR’s lead was 10-6.
Eleven seconds after, the Wolf Pack scored on a 65-yard pass completion to take an 11-point lead.
That wasn’t the only thing that didn’t go the Rebels way in the second quarter.
Down 17-6, senior quarterback Max Gilliam scrambled for a 19-yard touchdown only to have the play called back due to offensive holding.
It was the second penalty on a drive in the red zone.
The Rebels would score six plays later.
Later in the fourth quarter, UNLV was stopped on a fourth down inside the UNR 10-yard line trailing 34-19.
Gilliam got the start for the Rebels and went the distance, finishing the night with 207 yards on 27-of-40 passing and two touchdowns.
UNLV’s two touchdown drives were of 11 and 14 plays each with both going for over 80 yards.
The loss knocks Gilliam to 1-8 for his collegiate career as a starter.
Sophomore wide receiver Steve Jenkins caught a touchdown for the second consecutive game and ended with 30 yards on three catches.
Tight end Noah Bean had seven receptions for 66 yards as well.
Junior wide receiver Tyleek Collins racked up 168 all-purpose yards including 92 total kick return yards.
He also had five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Senior running back Charles Williams, also known as “Chuck Wagon,” tallied 99 yards on 19 carries in addition to reeling in five passes for 22 yards.
With his performance, Williams moved past former UNLV running back Michael Morton for sixth all-time on the program’s career rushing list with 2,624 yards.