REBELS TAKE LEAD ON AIR FORCE
Casey Flair caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Omar Clayton to give UNLV a 21-20 lead over Air Force entering the fourth quarter at Sam Boyd Stadium.
The score came after the Falcons had extended their lead to six points on a 23-yard field goal by Ryan Harrison.
Air Force used a 59-yard completion from Tim Jefferson to Travis Dekker to get inside UNLV’s 5-yard line, but the Falcons could not punch it in and had to settle for a field goal.
Air Force had lined up to go for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line, but a false start penalty on the center forced the Falcons back 5 yards.
UNLV marched down the field on its opening drive of the second half, but failed to take the lead when Ben Jaekle’s 43-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
Clayton is 16 of 23 for 214 yards, but the Falcons have outrushed UNLV, 279-75.
BIG STOP
UNLV cornerback Lorenzo Bursey Jr. tackled Asher Clark on a fourth-down carry in the final minute of the third quarter.
He also caused a fumble on the play, but the stop already meant the Rebels would be getting the ball back.
It was a pivotal play as Air Force was driving to try to regain the lead.
PAYNE MIXES IT UP
UNLV receiver Phillip Payne has become a threat to score every time the Rebels reach the red zone.
Tonight, however, he is doing damage all over the field.
The freshman from Western High School has five catches for 102 yards through three quarters. It marks the first 100-yard game of his brief career.
EXTRA YARDS
On Dekker’s 59-yard reception, the senior tight end picked up about 35 extra yards by jumping over UNLV cornerback Geoffery Howard.
Howard came up to try to make the tackle, but he kept his head down and Dekker jumped completely over him, then landed and regained his stride instantly.
ROUGEAU DOESN’T WIN
UNLV senior basketball player Rene Rougeau was unsuccessful in his bid to become homecoming king.
Rougeau was a member of the court, but was not crowned when the results were announced at halftime of tonight’s game.
