Game day: UNLV stays hot, downs Wyoming 34-14

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Friday, Nov. 10, 2023 | 2 a.m.

Updated Friday, Nov. 10, 2023 | 10:51 p.m.

UNLV's magical season continues, as the Scarlet and Gray just put the finishing touches on a 34-14 win over Wyoming at Allegiant Stadium.

Barry Odom's defense shut out the Cowboys in the second half, allowing UNLV to pull away largely on the backs of quarterback Jayden Maiava and receiver Ricky White. The Wyoming defense held UNLV to 3.6 yards per rush, but Maiava completed 17-of-24 for 232 through the air, while White brought down eight of those balls for 144 receiving yards.

UNLV is now 8-2 on the season, and more importantly this victory moves them to 5-1 in conference play. They'll head to Air Force next week, where a win could vault the Scarlet and Gray into the Mountain West title game, depending on how the final week of the season shakes out.

It's been quite a turnaround from last year's disappointing 5-7 campaign, and this team shows no signs of slowing down now.

UNLV nearing finish line, leads Wyoming 31-14

With 7:41 remaining, UNLV just extended its lead over Wyoming to 31-14.

UNLV caught a break early in the fourth quarter when Wyoming decided to forego a 4th-and-3 attempt in Scarlet and Gray territory and opted for a 52-yard field goal instead. The kick missed, and UNLV took over with 14 minutes on the clock and a two-touchdown lead.

UNLV was able to drive into scoring range and chew six minutes in the process before Jose Pizano came on to kick a 39-yard field goal. That made it a three-possession lead, and now, barring anything crazy, it looks like Barry Odom's squad is going to put this one to bed.

Maiava touchdown pass extends UNLV lead to 28-14

UNLV just made a statement, driving 70 yards for a touchdown to extend its lead over Wyoming to 28-14 late in the third quarter.

The drive began at the UNLV 30, and it took the Scarlet and Gray 13 plays to go the length of the field. The march featured three third-down conversions, on passes to Jacob De Jesus and Ricky White, and on a quarterback scramble by Jayden Maiava. The finishing play was a play-action pass from Maiava to a wide-open Kaleo Ballungay for a 5-yard touchdown.

White's clutch third-down catch went for 12 yards and put him over 1,000 yards on the season. He now has 123 yards on the night and 1,007 on the year, making him UNLV's first 1k receiver in a decade.

Now that UNLV has some breathing room on the scoreboard, can the defense contribute a game-changing play?

UNLV holds 21-14 lead over Wyoming at half

The second quarter turned into a near-complete reversal of the first, as Wyoming fought its way back into this game, but UNLV still has a 21-14 lead at the half.

It looked like the Cowboys were driving for a tying score before the break, but on a 2nd-and-goal play, junior cornerback Cameron Oliver dove in front of an out-breaking pattern at the goal line and made a spectacular interception with 12 seconds on the clock.

UNLV looked like it was going to run away with this one after jumping out to a 21-0 lead, but Wyoming didn't lay down.

Wyoming was able to hit on some long passes, but the Cowboys' most dangerous weapon has been the legs of quarterback Andrew Peasley. He has escaped the pocket several times for big gains, including a 32-yard touchdown. For the game, Peasley has run 10 times for 66 yards, making him Wyoming's leading rusher.

Ricky White has been the engine of UNLV's offense so far, with four catches for 103 yards. That's the fourth time in the last five games White has gone over the century mark, and he is now just 13 yards away from becoming the program's first 1,000-yard receiver in 10 years.

A game that looked like a blowout win for the home team after 15 minutes is now a hotly-contested slugfest. Can UNLV take back momentum? The Scarlet and Gray will receive the kick to start the second half.

UNLV leads Wyoming, 21-0

UNLV was on track for a perfect first quarter, but nothing is ever that easy. A fumbled snap by Jayden Maiava has given Wyoming possession at midfield, but UNLV has the cushion of a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Scarlet and Gray went 67 yards for a touchdown on the previous drive, capped off by a 7-yard scoring run by Jai'Den Thomas. At that point, UNLV had scored touchdowns on 11 of its last 13 offensive possessions going back to last week's win at New Mexico.

Ricky White is having another superlative game, with three catches for 79 yards already. He is now just 37 yards away from becoming UNLV's first 1,000-yard receiver since 2013.

The defense has been stellar tonight, holding Wyoming to 1.6 yards per play in the first quarter. Can they stand up and get a stop on a short field here?

Fast start puts UNLV up on Wyoming, 14-0

This game has started like a dream for UNLV.

