Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — In this up-and-down season for the UNLV football team, quarterback Jackson Arnold got rolling in the first half against visiting California with two gorgeous long touchdown passes plus a 55-yard scamper to the end zone.
The Rebels enjoyed a 24-7 lead at halftime after Cal quarterback through a pass to tight end Taimane Purcell, who raced 91 yards for the game’s first score and a Golden Bears 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Then it was The Arnold Show in the first UNLV home game in more than a month. The Rebels have played in four time zones and traveled more than 6,000 miles in playing three games on the road in a row while compiling a 2-2 record in the first four games.
Arnold, who played at Oklahoma and Auburn before coming to UNLV, threw a nice long ball to Kayden McGee for a 70-yard TD, ran those 55 yards for the Rebels’ second touchdown and then hit Taz Reddicks on a perfectly-thrown 36-yard score.
A 31-yard field goal by Rebels placekicker Ramon Villela gave UNLV three points and coach Dan Mullen led his team into halftime leading, 24-7, over the 2-2 Cal squad at Allegiant Stadium.
It was an eventful first half for UNLV, which produced a fake punt into a first down run by punter Matt Choules and also had a double pass trick play on offense result in an interception in the end zone.
Former Cal player and Oakland bicyclist Marshawn Lynch visited the Cal sideline:
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