Jai’Den Thomas rushed for 135 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter to help No. 23 UNLV secure a 27-16 win over San Jose State on Friday night, keeping its conference title hopes alive.
The Rebels (9-2, 5-1 Mountain West, No. 24 CFP) played through rainy conditions that made it difficult for both teams to move the ball effectively. This victory marked UNLV’s first ever win as a ranked team. Earlier this season, they had lost to Syracuse after earning their first-ever spot in the AP poll.
“It just makes you hungry,” linebacker Jackson Woodard said. “We know what’s out there. We know what our ceiling is and we’re going to do everything to go get it. We’ve earned some respect, but not what we think we’ve worked for. We’re starving and we can’t wait for the next opportunity.”
The win kept the Rebels’ hopes alive of returning to the Mountain West title game after losing to Boise State last season. UNLV still needs to win next week and hope Colorado State loses at least once more to have a chance at making it to the title game.
San Jose State (6-5, 3-4) lost for the second week in a row at home to a ranked team, having been defeated 42-21 by No. 13 Boise State last week. The Spartans have now lost 12 straight games to ranked opponents since they beat Fresno State in 2013.
With both teams struggling in the passing game, the Rebels turned to their running game to take control of the game in the second half. Thomas capped a 74-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, giving UNLV a 20-16 lead.
Kylin James added a 7-yard touchdown run to complete an 80-yard drive, making it 27-16 midway through the fourth quarter.
“It was ugly and terrible conditions,” coach Barry Odom said. “They showed good resolve and toughness. They stood together and overcame some things that didn’t go our way. It shows a lot about who we are and who our character is within the team and how tough we are.”
The wet and windy weather made for sloppy play and passing struggles. Both teams had botched snaps that led to points, with UNLV recovering a bad shotgun snap at the San Jose State 17-yard line to set up a field goal, and the Spartans scoring a safety after a high snap on a punt that punter Marshall Nichols kicked out of the back of the end zone.
San Jose State also scored a touchdown on a 40-yard pick-6 when Isiah Revis intercepted a pass from Williams.
