UNLV’s bowl hopes end with 23-16 loss at UNR
The Rebels Lose To UNR
UNLV Rebels defensive back Dalton Baker (33) returns the football and is tackled by Nevada Wolf Pack defensive back Ahki Muhammad (3) during the first half of their game in Reno, Nevada, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) runs with the football during the first half of their game against the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the first half of their game against the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) celebrates scoring a touchdown with UNLV Rebels running back Tyree Jackson (26) during the first half of their game against the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack wide receiver Wyatt Demps (19) scores a touchdown during the first half of their game against the UNLV Rebels in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack wide receiver Wyatt Demps (19) celebrates scoring a touchdown with wide receiver Andrew Celis (83), offensive lineman Sean Krepsz (64), offensive lineman Clifford Porter (65) and Nevada Wolf Pack offensive lineman Austin Corbett (73) during the first half of their game against the UNLV Rebels in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) carries the football against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) carries the football against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the first half of their game in Reno, Nevada, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels running back Xzaviar Campbell (35) runs with the football and is tackled by Nevada Wolf Pack defensive back Ahki Muhammad (3) during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels running back Xzaviar Campbell (35) runs with the football and is tackled by Nevada Wolf Pack defensive back Ahki Muhammad (3) during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels wide receiver Brandon Presley (80) catches the football and is tackled by Nevada Wolf Pack defensive back Ahki Muhammad (3) during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) throws the football before being tackled by Nevada Wolf Pack defensive end Malik Reed (90) during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels defensive line coach Tony Samuel, right, and head coach Tony Sanchez coach from the sideline as defensive back Greg Francis (23) looks on during the first half of their game in Reno, Nevada, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack running back Kelton Moore (23) heads for the end zone against the UNLV Rebels during the second half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack running back Kelton Moore (23) scores a touchdown against the UNLV Rebels during the second half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack running back Kelton Moore (23) scores a touchdown against the UNLV Rebels during the second half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack linebacker Austin Paulhus (50) sacks UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) during the second half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack head coach Jay Norvell coaches from the sideline as his players look on during the second half of their game against the UNLV Rebels in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels defensive lineman Mike Hughes Jr. (99) and defensive back Jericho Flowers (7) tackle Nevada Wolf Pack running back Kelton Moore (23) during the second half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels running back Lexington Thomas (3) runs with the football against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels wide receiver Darren Woods Jr. (10) makes a catch against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) stands up in the pocket and avoids a tackle during the first half of their game against the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack running back Kelton Moore (23) carries the football against the UNLV Rebels during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
The UNLV Rebels prepare to come on the Chris Ault Field for their game against the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack linebacker Travis Wilson (34), defensive back Jimbo Davis (22) and defensive back Ryan Mack (20) prepare to lead the team on to the field before their game against the UNLV Rebels in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack wide receiver Daiyan Henley (11) runs after a catch against the UNLV Rebels during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
during the first half of their game in Reno, Nevada, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) prepares to throw the football during the first half of their game against the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) runs with the football during the first half of their game against the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) runs with the football during the first half of their game against the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack linebacker Lawson Hall (30) celebrates on the sideline after recovering a fumble during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack running back Kelton Moore (23) carries the football against the UNLV Rebels during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback Ty Gangi (6) looks for an open receiver during the first half of their game against the UNLV Rebels in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) hands off the football to running back Lexington Thomas (3) during the first half of their game against the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels football head coach Tony Sanchez on the sideline during the first half of their game against Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack running back Kelton Moore (23) fights for yards as is tackled by multiple UNLV Rebels defenders during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback Ty Gangi (6) throws the football during the first half of their game against the UNLV Rebels in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels running back Lexington Thomas (3) gets tackled by Nevada Wolf Pack defensive back Daniel Brown (25) as other defenders swarm in during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels running back Xzaviar Campbell (35) tries to run downfield as Nevada Wolf Pack linebacker Austin Paulhus (50) prepares to tackle him during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels defensive back Robert Jackson (24), linebacker Daniel Godfrey (39) and defensive lineman Nate Neal (91) leave the field after taking a loss to the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
UNLV Rebels running back Xzaviar Campbell (35) runs with the football and is tackled by Nevada Wolf Pack defensive back Ahki Muhammad (3) during the first half of their game in Reno, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang
Updated November 25, 2017 - 7:11 pm
RENO — Needing 1 yard to take control and put itself on the path to bowl eligibility, UNLV had two chances Saturday to pick up that valuable yard.
The Rebels didn’t get it either time.
UNR then seized momentum and rallied to beat the Rebels 23-16 at Mackay Stadium, keeping the Fremont Cannon blue and in Reno and ending UNLV’s hopes of playing one more game before 2017 ends.
The Rebels (5-7, 4-4 Mountain West) can look back at this defeat to UNR (3-9, 3-5), the season-opening loss to FCS member Howard and the 27-point blown lead at Air Force as reasons they came up short in making a bowl.
UNLV led 16-9 late in the third quarter and had the ball at the Wolf Pack’s 9-yard line. A field goal would have given the Rebels a two-possession lead, but needing just a yard for the first down, they could have all but put away the game with a touchdown.
Quarterback Armani Rogers on third down and running back Lexington Thomas on fourth down were stopped for no gain, giving the Wolf Pack the ball with 4:29 left in the quarter. They then went 91 yards in 3:48 to tie the score on Ty Gangi’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Trevion Armstrong.
“That fourth down-and-1, you’ve got to pick that up if you’re going to win a big rival game like that,” UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said. “We’ve done it time and time again. You’ve got to be tough ones to pick that one up.”
UNR scored the winning touchdown with 7:34 to play on Kelton Moore’s 1-yard touchdown run. The Rebels then drove to UNR’s 22, but Rogers was stopped for no gain on third-and-2 and then threw an incomplete pass with 1:14 left to effectively end the game.
Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.
