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Sitting at 4-1 for the second straight year, the feeling around the UNLV Rebels football program is different this time around.
Following a second straight rivalry win which yielded more hardware, the program is now one win away from bowl eligibility for the first time since 2013. Most recently, UNLV smacked intra-state rival Nevada – Reno, 45-17, Saturday, Oct. 14 from MacKay Stadium.
The Rebels retained the Fremont Cannon with the win while winning on the road in this rivalry for the fourth time in the last six tries.
“You feel the momentum in the city, not just with our sport,” Odom said. “I’m thrilled for our program to be 5-1, 2-0 in the conference but that’s right where UNLV should be. We’ll see how good we can get between now and next Saturday.”
UNLV needs just one more win to be bowl eligible, sitting with a 5-1 overall record with six more games left on the regular season schedule.
Next week, the program will return home for its Homecoming game when it will host Colorado State inside Allegiant Stadium Saturday, Oct. 21. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.
Right in the middle of the team's latest outing, the Rebels scored 21 straight points to extend a one touchdown lead into a 28-point lead. During that stretch, Senior running back Donavyn Lester scored two of his game-high three touchdowns.
Lester’s first score of the night came in the opening quarter to cap a 10-play drive and give UNLV a 14-0 lead. Early in the second quarter, he’d add his second scoring run of the game on his way to a team-high 99 rushing yards on 10 carries to go along with the trio of scores.
Fellow senior running back Vincent Davis Jr. scored the final Rebel touchdown of the night from nine yards out as the team closed the night with 259 yards on 48 carries.
As a result of that final score from Davis Jr., UNLV reached the 40-point mark for a school-record fourth straight game and fifth time through the first six games.
Early big time success from junior receiver Ricky White III opened the rushing game up after he took an out route 59 yards to the house for a touchdown on the team’s second offensive play from scrimmage.
A quarter later, he’d strike for another score on a 82-yard connection from freshman quarterback Jayden Maiava. White closed the night with a game-high 166 receiving yards on seven catches which was also a game-high.
Maiava got the start for the third straight game and has been tabbed the man to lead this team currently by the coaching staff unless something changes in the future.
“Everybody’s not going to like this comment but I think we’ve got three quarterbacks that we can win with,” Odom said. “And all three are continuing to get better.”
Statistically speaking, Maiava posted his best outing throwing for 259 yards on 19-of-24 with two touchdowns. In his three starts this season, he has compiled 591 yards and four touchdowns versus one interception while completing 63% of his passes.
“I thought he was smart with his decisions,” Odom said. “There were a couple that we wish we had back but that’s learning, that’s experience, that’s part of the process.”
Once again, the offense was set up by a stout performance by the Rebel defense which held the Wolf Pack scoreless for more than 21 minutes as the lead was stretched. In addition, UNLV won the turnover battle, 3-0.
Junior linebacker Jackson Woodard was responsible for the first turnover of the night as he picked up his first interception of his collegiate career. He also led the team with nine total tackles.
Junior defensive back Johnathan Baldwin snatched his second interception of the year just before halftime to go along with six tackles. Senior defensive back Trenton Holloway came away with the last turnover of the night on a late fumble recovery with the game well in hand.