5 takeaways from UNLV’s loss to UCLA

Here are five takeaways from UNLV’s 42-21 loss to UCLA on Saturday at the Rose Bowl:

1. The Rebels still need to wrap up runners better

UNLV had at least 14 missed tackles in its season-opening 50-point win over Jackson State and that area didn’t improve against the Bruins. The Rebels allowed UCLA to score touchdowns on its first four possessions of the game as the Bruins kept drives alive by breaking tackles and piling up plenty of yards after contact. In the second quarter, Soso Jamabo swept left and was seemingly stopped before changing direction and cutting all the way across the field for a 23-yard TD run that was aided by a block from quarterback Josh Rosen.

2. UNLV still needs to generate more of a pass rush

Last in the country in sacks last season with nine, the Rebels are only on a slightly better pace this year with one in each of their first two games. UNLV didn’t apply much pressure on Rosen, who despite not being very sharp and having his receivers drop several balls still managed to complete 23 passes to a whopping 14 different wideouts for 267 yards. Rosen’s 29-yard TD pass to Mossi Johnson in the middle of the end zone in the second quarter was way too easy. Linebacker LaKeith Walls recorded the only sack on Rosen in the third quarter.

3. The Rebels’ running game is for real

After rushing for 280 yards and 6.4 yards per carry against Jackson State, a Football Championship Subdivision school, UNLV proved it wasn’t a fluke by running for 175 yards and 5.0 ypc against UCLA, which entered the season ranked No. 16 in the nation. Sophomore starter Lexington Thomas led the way with 19 carries for 112 yards and a TD, junior quarterback Johnny Stanton had 10 carries for 46 yards and a score and senior David Greene powered his way for a pair of fourth-down conversions.

4. Stanton is still a work in progress

Stanton was sensational in his first career Division I start against the Tigers, completing 10 of 12 passes for 217 yards, three TDs and zero interceptions. However, he turned in an uneven performance against UCLA. He completed only 11 of 28 passes for 153 yards and a TD and also ran for a score while throwing two ugly interceptions, both on first down. Randall Goforth came up with both picks for the Bruins, returning the first 52 yards to set up a short TD drive that made it 28-7 in the second quarter and snagging the other to stop a drive at midfield as the Rebels were mounting a comeback in the third quarter.

5. UNLV still needs to learn how to finish

With the Rebels trailing 28-21 after the third quarter, it marked the 11th time in 14 games under coach Tony Sanchez that UNLV was either leading or within a touchdown in the fourth quarter. However, the Rebels have won only four of those games: two were blowouts of Football Championship Subdivision schools and the other two they were ahead the entire fourth quarter. UNLV has yet to win a game under Sanchez that it’s trailed in the fourth quarter.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354. Follow him on Twitter: @tdewey33