The beauty of college football is the deep community that forms around the teams. The over-commercialized professional ranks need more of this quality. Hours prior to kickoff, as fans do across the country, die-hard Rebel supporters tailgated in parking lots surrounding the stadium. 

Chris Hinojos, Reed Ironside, Mark Diamonf, and Jeff Gologltra attended UNLV together around the turn of the century. Members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity in school, they have kept their relationship current by gathering before their alma mater’s home games. This spirit of camaraderie was present on the concourses even as UNLV failed to fill half of Allegiant Stadium’s 65,000. The home crowd left happy on Saturday. 

Needing a victory to keep its bowl aspirations alive, SDSU suffered a 41-20 defeat to the Rebels before an announced crowd of 30,386. The game was never seriously in doubt.  

That was a disappointing loss, obviously, not the results that anyone was hoping for,” head coach Sean Lewis said postgame. “I need to do a better job of leading these guys so we can perform at the level I truly believe we are capable of.”

SDSU started the contest on defense for the fourth time in ten games. With a relatively large contingent of fans cheering them, the Aztecs’ looked to reverse a season-long trend. They had been outscored 76-35 in the first quarter. They were not successful.

“I think it’s just a matter of seeing the pictures at full speed to be able to execute at the high clip,” Lewis replied when asked about the early game struggles. “It goes back to the lack of player availability throughout the course of the week to be able to play together. … Guys we’ve been rolling with the past few weeks have been game-time decisions.”

UNLV’s opening play, a flea flicker, ended with a PBU by cornerback Bryce Phillips. Two plays later, the Rebels were forced to punt, but Aztec QB Danny O’Neil gave the ball right back by throwing his fifth interception of the year. SDSU has failed to score on all ten of its opening drives.

The Aztecs’ defense picked up their teammates with a goal-line stand. Taking over at the one, the offense earned one first down on a short completion from O’Neil to Marquez Cooper, but the freshman QB dropped the ensuing snap for a seven-yard loss. Two plays later, Tyler Pastula punted for the first time. 

UNLV took over at midfield and scored four plays later on a Hajj-Malik Williams two-yard touchdown pass to Kaleo Ballungay. The Rebels led 7-0 with 4:05 left in the quarter.

O’Neil nearly threw a second interception on SDSU’s third possession, but it mercifully fell to the Alligiant Stadium turf, resulting in a three-and-out. Pastula’s second punt was a 53-yard beauty that flipped the field. The Rebels milked the rest of the opening 15 minutes on the ensuing drive. 

The Rebels dominated the game in every way except the scoreboard. They had 110 yards to SDSU’s 23. They had more passing yards (48-18), rushing yards (62-5), first downs (4-1), and dominated time of possession (9:18-5:42). They opened the second quarter with the ball in SDSU territory at the 49.

UNLV began with a bread-and-butter RPO. Williams found Bellungay for a 29-yard completion against Josh Hunter. On the next play, JD Coffey whiffed on a tackle, and Gred Burrell took an end around for a 20-yard touchdown run. UNLV took a commanding 14-0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter. 

O’Neil picked up one first down on a 12-yard scramble. Three plays later, he took a sack, missing Jordan Napier, who was wide open deep downfield. Napier was visibly upset after he ran off the field, and the punting unit entered the game. 

Instead of kicking, Pastula threw a shallow in-route to Deshawn McCuin, but McCuin could not get the corner, and UNLV stopped him short of the yard to gain. The Rebels scored a touchdown on a Jai’Den Thomas four-yard run to extend its lead to 21-0

“I thought that we had a look that was advantageous for the fake,” Lewis explained about the decision. “We were looking to generate some momentum there. …that’s been something we’ve been able to do consistently in that phase of the game throughout the course of the year. (UNLV) did good job giving a false look.”

After both offenses went three-and-out, Chris Johnson blocked a UNLV punt. Napier inexplicably kicked the ball as it rolled on the ground. He was called for a penalty. It pushed SDSU back ten yards. 

