UNLV rolls over Utah Tech in record-breaking home opener

LAS VEGAS — UNLV wide receiver Ricky White tore holes in the Utah Tech defense, scoring on three first-quarter catches Saturday in a record-breaking 72-14 victory over Utah Tech.

White’s first three receptions all went for touchdowns (5, 55 and 7 yards all from transfer quarterback Matthew Sluka), giving him a Randy Moss-esque statline of three receptions for three touchdowns minutes into the first quarter.

White finished with five catches for 111 yards and three touchdowns. It was a banner day for one of the greatest players in program history in his final home opener in Las Vegas.

It was part of a team record-breaking performance for the Rebels, who gained 695 yards total offense. The 72 points was the second most in program history.

“We set a goal before the game of 70 points and we executed that,” White said.

True freshman Greg Burrell led the ground attack for UNLV, rushing for 101 yards and his first career touchdown on 11 attempts. Sluka was potent on the ground as well with nine carries for 70 rushing yards before he was taken out at halftime after the Rebels took a 44-7 lead.

The Rebels rushed for 506 yards and six touchdowns. They improved to 2-0 for the first time in 25 years.

The go-go offense started fast, with Sluka airing it out for 36 yards to wide receiver Jacob DeJesus on the second play of the game. The third play was a 27-yard rushing touchdown for Jai’Den Thomas and the start of the first-half downpour by UNLV

Utah Tech’s offense wasn’t expected to do much of anything Saturday, making its first drive a bit of a shock. On the Trailblazers' third play, Deacon Hill hit Alec Burton for a wide-open 64-yard touchdown pass that exposed a gap in the UNLV secondary.  

The mistake seemed to have flipped a switch for the Rebels' defense, as they forced 3 consecutive three-and-outs after that for a total of -9 yards. Utah Tech scored once more for the remainder of the game, with all of UNLV’s defensive starters out on the bench.

On UNLV’s ensuing possession, the Ricky White show began. He capped off a quick drive with his 5-yard touchdown reception. He took a 55-yard catch-and-run to the end zone on the next possession. And scored a 7-yard touchdown on the possession after that.

White became the fifth player in the last decade to record 3 or more TD catches in the first quarter in NCAA Division I football. 

Getting the ball to White early and often was a key focus for coach Barry Odom.

“We were pretty direct with trying to feed him the ball,” Odom said. “I thought that he wouldn’t play much in the second half, so I was trying to find a way to get him the ball early. 

"He’s one of the dynamic playmakers in college football.” 

Freshman kicker Caden Chittenden was 3 of 3 in the first half, his longest field goal coming from 36 yards. 

The Rebels pulled their starters for the second half and QBs Hajj-Malik Williams and Cameron Friel took over, relying on the running game. Williams didn’t throw a pass, but rushed for 88 yards on 10 attempts, heavily utilizing the option with Burrell. Friel passed once for 30 yards and rushed for 7 yards and a touchdown. 

The true test will come Friday when UNLV travels to Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City (due to renovations on the stadium in Lawrence) to take on No. 19-ranked Kansas.