Decker leads Rebels back to 35-31 lead

HONOLULU — This time, at least, UNLV didn’t get blown out at Aloha Stadium.

But for the Rebels this was as hard as a loss can get.

Hawaii had one play and one second left, and Ikaika Woolsey completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Kemp to hand the Rebels a heartbreaking 37-35 victory on Saturday night.

UNLV (2-10, 1-67) finishes its season on Saturday against UNR at Sam Boyd Stadium. Hawaii is 4-8, 3-4 in the Mountain West.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jared Lebowitz received his first career start, replacing Blake Decker, who has been dealing with various injuries, including to his neck and hip.

Lebowitz made an immediate impact, completing a 27-yard pass to Marcus Sullivan to set up his own 18-yard touchdown run just 2:37 into the game. The play, set up by Hawaii native Peni Vea’s interception, gave the Rebels their first lead here since they beat the Rainbow Warriors 34-32 in 2000.

Then Lebowitz did it again, completing a pass to wide receiver Devante Davis, who then dashed down the left sideline for an 81-yard gain to the 15. It was the Rebels’ first 80-plus-yard completion since Jon Denton connected with Len Ware for 82 yards in 1997 against Air Force.

Shaquille Murray-Lawrence finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to put UNLV up 14-0.

The Rebels had the chance to take full control after a successful fake punt, with Logan Yunker completing a 24-yard pass to Kendal Keys to the 13. But then Lebowitz threw an ill-advised pass on the next play, and it was intercepted by Hawaii’s Marrell Jackson and run out to the Warriors’ 24.

That would be a theme the rest of the first half. UNLV failed to capitalize on opportunities, be it a key dropped pass or a costly interception, and Hawaii rallied to tie the game at 14 by halftime. Still, the Rebels could have taken a 17-14 lead into the locker room, but Jonathan Leiva’s 25-yard field goal was low and blocked by Hawaii’s Moses Samia, who parted the Rebels up the middle.

The game remained tied until late in the third quarter when UNLV inserted its No. 2 defensive line as part of its rotation. Those backups have struggled all season, and they gave up promptly gave up a 94-yard scoring drive, capped by a 48-yard touchdown run by Diocemy Saint Juste with 3:30 left to put the Warriors ahead 21-14.

Hawaii extended its lead to 24-14 early in the fourth quarter on Tyler Hadden’s 40-yard field goal.

Decker then replaced Lebowitz at quarterback and completed a 56-yard pass to Devonte Boyd. That set up Decker’s 14-yard touchdown throw to Sullivan to bring UNLV within 24-21 with 11:39 left.

The Rebels took a 28-24 lead on Decker’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Maika Mataele with 4:51 remaining. But then Hawaii went back in front with 2 minutes left on Joey Iosefa’s 1-yard TD run. Iosefa rushed for 219 yards.

Then Decker came back with his third touchdown pass, a 7-yarder to H-back Taylor Barnhill with 15 seconds left.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.