UNLV falls to San Diego State on the road, 26-7
SAN DIEGO — Dalton Sneed dazzled with two big touchdown plays in a near-flawless first collegiate start for UNLV. But the redshirt freshman quarterback could barely complete a pass in his second start, a 26-7 loss to San Diego State on Saturday night before an announced crowd of 33,296 at Qualcomm Stadium.
Sneed, who didn’t complete a pass until late in the third quarter, finished 2-for-12 for 9 yards and an interception a week after producing a 91-yard touchdown run and 61-yard touchdown pass in a 45-20 win over Fresno State.
“It’s youthfulnesss and inexperience,” Rebels coach Tony Sanchez said. “He went from playing his first college game last week to playing against a team that was ranked No. 19. To go against San Diego State, it’s a whole different beast. They’re a much more physical team.
“If anybody’s ever stood back there in a Division I football game and seen guys with their ears down coming, it’s a different thing. It’s not like catching a fly ball.”
The Aztecs (4-1, 1-0 Mountain West), coming off an upset loss at South Alabama that snapped their 13-game win streak and knocked them out of the polls, started fast, scoring on their first two possessions to jump in front 10-0. They appeared poised to blow out the Rebels (2-4, 1-1) before UNLV’s defense delivered a touchdown and came up with some key stops to keep the game close at halftime, when San Diego State led 13-7.
But the Aztecs wore down UNLV in the second half and nearly doubled the Rebels’ time of possession (38:02 to 21:58).
“We probably played well enough to win on defense,” Sanchez said. “Their defense was just flat out better than our offense, and it showed. If we had any type of consistent offensive explosion, you have a chance to win that game.
“You need to be able to throw the ball in a game like this.”
Rebels defensive lineman Dominic Baldwin scored on a 20-yard fumble recovery in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 10-7. Defensive end Jeremiah Valoaga forced the fumble, knocking the ball out of San Diego State quarterback Christian Chapman’s hand, and Baldwin picked it up and rumbled into the end zone.
The Aztecs, who never trailed, broke through for two touchdowns in the second half, as Donnel Pumphrey scored on a 9-yard run to cap a 60-yard drive in the third quarter and Rashaad Penny scored on a 4-yard run to cap a 81-yard drive in the fourth.
Pumphrey, a Canyon Springs High School product who leads the nation in rushing, finished with 141 yards on 31 carries and had a career-high seven receptions for 57 yards.
Penny rushed for 110 yards and opened the scoring with a wide-open 41-yard touchdown catch from Chapman, who completed 15 of 20 passes for 215 yards.
After Sneed guided UNLV to its only turnover-free game of the season against Fresno State, he threw an interception on the Rebels’ first offensive play and couldn’t get anything going after that.
“Obviously the offense didn’t score any points, and that hurts,” Sneed said. “Their defense put a good amount of pressure. They were blitzing five or six people on almost every play. It makes it extremely difficult for the line.
“Hats off to their defense, but that’s my fault. I need to stay in the pocket more, and I need to deliver the ball down the field. That’s on me.”
Sneed, who had 56 of the Rebels’ 113 rushing yards, was 0-for-5 with an interception and passer rating of minus-40 in the first half.
Junior quarterback Kurt Palandech made his first appearance this season late in the game, and Sanchez said he expects him and Sneed to split time going forward.
“We’ve probably got to play both of them now,” Sanchez said. “That might help Dalton a little bit. That he doesn’t feel so much is on him. He was really pressing early in the game.
“But I don’t think we’re going to play another front that’s going to be that physical the rest of the way.”
UNLV, a 15-point underdog that hasn’t won in San Diego since 2000, was outgained by 338 yards (460 to 122).
The final score was exactly half of UNLV’s 52-14 loss to the Aztecs last season at Sam Boyd Stadium.
”As far as us getting better, I think it showed we’re a much better, more competitive football team,” Sanchez said. “They’re kind of the barometer.”
UNLV will be at Hawaii (3-3, 2-0 MW) at 9 p.m. (PDT) on Saturday.
Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354. Follow him on Twitter: @tdewey33.
