UNLV football returns to action Thursday night at Allegiant Stadium after its second bye week, hosting Northern Illinois in a Halloween matchup. The Huskies enter 0-7 overall and 0-3 in Mountain West play during their first season in the conference after leaving the Mid-American Conference.
Despite the record, Rebels coach Dan Mullen warned his team not to overlook the Huskies, who are two years removed from upsetting then-No. 5 Notre Dame. "They are going to come in here with a little bit of desperation to get a win," Mullen said. "They’re kind of backed up into a corner right now and anytime you get backed into a corner that is when people can become really dangerous."
Northern Illinois has averaged 301.7 total yards and 15.1 points per game, tied for last in the conference in scoring. Junior quarterback Taron Dickens has thrown for 1,364 yards and six touchdowns but has five interceptions and three fumbles behind an offensive line that has allowed 20 sacks.
The Huskies do feature one of the nation’s top receivers in senior DeAree Rogers, who leads the Mountain West with 57 receptions for 537 yards and four touchdowns. Linebacker Cam Santee said UNLV’s defense must generate pressure to disrupt the passing attack. "We have to be able to get pressure on this quarterback so he is getting the ball out quick and maybe making some bad decisions," Santee said.
NIU is also playing under interim head coach Rob Harley, who took over after Thomas Hammock resigned in February to join the Seattle Seahawks. UNLV aims to extend its streak of consecutive conference championship game appearances to four.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
English (US)·