LAS VEGAS — Wyoming coach Jay Sawvel isn’t counting on UNLV to play that poorly twice.
With his team off Saturday, Sawvel watched the Rebels struggle through a 31-24 victory over winless Northern Illinois. UNLV threw two interceptions, committed six penalties and allowed 240 rushing yards. The Huskies stayed within reach until the Rebels finally ran out the clock.
Sawvel’s explanation included something Dan Mullen spent the previous week trying to prevent: UNLV might have underestimated its opponent.
“I think UNLV, they would probably admit the fact that they probably played a C-game against Northern Illinois,” Sawvel said Monday. “But they just watched Northern lose by 35 points to Hawaii, you know? So, as many times as you say it, ‘Hey, we’ve got to be ready, we’ve got to be ready, we’ve got to be ready,’ sometimes guys will look at certain things and draw their own conclusions.”
“I don’t think that we have to worry about that,” Sawvel said. “We’re going to get UNLV’s A-game this week, and we’re going to have to be ready for it.”
There is considerably more at stake this time. Wyoming and UNLV are both 5-3, with the Cowboys 4-1 in Mountain West play and the Rebels 3-1. New Mexico leads the conference, and both teams still have to face the Lobos.
Saturday’s winner will remain within a game of first place in the loss column and hold the head-to-head result over another championship contender. The loser will need help during the final weeks of conference play.
Kayden McGee scored on a 75-yard reception on the first play against NIU. He lined up in the right slot, got a free release and ran beyond safety Kyon Conyers. Jackson Arnold escaped pressure coming from his right and delivered the ball down the sideline. McGee caught it near the NIU 20 and ran untouched into the end zone.
Later, Keyan Burnett caught a 31-yard touchdown pass. Jai’Den Thomas broke a 60-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter.
Those three plays accounted for three of UNLV’s four touchdowns. They also allowed the Rebels to win despite long stretches when they could not separate themselves from a team still looking for its first victory.
“I think, in a lot of ways, we made a lot of big plays that we needed to win the game,” Mullen said afterward. “We also made a lot of critical errors.”
The Cowboys classify gains of more than 25 yards as explosive plays. UNLV had five against Northern Illinois: the three touchdowns, a 27-yard reception by Taeshaun Lyons and a 27-yard run by Arnold late in the game.
Through eight games, the Rebels have produced 26 gains that meet Wyoming’s definition. Twelve have gone for touchdowns.
“The volume of explosive plays that we’ve allowed in our stadium has been almost non-existent,” Sawvel said. “You know we’ve allowed a couple in some of the away games, right? So that’s one thing that we’ve got to do from a defensive perspective.”
Wyoming has allowed five touchdowns on plays longer than 25 yards this season. The Cowboys prevented any such gains in home victories over Hawaii and Air Force, but Saturday’s assignment comes away from Laramie against an offense that can create them through several players.
McGee’s touchdown began with Arnold avoiding a rusher. Burnett scored on an out-and-up route. Thomas took a delayed handoff, cut right and ran through the defense.
Arnold finished with 269 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with 86 rushing yards. Thomas added 114 yards on 16 carries. Even on an uneven night, UNLV had enough production from its quarterback and leading running back to survive.
UNLV did not score after Thomas’ third-quarter touchdown made it 31-17. Northern Illinois eventually cut the deficit to seven, leaving Arnold and the offense to secure the first downs needed to end the game. A two-touchdown advantage had become another close finish.
On defense, the problems extended a troubling stretch across two games and a bye week. Air Force rushed for 430 yards against UNLV on Oct. 17. Northern Illinois followed with 240, despite the Rebels having two weeks to prepare.
Sawvel identified the line as one of the areas where the Cowboys have made their greatest progress. Josiah Petaia and Kalvin Janssen have shared time at left guard. Chandler Donaway has stepped in at center for the injured Jason Maciejczak, while tackles Rex Johnsen and Braylon Jenkins have improved as the season has progressed.
The tight ends have contributed, too. Jake Wilson and Kyle Frendt have combined for 33 catches, 458 yards and three touchdowns. Wilson leads the team in receiving yards.
Wyoming used its bye to give several heavily used players a break while continuing to practice. Defensive tackle Dante Drake, who has dealt with a back injury, and linebacker Ethan Stuhlsatz, who has been managing an ankle injury, benefited from the time off.
Cornerback Ian Bell has returned to practice following a foot injury. Safety Brooklyn Cheek will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, and Sawvel said freshman defensive back Kendall Griffin could return from a hand injury the following week at UTEP.
“What we did was, certain high-volume guys we limited in their practice reps,” Sawvel said. “(Trainers) did a lot of bike cardio with some of them. And then for other guys, we got good work in for a few days.”
Sawvel dismissed the suggestion that the break might interrupt Wyoming’s winning streak. After eight consecutive games and a month of preseason camp, the Cowboys needed the rest.
He said the players understand what awaits them. Wyoming finishes conference play against UNLV, UTEP and New Mexico, with an opportunity to reach the championship game if it keeps winning.
“We know that there are two teams that have one loss in the conference that are going to play Saturday night in a big game,” Sawvel said. “We’re going to have to figure out a way to outplay them.”
