Rebels prevail in game of 'Tag' over Air Force to improve to 6-0

LAS VEGAS — You wanted points? You got points.

You wanted big plays? You got big plays.

You wanted to see a shootout? You saw a shootout.

Whether it was offensive prowess or defensive ineptitude, UNLV and Air Force made the scoreboard operator at Allegiant Stadium earn his money Saturday. The Rebels and Falcons accounted for 99 points and 1,200 yards of total offense.

And when it finally ended 3 hours and 43 minutes later, Dan Mullen’s team was still undefeated, having secured a 51-48 win over the Falcons as an announced crowd of 32,932 looked on.

“It went back and forth,” said Mullen, whose team is now 6-0, and, more importantly, 2-0 in the Mountain West with a trip to Boise State upcoming next Saturday. “It could’ve gone either way. But I’m so proud of the way our guys kept battling. And I want to give Air Force a lot of credit. We knew they had an explosive offense.”

This was football’s version of “Tag” as the two teams took turns being it. There were 12 lead changes as neither team’s defense could stop the other’s offense.

UNLV quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who would ultimately provide the winning margin on his 19-yard scramble with 36 seconds remaining, said he liked being on the field with the ball with two minutes to go compared to four.

“It was a fun game to be in,” said the transfer from Virginia who threw for 361 yards, including an 86-yard scoring strike to DaeDae Reynolds, and rushed for 62 yards while scoring twice.

As you would expect given the score, this game had a little bit of everything. There was UNLV receiver Jaden Bradley throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Var’Keyes Gumms. There were the Falcons, normally a disciplined team, being flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct to keep a UNLV drive alive. There were 2-point conversions made and missed. And in the end, there was the missed field goal from 40 yards out by the Falcons’ Jacob Medina on the game’s final play which would’ve sent the game  
into overtime.

“It was a crazy game,” said linebacker Marsel McDuffie who recovered a botched handoff on the first play of the third quarter that led to a UNLV touchdown. “We gave up 48, but we got the dub.”

Indeed they did. But there was no lack of things to be concerned with. Like nine penalties for 79 yards. Like surrendering 428 yards on the ground to the Falcons and 603 yards overall as Air Force quarterback Liam Szarka was valiant in defeat, running for 136 yards and two TDs and throwing for another as part of his 175-yard passing day.

“He did a great job,” Mullen said of the opposition’s QB.

But so did Mullen’s guy. Colandrea continues to impress with his willingness to battle and keep his teammates engaged. Eleven different Rebels caught passes Saturday and Jet Thomas and Keyvone Lee were strong running the ball, each finding the end zone.

Granted, facing a service academy is no easy task. And UNLV’s defense struggled covering the pitch man most of the day when Air Force ran its option attack. But they are still undefeated and moving on for what figures to be another wild affair on the blue turf in Boise next weekend.

“We know it’s going to be a rowdy environment so we have to be ready to play,” McDuffie said.