New Mexico Lobos (2-5, 0-3 MW) at UNLV Rebels (2-6, 1-3 MW) — Mountain West Action
When/Where: 3:30 p.m., Saturday — Sam Boyd Stadium
On The Air: Root Sports; 770-AM KKOB/Lobo Radio Network
GoLobos.com: Game Story, LoboTV, Complete Stats, Quotes
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
It’s a fair assumption that when the UNLV Rebels are taking an evaluative look at the New Mexico Lobos’ defensive numbers, the Rebs are thinking: “We can throw on ‘em. We can score on ‘em.”
Of course, the New Mexico Lobos’ offensive minds are looking at the UNLV defensive numbers and thinking pretty much the same thing, but by a different route: “We can run on ‘em.”
To simplify, that’s the issue Saturday on the TurfTech surface of Sam Boyd Stadium. Will the Lobos run better than the Rebels will throw?
For sure, the Rebels will throw and that give the Lobos a specific target: quarterback Blake Decker.
“He is a thrower,” said Lobo Coach Bob Davie. “But the big thing that concerns us, really just as much, is he scrambles. He’s very active and will take off running.
“Some (rushing yards) are quarterback runs designed, but more are when he is back in the pocket and takes off scrambling. He’s a fearless guy, but they’re a little bit more of a pass-first team than they have been.”
Decker can be very good. He threw for 397 yards vs. Northern Arizona, but maybe more telling numbers came from his Rebels’ debut at Arizona. He threw for 252 yards and led UNLV in rushing with 56 – a lot of those yards coming off scrambles.
Decker can hurt you with his feet, but his arm is his primary weapon. The Rebels picked him up out of Scottsdale Community College where in his final season he threw for 4,241 yards and 47 touchdowns. That’s a lot – of both.
Decker is coming off a 22-of-38 effort vs. Utah State, good for 267 yards and three scores. He is completing 58.1 percent of his passes on the year averaging 237.4 yards per game. He is fourth in the Mountain West in total offense. An obvious flaw in Decker’s arm in 2014 is interceptions. He has given up 12 of UNLV’s 15 picks.
If Decker has a good game, the Lobo defense will be severely tested and an obvious key is not allowing UNLV receivers to get behind the UNM secondary – either on a direct pass or runs after the catch.
The Rebels have been playing without their best receiver, Devante Davis, who has missed the past four games. Davie said he expects Davis to see some action against the Lobos. Freshman Boyd Devonte tops the receivers with 33 catches for 562 yards and a 17-yard average per catch.
The Rebels have a solid running back in Keith Whitely, who averages 4.7 yards per carry on only 86 carries. However, this is not a UNLV team that tries to beat you with the run. If that happens, it’s a bonus for the Rebel attack.
The Rebels beat UNM 56-42 a season ago on Branch Field. The teams totaled 1,149 yards. UNM set history with three runners breaking the 100-yard barrier. The Rebels got 293 yards from their quarterback (not Decker), but added 179 rushing yards from Tim Cornett. The Rebs also threw in a little defense in the second half holding UNM to seven points in the final two quarters.
The Rebels lean to the pass more this season (minus Cornett), but Davie said he expects the Rebels’ to test the UNM rush defense.
“I would think they come out and run the ball a little bit more against us,” said the Lobo coach. “Most teams have, but they are a throw-first team.”
UNLV averages 247.1 yards passing and 122.1 yards running. The Rebels obviously don’t reach the end zone as much as they would like averaging 18.9 points which is last in the MW.
On defense, the Rebels can be hurt by the run and the pass. They give up an average of 263.8 yards rushing and 261.6 passing for a game average of 525.4. It will be interesting to see what the Rebels try to do on defense against the Lobo option. The Rebs allow 36.6 points per game which also is last in the Mountain West.
“They are struggling on defense so the other team has the ball,” said Davie of the gap between Rebel points and points for the enemy.
The Rebels obviously score too few points and give up too many, but they probably are better than what their 2-6 record suggests. They have lost to some good teams and also have a 30-27 overtime win over Fresno State. The Rebs had 478 total yards vs. Fresno. That win snapped a 10-game losing skid to the Bulldogs. Decker had a career-high 29 completions in that OT win.
UNLV has losses at Arizona, vs. Northern Illinois, at Houston, at San Diego State, at San Jose State and at Utah State. The Rebs have been on the road in four of their past five games.
“I think it will be a competitive game,” said Davie. “You know it’s a big game for us. Any game that you have a chance to win is a big game for us.”
Editor’s Note: Richard Stevens is a former national award-winning Sports Columnist and Associate Sports Editor at The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net.