Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Bradley Randle rushed for three touchdowns as
the UNLV Rebels snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 38-35 victory over
the Air Force Falcons in their Mountain West Conference at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Nick Sherry completed 23-of-32 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown with an
interception for UNLV (1-3, 1-0 MWC) as it overcame an 11-point halftime
deficit. Tim Cornett produced 114 yards and a score on 17 carries.
Cody Getz rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown for the Falcons (1-2, 0-1) while
quarterback Connor Dietz gained 68 yards on the ground. Air Force rushed for
352 yards, but Dietz only completed three of his nine passes for 90 yards in
the loss.
Air Force wasted no time producing points as Mike DeWitt's one-yard touchdown
run punctuated a 75-yard, 13-play game opening drive.
UNLV answered with just over three minutes left in the first frame. Cornett
punched it in from two yards out after a 60-yard pass from Sherry to Marcus
Sullivan put the Rebels inside their opponent's five-yard line.
Air Force answered on its next possession by moving the ball 63 yards on the
ground before Getz rushed 12 yards for a score, which put the Falcons up,
14-7, at the conclusion of the first quarter.
The Rebels narrowed the margin with a field goal from 37 yards out by Nolan
Kohorst to make it 14-10 with 11:45 left in the first half.
UNLV appeared to be building momentum as its defense forced a turnover on downs
by stopping the Falcons on fourth-and-one, but Sherry threw a costly
interception on the next play which Alex Means returned to the Rebels' eight-
yard line. One play later, Broam Hart rushed two yards for a touchdown to
extend Air Force's lead to 21-10.
The Rebels responded with a 14-play, 75-yard drive which was finished off by a
one-yard rush into the end zone by Randle.
The Falcons took over with just 31 seconds left in the second frame. Dietz
completed a 58-yard pass to Ty MacArthur and ran it seven yards for a touchdown
on the next play to give Air Force a 28-17 lead heading into halftime.
UNLV fought back after the break as Taj Hasson forced a fumble to halt a
threatening drive by Air Force. Cornett broke away for a 76-yard run which put
Randle in position for a one-yard plunge into the end zone that reduced the
Falcons' lead to 28-24.
The Rebels took their first lead of the contest later in the third quarter as
Randle ran nine yards for a touchdown which gave UNLV a 31-28 lead heading into
the final frame.
UNLV added some insurance with just 6:56 left to play as Sherry completed a
three-yard touchdown pass to William Vea to finish off a drive which took
nearly seven minutes.
The Falcons kept their hopes alive as Anthony LaCoste generated a 34-yard kick
return which was bolstered by a 15-yard personal foul penalty on UNLV. Air
Force took advantage of the short field and Dietz charged three yards across
the goal line which left UNLV ahead, 38-35.
The Rebels used up 3:50 on their next drive before punting. Air Force ran out
of time after regaining the ball on its own 25-yard line with only 51 seconds
left.
Air Force had won the last five encounters in the series. The Rebels' eight-
game losing streak was the second longest in the FBS coming into Saturday.
GAME NOTES:
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