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UNLV Football Drops a Heartbreaker to Division Leading Fresno State, 37-30

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Football

Playing at home for the first time in a month, the UNLV (4-6/2-4) football team lost a halftime lead for the first time this season in a 37-30 heartbreaker to first-place Fresno State (6-4/5-1) before a Veterans Day Friday night crowd of 23,146 at Allegiant Stadium.

Trailing by seven with just over seven minutes remaining, UNLV was stopped on a fourth-and-one rushing attempt in Bulldog territory, which allowed Fresno State to tack on a field goal and rebuild a double-digit advantage. The Rebels drove for another field goal but failed to corral an onside kick, which ended the game. It marked their second straight one-score loss, the third of the year and ninth in the last two seasons.

The Rebels, who piled up more total yards and first downs than the Bulldogs, scored on their opening drive for only the third time this season, using the first of three first-half field goals by Super Senior Daniel Gutierrez, who added another two in the second half.

UNLV, which led 16-14 at halftime, fell behind 27-19 but kicked a field goal and then scored on a 66-yard romp on another fourth-and-one play by running back Aidan Robbins, which was followed by the equalizing two-point conversion with under 10 minutes left. Fresno State responded with a 65-touchdown pass of its own before the critical fourth-down stop.

REBEL OF THE GAME:
Daniel Gutierrez became the first Rebel in history to make five field goals in a game (42, 48, 27, 38 and 33) and tied the school record for most kicking points with 16 (Evan Pantels vs. Howard in 2017). Gutierrez became UNLV's all-time leading kick scorer with 258 points, passing Nolan Kohorst, who had 247 from 2010-13.

STAT OF THE GAME:
The Bulldogs converted 3-of-3 fourth-down attempts and did not punt all evening. In fact, the only punt of the night came in the second half after UNLV was called for holding.

QUOTABLE:
"An awesome atmosphere to be back at home. Such a great place to play when our fans are there and excited, it makes all the difference in the world. Obviously Veterans Day is a special occasion too. Disappointed we couldn't finish it off, playing a really good team … but the resiliency and the toughness of our football team, I couldn't be prouder of and we have two games left here to continue to hit the pedal and go."
-UNLV Head Coach Marcus Arroyo

REBEL NOTES:

  • In honor of Veterans Day, UNLV recognized the different branches of the US Armed Forces throughout the game and included the Rebel Vets president in the coin toss
  • After losing four turnovers the previous week at San Diego State, UNLV did not lose the ball once vs. the Bulldogs and won the turnover battle 1-0
  • UNLV scored first for only the third time this season
  • The Rebels came in 3-0 when leading at halftime
  • The teams combined to go 9-for-9 in the red zone (UNLV 4-for-4)
  • Neither team punted until there was 8:05 left in the third quarter
  • RB Aidan Robbins turned in his second straight 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 144 net yards on 26 carries
  • Robbins' thrilling scoring run gave him a team-leading 10 total TDs this season (9 rush, 1 rec) but marked his first time finding the end zone since Game Five vs. UNM
  • QB Doug Brumfield scored the first UNLV TD with a five-yard rush, which was his sixth of the season
  • Adam Plant Jr. recorded his team-leading sixth QB sack of the season and later forced a fumble
  • Safety Jordyn Morgan led all tacklers with 12
  • LB Austin Ajiake, who came in leading the MW in total tackles, added nine TT

NEXT FOR THE REBELS:

UNLV heads to Hawai'i for its final regular-season road game of the season next Saturday at 8 p.m. PT.