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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
They broke out superstar UNLV grad Guy Fieri. The ol’ casino slot machine was wheeled out again on the UNLV sideline. And UNLV enjoyed a healthy 17-3 lead in the second quarter.
But sadly for the UNLV Rebels football team, what appeared to be a night destined for the squad’s first victory of the season on homecoming night dissolved into another painful loss.
UNLV was nursing a 20-13 lead at the end of three quarters.
But San Jose State, the alma mater of UNLV coach Marcus Arroyo, tied the game at 20-20 early in the fourth quarter.
With the game in the balance, UNLV placekicker Daniel Gutierrez, who had successfully kicked 16 straight field goals, had a three-pointer blocked by San Jose State.
The Spartans then marched down the field for the winning touchdown.
UNLV countered as quarterback Cam Friel led the Rebels to the San Jose State 11-yard line late in the game. But he was sacked and UNLV never did get a play off to attempt a tying touchdown.
Final score: San Jose State 27 UNLV 20. They say attendance was 19,318.
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The former Area 41 bar is out and 1800 Tequila is in at Allegiant Stadium.
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Ushers, concessions workers and parking attendants say they’re expecting 15,000 fans for tonight’s UNLV homecoming football game against San Jose State, last season’s Mountain West Conference champs.
LVSportsBiz.com checked out the pregame tailgating outside Allegiant Stadium and the amount of tailgating looked less than the activities on the fields outside Sam Boyd Stadium, the Rebels’ former home field about seven miles from the UNLV campus near the Las Vegas Wash and Henderson.
“My father was telling that tonight,” said a UNLV fan cooking hot dogs on a small, portable grill for his family, including his dad tonight.
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UNLV grad Carnell “Golden Pipes” Johnson sang the anthem. He’s the Golden Knights national anthem singer.
San Jose State outgained UNLV in yards, 429 (216 rushing and 213 passing) to 335. UNLV super-senior running back Charles Williams scored a first-half touchdown, which gave him 26 in his career. That broke a tie for fourth at the school with Mack Gilchrist (1968-71). The Chuck Wagon ran for 94 yards, giving him 3,659 yards for his career — 74 yards short of school-record holder Tim Cornett (2010-13)
UNLV is now 0-7 and plays Nevada, Reno on Oct. 29. San Jose State is 4-4 and plays Wyoming Oct. 30.
I know we’re crushed. It’s the fifth game now in the 4th quarter. We feel like we’re matched up. We have to make sure we go back and look at exactly how we finish a game. — UNLV coach Marcus Arroyo