Game Of Swings: UNLV Wins Wild, Entertaining Contest Over Vanderbilt With Big Pass, Field Goal In Final Seconds To Take 40-37 Win Saturday
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
In a city built on entertainment and shows that suspend reality, UNLV’s long-downtrodden football team gave Sin City a memorable win over SEC-based Vanderbilt Saturday.
There was plenty of theater in the Rebels-Commodores game, with UNLV catching a break when Vanderbilt missed a field goal in the game’s final minute that could have delivered a win for the school from Nashville, Tennessee.
Then, UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava, a redshirt freshman from Liberty High School here in Las Vegas, launched a long pass to Ricky White that was completed in the game’s waning seconds to set up kicker Jose Pizano’s three-pointer with a mere five seconds left in the wild game.
Final: UNLV 40 Vanderbilt 37. The attendance was announced at 22,582.
How it ended 😎
📺 @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/zs9aWCFK1o
— UNLV Football (@unlvfootball) September 17, 2023
A final desperate play by Vanderbilt came up short and UNLV’s jubilant players dashed to the corner of the field to celebrate the crazy victory with the Rebels marching band and fans.
Game over: @unlvfootball 40 Vanderbilt 37. pic.twitter.com/WlQhT56eQE
— LVSportsBiz.com (@LVSportsBiz) September 17, 2023
“What a great win,” UNLV’s football coach, Barry Odom said after the game. “We joked in the locker room, just the way we drew it up.”
Maiava took over for starting quarterback Doug Brumfield, who was being buried into the stadium artificial turf by Vandy’s defenders. He left the game in the first half.
UNLV also lost another player in the first half when linebacker Jackson Woodard was told to leave for a targeting call.
The Rebels trailed, 17-0, and UNLV looked like it was going to lose another one.
But UNLV reeled off 30 straight points, including Rebels defender Jerrae Williams 41-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.
“Keep showing up. We need you,” Odom said of the UNLV fans.
The first half featured less than exquisite play, with Vanderbilt scoring on a pick-6, while UNLV scored on a fumble recovery.
But the fourth quarter had 30 points scored between the two teams, as UNLV pulled out a wild win to improve to two wins and one loss on the young season. For the stats folks, here’s a look at the numbers.
UNLV is off to UTEP for the fourth game of the 2023 season next week.
