Rebels flattened at BYU, 42-23

PROVO, Utah — UNLV quarterback Blake Decker is a tough guy, but even tough guys can take only so much.

And so it was that when Decker was flattened yet again early in the third quarter, he didn’t return.

Like Decker, the Rebels were knocked silly Saturday, handed a 42-23 defeat by Brigham Young at LaVell Edwards Stadium that would have been worse had the Cougars not backed off in the fourth quarter and stopped scoring.

And like Decker, this has been a season-long beating that mercifully will end in two weeks. Will it also be the end for coach Bobby Hauck at UNLV after five seasons?

UNLV (2-9) finishes its season Saturday at Hawaii and Nov. 29 at home against UNR.

Whether Decker is the starting quarterback next weekend remains to be seen. The game against BYU (6-4) marked the second week in a row he left and didn’t return after taking some serious hits.

Decker was fired up to play the Cougars because they cut him shortly before the 2013 spring practices. But he wasn’t sharp, completing 10 of 25 passes for 90 yards with one interception. BYU safety Kai Nacua, who went to Liberty High School, was responsible for that interception.

Jared Lebowitz finished the game and completed 10 of 20 passes for 114 yards and a 40-yard touchdown pass to Devonte Boyd, who made some UNLV history.

Boyd, who went to Basic High School, caught five passes for 70 yards, giving him 56 receptions for the season. That broke the previous Rebels freshman record of 55 catches, set by Ryan Wolfe in 2006.

“It’s a good accomplishment,” Boyd said. “I wasn’t really thinking about it. At first, I didn’t even know I was close to breaking the record until I had an interview at practice.”

The Rebels also made some plays on the ground, rushing for 199 yards. Shaquille Murray-Lawrence had 143 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown, on 20 carries. Keith Whitely gained 51 yards on 13 rushes.

UNLV had opportunities to make the Cougars fight for this victory.

With about five minutes remaining in the first quarter and UNLV trailing 7-3, the Rebels had third-and-5 at the Cougars’ 47-yard line. Decker rolled to his right and passed to Whitely, who had plenty of running room in front of him. Whitely began to run before he caught the ball, and what should have been a long gain turned into an incomplete pass, and the Rebels punted.

BYU twice handed the Rebels gifts of muffed kicks. Despite taking over at the Cougars’ 38 and 18, UNLV settled for field goals both times.

“We’re not good enough to not capitalize on those plays,” Hauck said. “Certainly on the road against a team like BYU, it’s not going to be enough.”

The first missed opportunity was particularly egregious. UNLV moved to the 5, but failed to get in on three tries. On third down from the 3, Whitely was stuffed on a run up the middle for a 1-yard loss.

“It’s got a pass option on it, too,” Hauck said of the third-down call. “Based on what they gave us, the read was give the run rather than throw it.”

After the second muffed kick, Decker was injured on an incomplete pass on first down, and Lebowitz wasn’t able to move the Rebels much closer on the next two plays.

UNLV’s chances of winning weren’t great even if both drives had resulted in touchdowns. But, for certain, the Rebels had no chance trying to win with field goals.

“It’s unacceptable to keep settling for field goals,” Boyd said. “Our offense — us the receivers, me, everybody — needs to step it up, and we need to find a way to push it into the end zone when we get into the red zone.”

The Rebels also missed out on several opportunities to sack BYU quarterback Christian Stewart. He repeatedly bought extra time, completing 18 of 32 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns.

“It’s really frustrating,” UNLV linebacker Matt Lea said. “You’re right there ready to make the play. You’ve just got to finish.”

Stewart’s top target was Mitch Mathews, who caught six passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.

This was the Rebels’ first game against BYU since 2010 when both teams played in the Mountain West. The Cougars then became an independent.

UNLV was supposed to host the Cougars next season, but that game now will be played in 2016 or 2017.

“It was a hard-fought, fun game to be a part of tonight,” Hauck said. “Aside from the score and us not being able to fight our way back in the end of it and get back into it, I thought it was a hell of a game, and I enjoyed it and would like to do it again.”

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