Late surge from Broncos blows out weary Rebels
At the end, the game played out the way expected as Boise State pulled away while a tired and thin UNLV defense fell apart.
But the Rebels actually pushed Boise State, coming to within a possession once in the fourth quarter and an incomplete pass of doing it again.
After that incompletion with 7:38 to play at Sam Boyd Stadium, the Rebels’ last legitimate chance fell along with the football to the synthetic grass.
The Broncos then blew open the game with two late touchdowns to beat UNLV 55-27 on Saturday, illustrating the gulf that still exists between the Rebels and the Mountain West’s elite.
“I told the guys I’m truly proud of the way they came out, prepared and played against these guys,” UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said. “I’m disappointed in the way we finished. That’s kind of who we are. We just have to keep working and grinding away.”
It was the third difficult loss in a row for the Rebels (2-6, 1-3 Mountain West), but they should have little trouble focusing with Hawaii coming to town next weekend. That’s an emotional rivalry made even more bitter for the Rebels after they believed they were robbed last season in Honolulu.
They will have quarterback Blake Decker ready for the Rainbow Warriors, and it was made abundantly clear against Boise State (7-2, 4-1) the importance of having the senior back behind center.
Decker returned after missing the previous 2½ games because of a dislocated shoulder, and he completed 29 of 50 passes for 357 yards, with two interceptions occurring on desperation throws in the fourth quarter.
Two UNLV wide receivers broke 100 yards, with Devonte Boyd catching 10 passes for 116 yards and Aaron Criswell bringing in six for 105.
Last week’s bye gave Decker and the receivers an extra time to work together.
“That bye week gave us a lot of confidence,” Criswell said. “From there, you saw the production today.”
UNLV had to throw because running against Boise State, which entered the game allowing 81.4 yards, wasn’t much of an option. The Rebels rushed for 100 yards, well below their 213.6 average entering the game.
Boise State took advantage when it had the ball, gaining 705 yards on 90 plays.
Quarterback Brett Rypien completed 35 of 52 passes for 469 yards and two touchdowns, and Thomas Sperbeck caught 10 passes for 163 yards and Chaz Anderson seven for 106 and a touchdown.
Jeremy McNichols rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown, leading a Boise State ground game that totaled 232 yards and scored four times.
“We can’t give up 700 yards and expect to win games,” Rebels safety Peni Vea said. “It’s just something not doable.”
Even with all that working against the Rebels, they were down only 34-27 with 11:12 left after Xzaviar Campbell rushed into the end zone from 11 yards. Boise State struck back quickly with Rypien completing a 54-yard touchdown pass to Anderson with 9:48 remaining to go up 41-27.
UNLV had another chance to close to within a score, driving to the Broncos’ 3-yard line and facing second-and-goal. An incompletion, a completion from Decker to tight end Andrew Price for a loss of 2 yards and another incompletion ended the Rebels’ hopes.
Boise State coaches had to like their chances at that point — two assistants were in the bathroom during McNichols’ 40-yard touchdown run on the next drive — and the game was essentially over.
“When you look every game, it’s getting old and it’s getting frustrating, but our kids don’t quit,” Sanchez said. “They play their guts out. They give themselves chances.
“We’ve got to find a way to win at the end. There are more wins out there, and none of them are going to be easy. We’re improving and we’re getting better, but we don’t like the results. I’m sure the fans don’t like the results.”
— Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him: @markanderson65
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