Rebel Football season ends with lopsided loss to Falcons in Colorado

Points off turnover provided the perfect storm for the UNLV Rebels as they fell to the Air Force Falcons in the team’s season finale.

UNLV lost, 48-14, to Air Force Friday, Nov. 26 from Falcon Stadium in Colorado.

The loss brings this season to an end for the Rebels as the team finishes it out 2-10 overall and 2-6 in the Mountain West.

It’s the 8th straight losing season for the program.

Head coach Marcus Arroyo is now 2-16 in his two years as lead man for UNLV with a 2-12 conference record to go with it.

The avalanche started right away for the road team as the Rebels fumbled the game’s opening kickoff which was recovered by the Falcons.

Less than a minute and a half into the game, UNLV found itself down 7-0 to Air Force.

Just over five and a half minutes into the game, quarterback Justin Rogers was sacked, fumbling in the process.

It was the team’s sixth first quarter turnover in the last three games for the program.

Rogers started for an injured freshman quarterback Cameron Friel.

The turnover misfortune continued in the second quarter as UNLV attempted to come away with three points but a high snap botched the try as the team came away empty.

Air Force added a field goal on the other end, making it 17 points off turnovers before its opponent could even get on the board.

The game featured the No. 1 and No. 2 rushers in the conference in the Falcons’ Brad Roberts and the Rebels’ Charles Williams.

Coming into the game, the UNLV defense allowed the second-fewest rush yards in the Mountain West.

This would not be the case in the final game of the season as at one point in the second quarter Air Force held a 140-4 advantage in team rushing yards.

Moreover, the Falcons won the contest without ever attempting a pass.

In fact, the team’s ability to run the ball allowed UNLV to hold the ball for a mere 30 seconds in the final quarter.

Air Force’s first drive of the fourth elapsed nearly eight minutes and 45 seconds turning a 14-play, 63-yard drive into seven points.

The team’s final drive of the game clocked the final 6:18 of the game.

UNLV’s lone fourth quarter drive saw Williams add another touchdown to his legendary collegiate career.

Williams rushed for a game-high 127 yards on 16 carries with a long of 72 yards and two touchdowns to his credit.

It was his 15th career 100-yard game, which ranks fourth all-time for the program.

In addition, his two touchdowns helped the Rebels avoid being shut out for the first time since 2011.

Williams leaves UNLV as the all-time leading rusher in program history with 4,201 career rushing yards and ranks fourth all-time in career rushing touchdowns with 34.

Rogers followed up his 300-yard outing by going 8-for-18, passing for 127 yards.

Moreover, he did not throw an interception for the first time in his last three games played.