UNLV moved inside North Dakota State’s 10-yard line in the fourth quarter Saturday and left with a field goal. Against Air Force, the Rebels will face linebackers who have already turned similar scoring opportunities into empty possessions.
Blake Fletcher intercepted Northern Illinois at the Air Force 5 and later stopped a fourth-and-one run at the 13 in the Falcons’ 28-7 win. Air Force has allowed 16 points over its last two games. Jackson Arnold and the Rebels, coming off a win without an offensive touchdown, have to finish drives against a defense that has kept opponents out of the end zone even after allowing them to move the ball.
NIU reached the Air Force 6 on its first scoring threat. On the opening play of the second quarter, Taron Dickens threw an interception to Fletcher at the 5. Air Force retained a 7-0 lead without needing its offense to answer a score.
The Huskies did score on their next possession. Dickens completed passes of 21 and 18 yards to DeAree Rogers, then ran for 12 yards to the Air Force 9. Telly Johnson Jr. scored on the next snap.
Arnold gives UNLV both of those threats. He rushed for 60 yards against North Dakota State, but the Rebels passed for only 77. Jai’Den Thomas supplied 112 rushing yards. UNLV reached scoring range through its backs and quarterback without consistently making the Bison defend productive throws.
Calhoun said Tuesday that defensive coordinator Steve Russ and his staff install the third-down and red-zone packages a day earlier than most programs. He described selecting calls for the specific situations the opponent creates, including the fourth downs that follow when offenses decide to keep possession.
Those stops have carried across close games. Calhoun pointed to holding Reno to field goals in both overtime periods and keeping Navy out of the end zone on its red-zone opportunity. Against UNLV, the preparation has to account for Arnold keeping the ball as well as handing it to Thomas.
Safety Alexander Perez said Air Force wants to stop the run on first and second down to create third-and-long. The Bishop Gorman graduate described better communication in a secondary that returned young players from last season, along with quicker recognition of run and pass and improvement in his man coverage.
“As coach Russ says, we like to have a lot of field goals and takeaways,” Perez said.
Fletcher will be at the center of Air Force’s response. He had 11 tackles and the interception against NIU, his fifth consecutive game leading the Falcons in tackles and his fourth straight with at least 10. He also made 14 tackles against North Dakota State and 13 against Reno.
Fletcher said after the NIU game that he read the quarterback and reacted to the throw. He also credited teammates with covering mistakes when assignments broke down. Troy Calhoun acknowledged missed tackles during NIU’s touchdown drive, then said the Falcons played blocks more effectively and tackled better after the opening two series.
Dallas Daley’s explanation of his third-quarter sack showed how the front and linebackers worked together. He said his initial responsibility involved the running back. The quarterback’s movement and the work of the defenders in front of him then gave him an opportunity to finish the play. The sack helped force NIU to punt with Air Force leading 21-7.
The NIU broadcast described Daley catching Dickens around the ankles after the quarterback appeared close to escaping. Arnold can extend plays the same way, so getting pressure near him will not finish the down. The defender still has to secure the tackle while the coverage stays with the receivers.
NIU tested those linebackers again later in the quarter. The Huskies converted fourth-and-four with a six-yard pass to Johnson, then gained 14 on a completion to Rogers. From the Air Force 22, an incomplete pass and Dickens runs of three and six yards brought up fourth-and-one.
Fletcher was credited with tackles on both quarterback runs. He then stopped Elijah Porter for no gain at the 13. Daley described pursuing from behind after the defensive front redirected the run.
Air Force had allowed a fourth-down conversion and another completion on that possession. It still held NIU scoreless by limiting the final three rushing plays. UNLV’s blockers have to get beyond the initial contact and account for the linebackers arriving at Thomas and Arnold, particularly when the Rebels need only a yard.
The Falcons have also reached quarterbacks from outside that linebacker pair. Jaylin Reese recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against Reno, while safety Max Mustell had a 10-yard fourth-quarter sack against Navy. UNLV must also account for those pressure threats beyond the defensive line.
Air Force’s earlier games also show opportunities for Arnold’s receivers. North Dakota State scored on a short catch that became a long run and on a downfield throw finished against close coverage in its 38-32 win over the Falcons.
On fourth-and-two at the Air Force 44, Nathan Hayes completed a short pass over the middle to Mekhi Collins. Collins turned upfield and escaped attempted tackles before scoring. The 44 yards came largely after the catch. UNLV does not have to throw the ball 40 yards to create that kind of gain, but the receiver has to make the first tackler miss.
Logan Conklin’s 41-yard touchdown on second-and-12 required a different finish. Hayes threw down the left side, and Conklin caught the ball with a defender trailing closely. He stayed upright through contact near the goal line.
Jackson Williams also won a deep opportunity on third-and-nine, gaining 51 yards to set up a touchdown after Fletcher’s 85-yard interception return. Defenders were near Williams at the catch and converged near the goal line. UNLV’s receivers will also have to finish catches with defenders nearby.
Reno produced 411 total yards and scored 10 points late in regulation before losing 36-33 in double overtime. Air Force then held Navy and NIU to 253 yards apiece. The Falcons have improved their results while still allowing drives that reached scoring range.
UNLV’s fourth-quarter possession against North Dakota State began at the Bison 18 and reached first-and-goal at the 7. An Arnold fumble that he recovered, a delay-of-game penalty and an incomplete pass left Villela kicking from 24 yards. Air Force’s stops against NIU show how quickly a defense can erase the gains that brought an offense inside the 20.
Fletcher and Daley have helped the Falcons survive those drives. To score more than field goals Saturday, UNLV needs Thomas and Arnold to reach the next level with blockers in front of them, and its receivers to finish the opportunities North Dakota State’s receivers converted.
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