LAS VEGAS, Nev. — UNLV scored 24 unanswered points after UNM zipped out to a 17-0 lead in the second quarter to take a 31-20 win at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Rebels moved to 4-1 on the season and 1-0 in the Mountain West’s West Division while UNM fell to 2-3 and 0-2 overall in the Mountain Division. The Lobos now return home to face the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday, October 8 at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
The Rebels took the lead in the opening moments of the fourth quarter when Aidan Robbins barreled in from three yards out to culminate an 80-yard drive that was benefited by a pair of UNM personal fouls. That touchdown drive came on the heels of a golden opportunity for UNM to take the lead again after having a 17-0 lead fall into a 17-17 tie, but George Steinkamp pulled a 38-yard field goal attempt wide left with 1:50 left in the third quarter. That was the end of a 64-yard, 10-play drive that saw UNM eat up 5:05 of the clock.
UNM got three points back when George Steinkamp hit his second field goal of the game, this from 36 yards out to cut the Rebel lead to 24-20 with 12:43 to go in the game. UNM had three chances to try and take the lead in the fourth quarter, but UNM went 3-and-out twice, and Miles Kendrick threw a pick-six interception by Cameron Oliver that was returned 21 yards for a clinching touchdown with just 28 seconds left.
The Lobos bolted out to a 14-0 lead on the strength of a long opening drive and a short field, both punctuated by Miles Kendrick touchdown runs. On the first drive of the game, UNM went 71 yards on nine plays with Kendrick scoring from eight yards out on a third-and-six play. After a UNM punt, UNM got the ball back when Ronald Wilson stripped Nick Williams on the very next play. The ball fell into the waiting arms of Jerrick Reed, who return it all the way to the UNLV 33-yard line.
From there, UNM punched it in again with Kendrick again scoring from eight yards out to make it 14-0.
From there, the second quarter was filled out field goals. George Steinkamp hit from 33 yards out to make it 17-0 before UNLV’s Daniel Gutierrez hit from 41, 51 and 47 yards to make it 17-9 at the break.
UNM got a stop to open the second half, and Luke Wysong returned the ensuing punt 72 yards for a touchdown, but a holding penalty nullified that. UNM then went three-and-out and UNLV drove 76 yards in 12 plays with Doug Brumfield scoring from six yards out. Brumfield kept the drive alive, rushing for six yards on a fourth-and-two zone read keeper from the Lobo 38-yard line. A pass from Brumfield to Rocky White in the corner tied the game at 17-17.