Final Score: Football Game Recap

Quarter 1

The Rebels deferred the punt and had a couple three and outs to starts the game but quickly found their rhythm. Starting quarterback, Armani Rogers, ran and slid only when needed. They forced four three and outs in the first quarter alone, and one through a forced fumble by Malakai Salu recovered by the Rebels’, Daniel Godfrey. Rogers has been accurate but missed a deep throw to wide receiver, Mekhi Stevenson. Starting running back, Charles Williams, had a nice 29 yard touchdown run and another 29 yard run early on, leading to 6 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown to end the first. He has shown the speed and the ability to get to the outside edge. He has found the holes and taken advantage of them. The Rebels are certainly running the Chuck Wagon early and often. The defense showed their speed and aggression with a key sack by Evan Austrie on the Thunderbirds’ second drive of the game. First multi-touchdown game of Chuck’s career.

Quarter 2

Running back Charles Williams had another pair of touchdowns with 14:12 left on the clock in the first half. He scored his second with just under a minute left. He would gain 100 yards rushing this quarter for the first time in his career. True freshman wide receiver, Steve Jenkins, hauled in an under-thrown pass from QB Armani Rogers for 49 yards. The game turned into a blow-out in this quarter, and the Rebels led 35-7 after the second Charles Williams’ touchdown. Armani Rogers went 8-14 for 114 yards and a touchdown in the half. He also had 10 carries for 48 yards and a quarterback sneak for a touchdown. He has learned to slide more this season to avoid injuries.

Quarter 3

In the third quarter, Armani Rogers completed his first pass to Randal Grimes for eight yards. He was soon injured and replaced by back-up, Kenyon Oblad. However, before he was injured, Armani Rogers scampered for a 64-yard rushing touchdown. Oblad completed his first pass to Darren Woods Jr. and true freshman running back Courtney Reese finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. Running back Darren Williams scored a touchdown on the next drive and the Rebels tied a school record: 7 rushing touchdowns in a single game. The record was set in 1974 vs Prairie View A &M when late-running back Mike Thomas (who was honored pre-game) had 245 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns. Charles Williams was only given the ball one time this quarter, as he was being given time to rest with UNLV already up 42-7 at the time. The Rebels ended this quarter with a lead of 56-7.

Quarter 4

The fourth quarter began with a blocked punt by the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds and they got ball at 44-yard line of UNLV. No sacks allowed on a UNLV quarterback, a key to them winning games this season. Southern Utah attempted a 51-yard field goal and missed it–well short. With the game well in UNLV’s control, the Rebels went quick short slants for back-up quarterback, Kenyon Oblad. Florida-transfer, Rayshad Jackson, also looked good in this game forcing the Thunderbirds to run backwards as they were trying to throw vertical. The Rebels gave up a couple long touchdowns in garbage time. The game ended 56-23 Rebels.

Football Game Recap: Takeaways

Defensive aggressiveness and speed improved from 2018.

Armani Rogers completed passes more accurately, going 11-17 for 144 yards and a touchdown with another 11 Carries and 114 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.

Running back depth finally showed and wide receiver, Mekhi Stevenson, appears to be QB Armani Roger’s preferred pass catcher to start off the year.

Running Back, Charles Williams, has the speed to get to the outside with 15 carries and 144 yards and 3 touchdowns on the night.

Running backs have speed all around.

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