UNLV picks up 4th straight win in Silver State Rivalry as the Fremont Cannon stays red

UNLV poses with the Fremont Cannon after beating intrastate rival Nevada -- Reno, 42-17, inside Mackay Stadium Saturday night. Photo Credit: UNLV Athletics

UNLV made quick work of intrastate rival Nevada-Reno in a Week 14 matchup to extend its win streak in the Silver State Rivalry.

The Rebels pushed its overall win streak to four straight games with a, 42-17, win over the Wolf Pack Saturday, Nov. 29 from Mackay Stadium. UNLV earned its fourth straight win in the series while claiming the 50th installment of the “Battle for the Fremont Cannon” and in the 51st overall meeting between the two programs.

The win secured back-to-back 10-win seasons for the Rebels as they improved to 10-2 on the year. It’s the first time in program history that it has posted back-to-back double-digit win campaigns.

“I mean, we’re 10-2,” head coach Dan Mullen said. “If the only 10-win team in the conference doesn’t play for the conference title then I don’t know. I would look at that like jumping offsides, like there’s your problem with the conference.”

The Mountain West title game will be set tomorrow by computers based on the rankings of four different polls.

UNLV ran away with its win against UNR in more ways than one. It recorded 226 rushing yards against its rival including 72 in the first quarter. Over the last three games of the series, the Rebels have rushed for 836 total yards for an average of nearly 280 a game.

Junior running back Jai’Den Thomas tallied 36 yards on his first three carries of the game highlighted by a 17-yard touchdown scamper. He entered the game questionable due to injury.

Thomas escaped for 33 yards in the second quarter on the way to his big night. Last year, he racked up 148 scrimmage yards on 16 touches.

After scoring from 18 yards out on a wildcat-designed run, he had accounted for 67 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns in this one.

By the final horn, Thomas rushed for a career-high four touchdowns to go along with 103 yards on 11 carries.

Even junior quarterback Anthony Colandrea got in on the running action with a 17-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. That put the team up, 21-3, but earlier in the first half he tossed his lone touchdown pass of the game to senior receiver Troy Omeire.

The first half went so well that it was barely affected by a late second quarter interception by Colandrea, who ultimately threw two on the night.

Colandrea did throw for 270 yards on 15-of-22 passing to go along with his one touchdown and two interceptions.

As a team, UNLV went 6-for-6 in the red zone as part of the big win.

The Rebel defense jumped offsides on a 3rd and 6 during the second quarter. At that point, it was the unit’s fourth offsides call with three coming in the first quarter.

It quickly made up for the mistakes by forcing and recovering a fumble, something the defense would do two times in the win.

UNR started the game going 0-for-4 on third downs before converting on an attempt.

In total, UNLV’s defense was whistled for offsides eight times despite getting the victory. As a result, the team totaled 92 yards on 14 penalties.

Late in the game, sophomore Jaylon Glover was called for a personal foul and was believed to push the arm of Mullen as he was pulled out of the game following the infraction.

Just after halftime, the defense gave up its first touchdown of the game on a 17-yard run. That Wolf Pack drive began with a 58-yard run to get things going.