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Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Even with the millions of dollars spent on college football players in this new college sports era. there’s still something quaint and touching about the players’ parents hugging their sons grasping bouquets of flowers before the last regular season home game.
True, college football functions as a national Triple-A development association for the National Football League. But the players still wear uniforms in their school colors and with the names of their universities on their jerseys.
UNLV’s outgoing senior players can’t be too sentimental tonight after drawing hugs from UNLV Athletic Director UNLV because Friday’s 7:30 PM game matches the Rebels against one of its Mountain West rivals, the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. The big pineapple trophy is on the light at Allegiant Stadium.
And a step toward a potential spot in the Mountain West Conference final is on the line, too, as both UNLV and Hawaii are both four wins and two losses in the MWC in a logjam of five teams with 4-2 records. They’re all chasing San Diego State, which has won five of its six conference games, with two league games left. Keep in mind that Hawaii inflicted San Diego State’s sole MWC loss, 38-6, Nov. 8.
UNLV plays its in-state rival, Nevada at Reno, in its final regular season game Nov. 29.
The Rebs have won eight of ten games, with several of their victories offering maximum theater like 41-38 over Miami Ohio, 51-48 over Air Force and 29-26 over Utah State.
UNLV broke out to a 3-0 lead on a 44-yard field goal by Ramon Villela but then the team’s weakness — giving up the big gainer on defense — struck again when Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado tossed aa 70-yard TD pass to Jackson Harris for Harris’ 11th scoring catch of the season.
Just like that, Hawaii grabbed a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.
UNLV has a gunslinger at quarterback, too.
Anthony Calandrea hit Jaden Bradley with a touchdown throw of eight yards and UNLV bounced back to take a 10-7 lead.
Calandrea struck again in the second quarter, firing a touchdown strike to wide-open receiver Taeshaun Lyons for 72 yards. UNLV was up, 17-7, on the Rainbow Warriors.
Even UNLV’s running game chipped in, with Keyvone Lee using his 225-pound to rumble into the end zone from 14 yards, dragging two Hawaii defenders into the pylon for the touchdown and a Rebels’ 24-7 advantage in the second quarter.
Hawaii tacked on a 45-yard field goal by Kansei Matsuzawa and it was UNLV 24 Hawaii 10 at the half.
There was no scoring in the third quarter as UNLV took a 24-10 lead into the fourth and final 15 minutes.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Colandrea connected with Daedae Reynolds on a TD pass from a single yard out and UNLV was enjoying a 31-10 five seconds into the final period.
Then JoJo Earle took a snap and ran it in for another TD from 27 yards and the romp was on in Las Vegas. Rebs 38 Hawaii 10.
UNLV reported attendance as 37,106, biggest number of the 2025 season.
That was the final score as the UNLV defense shut out Hawaii in the second half.
The Rebs, 9-2 on the season and 5-2 in the MWC, still have a chance to play in the Mountain West football final. Stay tuned for the outcome of the UNLV vs Nevada game to see if the Rebels will play in the MWC title game.
PSA