No. 16 UNLV Rides Second-Quarter Barrage to 45-23 Win Over Nevada
Reno, NV -- For a quarter, it looked like the Battle for the Silver State might turn into a shootout.
Then No. 16 UNLV reminded everyone why it arrived with a number next to its name.
The Rebels exploded for 24 points in the second quarter and rode a punishing rushing attack to a 45-23 victory over Nevada on Saturday, seizing control of the rivalry game before halftime and never allowing the Wolf Pack back within striking distance.
UNLV turned a 10-7 first-quarter deficit into a 31-13 halftime lead with one of its most complete stretches of football this season.
Nevada struck early. After UNLV opened the scoring on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Treston McMillan to Taeshaun Lyons, the Wolf Pack answered with a 3-yard touchdown run by Maeauliaki Smith and a 43-yard field goal from Diego Napolitano to take a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter.
That advantage was short-lived.
McMillan found Lyons again early in the second quarter, this time from 8 yards out, to put the Rebels back in front. From there, UNLV’s ground game took over.
Richard Rusnak broke free for a 31-yard touchdown run midway through the quarter, and sophomore Kamran Williams powered in from 8 yards out to extend the margin. Rickie Rosenfels added a 37-yard field goal in the final minutes of the half, capping a 24-point outburst that flipped the game decisively in UNLV’s favor.
Williams was the centerpiece of the Rebels’ offensive control. The sophomore tailback carried 19 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns, earning Player of the Game honors. His second score, a 4-yard run early in the fourth quarter, pushed the lead to 45-16 and effectively sealed the outcome.
McMillan was efficient and opportunistic, throwing three touchdown passes — two to Lyons and a 9-yard strike to DeAngelo Irvin Jr. in the third quarter — as UNLV consistently capitalized on scoring opportunities.
Nevada managed points but struggled to match touchdowns with touchdowns. Napolitano connected on field goals from 44 and 51 yards in the second and third quarters, respectively, and Smith added a 16-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Perry in the fourth. But the Wolf Pack could not keep pace once UNLV established its rhythm.
PASSING LEADER
T. McMillan -- 13/21, 197 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT, 6 att, 91 yds
RUSHING LEADER
K. Williams -- 19 att, 132 yds, 2 TD, 1 rec, 20 yds
RECEIVING LEADER
T. Lyons -- 5 rec, 114 yds, 2 TD
PASSING LEADER
M. Smith -- 27/34, 305 yds, 1 TD, 1 rush TD
RUSHING LEADER
D. Clark -- 22 att, 138 yds
RECEIVING LEADER
I. Shelton -- 6 rec, 100 yds
