In the season opener, the UNLV Rebels football team had a disappointing loss 30-27, in a three-overtime thriller against the Golden Gophers of Minnesota.
Rebel running back Tim Cornett ran the ball 25 times, had 127 rushing yards with two touchdowns, along with a 18 yard score in overtime. The passing game of Nick Sherry was mediocre going 16 of 35 passes completed, 116 yards, one touchdown coming in the second overtime, and three interceptions.
The receiving corp. of the Rebels was good with both wide receivers, Devante Davis and Marcus Sullivan catching five passes each. Davis had 27 yards along with a touchdown and Sullivan had 53 yards.
This Saturday, the Rebels will face the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona University. In the opening day game for the Lumberjacks, a 63-6 defeat against the Arizona State Sun Devils. Needless to say, that the Football Championship Subdivision is expected to lose, and lose badly to a Football Bowl Subdivision, let alone a Pac-12 team, so will the Rebel see the same out come as the Sun Devils did?
Last season, the Rebels lost to FCS Southern Utah 41-16, so the Rebels know not to take any team lightly. Though NAU was blown out, senior running back Covaughn DeBoskie-Johnson impressed with rushing for 82 yards on 15 carries. The passing game for the Lumberjacks was poor, with sophomore quarterback Chase Cartwright going 9 of 21 passing, with a touchdown and two interceptions. Like the passing, the defense was the equal by allowing 63 points.
Overall, the series between the Lumberjacks and the Rebels, the Rebels lead 5-2. In the previous game in 1992, the Rebels won 40-7. The Rebels hope to make it 6-2 in the series this Saturday.
