Playing on Friday the 13th for the first time in history, UNLV improved to 3-0 for the first time in 40 years with a come-from-behind 23-20 win at Kansas (1-2) in front of 21,493 fans at Children's Mercy Park.
The game, which was played at the home of the MLS Sporting Kansas City because of construction on the Jayhawks' stadium in Lawrence, was shown nationally on ESPN as the Rebels improved to 2-0 against Big 12 Conference opponents this fall (also defeated Houston 27-7 on August 31).
UNLV's record on Fridays moved to 11-13-1 all-time as running back Kylin James pushed into the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard-line with under two minutes remaining. It was the visitors' first lead of the evening after methodically rallying from a 17-6 deficit in the second quarter. The Rebel defense then squashed KU's final drive.
Quarterback Matthew Sluka rushed for 124 net yards on 19 carries and threw a 31-yard touchdown to running back Jai'Den Thomas as time expired in the first half to spark the comeback.
UNLV grabbed a pair of key interceptions, one by Jalen Catalon, his third of the season, and one by Jackson Woodard, who led all tacklers with 11 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Caden Chittenden made three of his four field-goal attempts to keep his team close as the freshman from Las Vegas accounted 11 total points.
STAT OF THE GAME:
UNLV turned in a memorable, gargantuan, 18-play, nine-minute-22-second scoring drive in the fourth quarter that covered 75 yards to finally find the end zone in the second half and earn the hard-fought victory.
QUOTABLE:
"Number one, I'm proud of our team and I'm proud of our assistant coaches for putting together what I thought was a really great plan in all three phases. Early on it was tough sledding. It was ugly. Kansas is a good football team. We had to stay in the fight and just found a way. Kids made plays – (Jackson) Woodard's interception, (Jalen) Catalon's interception -- and the grittiness to go get first downs when we needed to. Special teams play was huge and how important it was to get the touchback on that last kick. Then the players, all the credit to them on going and making huge impact plays, when we needed them. And I thought our pass rush in the second half, we affected the throws. And Coach (Mike) Scherer and his staff did a great job of putting a plan together in the second half to stop the run and we did just enough."
-UNLV Head Coach Barry Odom
NOTABLE:
-This marked the fourth different city UNLV and Kansas have squared off (2002 in Las Vegas, 2003 in Lawrence and 2023 in Phoenix)
-The Rebels also played at an MLS stadium in 2020 in Carson, California, when San Diego State awaited its new stadium to open
-It marked the second time UNLV staged a rematch vs. a team it faced in the previous season's bowl game. The Rebels played at Arkansas to open 2001 just months after downing the Razorbacks in the Las Vegas Bowl
-The was the third straight road game vs. a Big 12 Conference opponent as after the bowl game matchup in December, UNLV opened this season with a win at Houston
-This will mark the only time during the regular season that UNLV will play a game on natural grass
-UNLV lists seven players on its roster from the Kansas and Missouri areas, including starters Jalen St. John and Antonio Doyle from St. Louis
UP NEXT: The Rebels head into the first of their two off weeks this fall before opening Mountain West play at home vs. Fresno State. Kickoff on September 28 at Allegiant Stadium is set for 12:30 pm PT and the game will be shown nationally on FS1.