After forcing a punt from Wyoming on the game's opening possession, the Scarlet and Gray wasted no time in going deep on a 56-yard bomb from Jayden Maiava to Ricky White. The junior receiver pulled it in at the 10-yard line, and on the next play Maiava scored on a quarterback keeper to give UNLV a 7-0 lead just two minutes into the game.

It got better from there; Wyoming's next possession ended with Elijah Shelton strip-sacking quarterback Andrew Peasley, and UNLV lineman Darius Shelton recovered at the 30. Six plays later, Maiava scored on a 1-yard plunge to make it 14-0.

Less than seven minutes in, UNLV has already taken control.

UNLV football hosts Wyoming in must-win

At this point in the season, every game is a must-win for UNLV football as Barry Odom and his squad chase a spot in the Mountain West title game. This week, it’s a showdown against Wyoming at Allegiant Stadium on Friday (7:45 p.m., FS1).

UNLV comes into the week tied for second place in the conference standings (the top two teams meet in the MWC championship game), so a win is probably necessary in order to keep pace. Can they take care of the Cowboys for the first time since 2016?

Three keys to watch:

Defense stand up

This Wyoming squad has little use for the passing game. The Cowboys line up and run the ball on 56.5% of their offensive snaps, which is the 28^th-highest rate in the nation, so they’ll be coming straight ahead at the UNLV defensive front.

Odom will have his team ready. He puts a high priority on creating a numbers advantage in the trenches, and it has resulted in UNLV fielding a top run defense this season, as they rank 27^th nationally in both yards per carry allowed (3.6) and yards per game allowed (118.1).

Junior linebacker Jackson Woodard, one of the linchpins of the run defense, said UNLV will meet the challenge head-on.

“Wyoming, they’re a physical team,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of players that do things right and are very physical. They’re going to want to run the ball, and it’s going to be up to us to stop it.”

UNLV could get a boost if senior defensive back Jerrae Williams is able to suit up. He returned to practice this week and Odom said he could be cleared to play on Friday for the first time since Sept. 23 against UTEP.

Williams was one of UNLV’s most productive defenders through the first four games racking up 3.0 sacks, 7.0 tackles for loss, and interception and a fumble recovery touchdown, all from his slot cornerback position.

Special teams rolling

It has been more than 20 years since the Scarlet and Gray ran back a punt for a touchdown, but that drought may not last much longer.

Junior receiver Jacob De Jesus has piled up a ton of return yards this season, and last week at New Mexico he came close to taking a punt return to the house — twice. In the first quarter, he ran one back 59 yards before being chased down at the UNM 30-yard line, and in the second quarter he snapped off a 53-yard return before being caught from behind at the UNM 21.

Woodard, who serves on the return team, said De Jesus inspires the rest of the crew to land their blocks because they know he’s capable of flipping field position in an instant.

“We know we have a special returner in Jacob De Jesus,” Woodard said. “He’s a phenomenal player, one of the best returners in the nation. We know if we can just do our job, he’s going to make a big play.”

And about that streak? Woodard believes De Jesus will find a way to get past the last line of defense and take it into the end zone — maybe even this week.

“It’s going to come sooner than later. He’s just got to get that boost behind him — those extra five yards. It feels like he’s at the 5-yard line every time. But he’ll get one. We’re sure of it.”

White taking over offense

While UNLV game plans to slow down the Wyoming run game, the Cowboys coaches have to be asking themselves how the heck they’re going to deal with Ricky White.

UNLV’s No. 1 receiver is on a roll right now, coming off a 165-yard, two-touchdown performance at New Mexico. It was the third time in the last four games he posted at least 150 yards and two touchdowns, and this time it earned him Mountain West Player of the Week honors.

“He’s been a huge playmaker for us,” Odom said. “I think he’s one of the elite receivers in college football.”

While UNLV will stick to the script and establish the running game, when it’s time to throw the ball and create big plays, look for White to be the primary target.

What: UNLV (7-2, 4-1 MWC) vs. Wyoming (6-3, 3-2 MWC)

When: Friday, 7:45 p.m.

TV: FS1

Radio: 1100AM, 100.9FM

Line: UNLV -3.5

UNLV leaders

Passing

Jayden Maiava: 64.9%, 1,826 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INTs

Rushing

Vincent Davis: 520 yards, 5.8 yards per carry, 4 TDs

Receiving

Ricky White: 55 receptions, 884 yards, 6 TDs

Defense

Jackson Woodard: 73 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 INT

Wyoming leaders

Passing

Andrew Peasley: 59.2%, 1,195 yards, 15 TDs, 4 INTs

Rushing

Harrison Waylee: 686 yards, 6.0 yards per carry, 3 TDs

Receiving

Wyatt Wieland: 29 receptions, 270 yards, 4 TDs

Defense

Shae Suiaunoa: 71 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.