Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Rebels miss field goal, lose to San Diego State
San Diego State survives scare; UNLV winless in MW
A dropped pass here, a busted coverage there, and it looked like the only question for UNLV would be the margin of loss.
The Rebels, though, fought back from a 17-point deficit in the second quarter and a 10-point one in the fourth.
UNLV nearly sent the game to overtime, but Daniel Gutierrez’s 43yard field hit the right upright with 37 seconds left, allowing San Diego State to escape Sam Boyd Stadium with a 20-17 victory before about 12,000 fans.
The Rebels (2-6, 0-4 Mountain West) also lost their margin for error. The Rebels, who next play at Colorado State next Saturday, have to win their final four games to become bowl eligible.
Which means playing a much more efficiently and effectively than they did against the Aztecs (7-1, 4-1).
1. Becoming the story.
Sports can be a brutal business. UNLV clearly continues to play hard for fifth-year coach Tony Sanchez, fighting the entire way. The bottom-line results, though, are what determines whether a coach is retained or fired.
Sanchez knew he had to become bowl eligible to return next season.
How many people really believe the Rebels will win out? Colorado State beat Fresno State on Saturday. Hawaii and San Jose State are probably headed to the postseason. UNR is seldom a treat.
UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois will want momentum going into the 65,000-seat state-ofthe-art Allegiant Stadium.
The Rebels fought hard and should have at least made it to overtime, but came up short. Tough loss. Tough situation for Sanchez.
2. Dropping the ball.
Randal Grimes made a terrific back-shoulder catch that he turned into a 58-yard touchdown. He also made a how-did-he-do-it grab of a pass that was barely above the turf, and a tremendous 42-yard catch down the left sideline to convert a fourth-and-24.
But Grimes also dropped two passes, including one early that would have extended a drive rather than force the Rebels to go threeand-out.
Teammate Tyleek Collins also dropped a pass in third quarter that would have moved the chains as the
Rebels were down only a possession at 17-10. Again, the Rebels were forced to punt.
On that same drive, receivers dropped two other passes as well.
For a Rebels team that doesn’t have much margin for error, these mistakes can’t be made.
3. Ringing the Bell for UNLV.
One of the Rebels’ all-time greats, former linebacker Beau Bell, took part in pre-game ceremonies as part of the program’s tribute to the 2000s.
His presence was a reminder of what the Rebels’ defense was at one point. He was a senior on the 2007 team, the last one to hold opponents to fewer than 30 points per game. Bell was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference with 126 tackles and five forced fumbles.
“I’m not going to be able to go to Sam Boyd and watch the Rebels play,” Bell said. “It’s bittersweet because you’ve had good times here, you’ve had some bad times here. It’s the last time to be here, but it’s a transition, it’s growth. Going to the new facility and to Allegiant Stadium, it’s good time for the Rebels now.”
Now Bell is the general manager and assistant head coach of the Philadelphia Soul in the Arena Football League. He helped lead the Soul to the 2016 and 2017 AFL championship, and was named the league’s top defensive player his final season.
“I was ready (to be an executive),” Bell said.