Dan Mullen was blessed and you tin recognize why.
The UNLV shot coach’s squad not lone opened Mountain West play with a 21-6 victory astatine Hawaii connected Saturday, but his squad did truthful successful a mode that the Rebels had hoped.
To tame the Rainbow Warriors and their high-powered offense, UNLV was capable to power things connected the ground.
The Rebels ran for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Leading the mode was prima backmost Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas, who went for 143 yards connected 20 carries, including a 50-yard scoring run.
“We continued to grind distant and deed a fewer explosive runs that truly helped,” Mullen said. “With arsenic overmuch arsenic Hawaii likes to propulsion the ball, we wanted to power the tally game, and I thought we were capable to bash that.
“We rotated a clump of violative linemen. Played 2 centers and 3 guards and 3 tackles. That radical playing (well) was truly important for us.”
A key: The 2 centers came through.
Starter Austin Boyd (ankle) volition miss astatine slightest a fewer much weeks, meaning the person of the violative beforehand volition beryllium watching again erstwhile UNLV visits North Texas connected Saturday.
But a operation of BJ Tolo and Griffin Scroggs kept things locked down from the mediate portion each saw clip arsenic Boyd’s replacement.
“They each bring a small thing antithetic to the table,” Mullen said. “Week-to-week, it volition beryllium astir matchups and who we’re playing. But those guys did a bully occupation successful that situation. There is acquisition there.
“The comfortableness portion for a manager is not just, ‘Oh, God, our backup halfway is in. Can we drawback the ball?’ These guys person played successful games. So for us, it’s astir matchups and schemes for those 2 guys.”
UNLV allowed six sacks successful a season-opening nonaccomplishment to Memphis, 4 coming successful the 4th fourth erstwhile Boyd was injured and departed.
Hawaii lone got to backmost Jackson Arnold once, and that’s erstwhile the UNLV backmost slipped and fell.
Truth: Memphis was overmuch amended up beforehand defensively than Hawaii. There is simply a accidental UNLV won’t spot again this play arsenic talented a radical of tackles and ends that the Tigers featured.
But the information UNLV held up against the unreserved Saturday successful Honolulu tin lone breed much assurance successful those blocking, particularly with Boyd out.
“I thought the (offensive line) played its butts off,’ Arnold said. “Having to rotate centers, it’s not an casual task for either of them. But they stepped up and played a fantastic game.
“With a feline similar Boyd out, that hurts. It showed successful the Memphis game. But for (Tolo and Scroggs) to person an full week to prepare, it truly helped them retired and got them acceptable mentally and physically for Hawaii.”
Containing Alejado
Bishop Gorman alum and Hawaii backmost Micah Alejado was the league’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
His numbers weren’t up to specified standards Saturday.
Alejado completed 17 of 41 for 176 yards and 1 interception. None of his receivers totaled much than 27 yards.
Mullen credited his team’s antiaircraft backfield for specified an outing.
“I deliberation they did a large job,” helium said. “Obviously, it’s a very, precise antithetic strategy than (Memphis). We knew Hawaii was going to propulsion the ball. With Memphis, astir 5 times a crippled they were going to motorboat 1 down the field. Hawaii is going to propulsion immoderate down the field, but it’s much of a calculated scheme.
“I thought our antiaircraft backs did a truly bully occupation matching each the antithetic signifier combinations (Hawaii) runs.”
Awards time
Speaking of antiaircraft backs, sophomore information Tre Fulton was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week aft posting a career-high 12 tackles, including 8 solo. He besides had a sack, a forced fumble and walk breakup successful the extremity zone.
Also, antiaircraft lineman Kal-El Togafau was named the conference’s Freshman of the Week. He had 2 of UNLV’s 5 sacks.
“For me, it’s ever astir doing 1 happening astatine a clip and focusing connected the small things and getting amended astatine things I tin control,” Fulton said. “I’ve taken pridefulness successful getting stronger and faster, which I cognize has helped my crippled connected the field.”
Contact Ed Graney astatine egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney connected X.
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