O’Neil completed his first elite pass on the night on the ensuing drive. He found Ja’Shaun Poke for 17 yards on 3rd and 16 for a first down. Three plays later, O’Neil added a second. He found Louis Brown IV for a 29-yard touchdown to get the Aztecs on the scoreboard. The freshman QB overcame Napier’s penalty and a pair of holds by his offensive line to reach the end zone. 

However, instead of kicking an extra point, Pastula attempted a two-point conversion pass to EDGE Brady Nasser. It was not close, and SDSU settled to close UNLV’s lead to 21-6. 

SDSU stopped the Rebel’s next drive and got the ball back at its own 10. Lewis, sensing momentum, trusted O’Neil to throw the ball. SDSU’s signal caller threw a ball up deep into double coverage. It was intercepted. The Rebels, with fresh life, scored a touchdown just before intermission. They led 28-6 at the half.

“Because we’re going to need all the opportunities that we can have,” Lewis replied when asked why he tried to drive the ball. “We thought we had done a nice job talking through the standards and what had led to the production to that point, to be able to have good answers. Like we’ve talked about all along, I’m going to call it to win it. I’m not going to give in. I’m not going to concede in that moment to just, ‘hey, take it in to halftime.’ That’s not going to be us. That’s never going to our mindset. We’re going to be default aggressive with it because I trust the kids to go execute at a really high level.” 

Cooper carried the ball 14 times for 59 yards in the first half. O’Neil finished 6-10 for 75 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. SDSU was outgained 272 to 133 overall. Johnson paced the defense with six tackles. His punt block was the best play for the Aztecs in the opening 30 minutes and set up the team’s only score.

SDSU’s second-half adjustments did not materialize. They opened with a three-and-out. The offensive line did not give O’Neil time to find Brown on a double move, and the signal caller did not anticipate where the throw needed to go on the final play of the Aztecs’ drive.  

The Rebels put any hope of an SDSU comeback to bed when it scored its fifth touchdown of the night. Williams led an eight-play, 73-yard drive, capping it with a brilliant seven-yard scramble for a score. 

UNLV’s score was the 31st point the Aztecs have given up on their opponent’s opening possession of the second half this year. SDSU has only scored three points against FBS teams on its first drive after intermission. 

O’Neil and the offense quickly responded with a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. SDSU’s quarterback found Poke for a 46-yard touchdown bomb. After a Pastula extra point, the Red and Black narrowed the gap to 35-13 with 8:22 left in the third. 

On their next drive, the Rebels kicked a 46-yard field goal through the uprights to keep the scoreboard operator active. They led 38-13. 

After a drive by each team, the Aztecs took over at UNLV’s 35. They were set up a Mekhi Shaw 20-yard punt return. O’Neil found the end zone on fourth down QB sneak three plays into the fourth quarter, moving SDSU to within 18 at 38-20. 

UNLV added a field goal to push the score to the 41-20. It could have been more, except the Rebels fumbled at the goal line. Dalesean Staley recovered it and returned the ball 72 yards to the Rebels’ 28. 

SDSU also gave away a late score. Napier dropped an easy touchdown on a nice ball from O’Neil on a 4th down with 1:29 left. 

“The guys that were here when we first showed up, they have bought into our culture,” Lewis said when asked what’s made this group special despite the poor record. “They’ve bought into the style of play. The way that they welcomed in the new faces that we’ve brought in. The way they’ve held together. The way they’ve come together.” 

SDSU was outgained 515 yards to 270. It was the third straight game the defense had given up at least 475 yards. They lost time of possession 36:55 to 23:58.

O’Neil finished the night 13-22 for 162 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks. He also had a rushing score. Cooper had 97 yards on the ground. Poke paced the Aztecs with 79 yards. Napier led the team with five receptions. Johnson and Eric Butler led the team with eight tackles each. 

With the loss, the Aztecs fell to 3-7 on the year. They will play Utah State in Logan, Utah, next Saturday. 

Paul Garrison

My earliest sport’s memory involve tailgating at the Murph, running down the circular exit ramps, and seeing the Padres, Chargers and Aztecs play. As a second generation Aztec, I am passionate about all things SDSU. Other interests include raising my four children, being a great husband and teaching high school.