‘Players are gutted’: Loss to Syracuse painful for UNLV football

This isn’t the obituary for the UNLV soccer season. 

The Rebels’ 44-41 loss in time beyond regulation Friday at house towards Syracuse might have squashed hopes of reaching the School Soccer Playoff, nevertheless it doesn’t diminish what this system has completed and the route it’s headed.

If something, the style through which the Rebels fought again from a pair of double-digit deficits to narrowly lose in a heartbreaker reaffirms simply how particular the upcoming weeks — and seasons — of UNLV soccer might probably be.

UNLV had Syracuse stopped in time beyond regulation, however a late hit name on the Rebels prolonged the drive and Orange working again LeQuint Allen scored the game-winner a couple of performs later.

Sure, this one hurts. Actual unhealthy. They need to have received.

It’s vital to have a look at the massive image: Jockeying for a spot within the playoff indicators a brand new period for UNLV. Bear in mind, this system’s commonplace for many years had been beating UNR and making an attempt to muster six wins to grow to be bowl eligible.

“We perceive this recreation received’t outline us,” coach Barry Odom mentioned. “It’s how we reply that can. The gamers are gutted as a result of they invested a lot and got here up brief.”

The nonleague loss drops UNLV’s total report to 4-1, however it’s nonetheless undefeated in league and one of many favorites to win the Mountain West title. The Rebels will make a bowl recreation this season for the second straight 12 months — the primary time that’s occurred in program historical past.

Being upset as a result of the crew got here up a hair brief means the bar of success has been raised and the expectations altered. This crew scratched and clawed its approach again into the sport and deserves reward for not backing down.

“We obtained punched, and we responded,” Odom mentioned. “I used to be not shocked by the response our crew had. Now we have a troublesome, robust crew — each mentally and bodily.”

One other silver lining: UNLV followers packed Allegiant Stadium to point out their help. The attendance of 31,329 was the third largest for a UNLV recreation in Allegiant historical past. One of the best was 35,193 for Iowa State in 2021 — however that was largely Iowa State backers.

The roar of the group was so profound it felt like these glory days rooting for Jerry Tarkanian’s Rebels on the basketball court docket. It’s so refreshing to see the help for the hometown college.

And it’s nicely deserved.

For the primary time in program historical past, the Rebels performed with a quantity subsequent to their title on the scorecard, ranked No. 25 by the Related Press.

And No. 25 UNLV seemed the half, battling forwards and backwards towards a decent Syracuse squad with a notable quarterback, and arguably giving the sport away.

It was a outstanding comeback.

Not solely did the Rebels path 14-0 after the primary quarter, they seemed terrible in permitting Syracuse to push them round. Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord accomplished 11 straight passes to open the sport, certainly aided by UNLV’s struggles to hurry the quarterback or acquire traction within the secondary.

Then, the Rebels made changes. They confirmed battle. They confirmed that very same grit they’d a couple of weeks in the past on the street towards Kansas, the place they one way or the other received regardless of being outplayed early and never with the ability to full passes.

It began with Jai’Den Thomas’ 42-yard run within the second quarter all the way down to the Syracuse 10-yard line, an electrical, bodily run that introduced the group to its ft. The run modified the tone of the sport in exhibiting UNLV wouldn’t be a pushover.

Hajj-Malik Williams connected with Kaleo Ballungay for a landing go a couple of performs later, and UNLV would rating 21 unanswered factors for a 21-17 halftime lead.

That wasn’t essentially the most spectacular comeback of the night time.

Syracuse scored a pair of touchdowns 36 seconds aside early within the third quarter for a 31-21 lead, and UNLV once more seemed prefer it was going to lose. 

However Ricky White blocked a punt and true freshman Charles Correa, a neighborhood product from Bishop Gorman, scooped up the ball in the long run zone to even the rating at 31-all. Once more, the electrical energy within the stadium was not like something I’ve seen for this program in practically 5 many years of residing right here.

“Town of Las Vegas has been great to us,” mentioned Odom, this system’s second-year coach. “The vitality helped us, and I used to be very grateful for what we’ve performed in 21 months to show this into that. We’ll solely develop (the fan help) from right here.”

Syracuse responded by bringing the ball deep into UNLV territory within the fourth quarter, however Jackson Woodard intercepted a go on the Insurgent 6-yard line to arrange a 94-yard scoring drive. 

Williams’ third landing go of the sport went to White for 9 yards with 2:58 to play — which left an excessive amount of time on the clock for Syracuse. The Orange pressured time beyond regulation with a McCord landing go to Jackson Meeks with 23 seconds remaining.

There’s loads of alternatives to nitpick about how the top of the sport went. The Rebels didn’t use any of their timeouts within the second half, dropped at the least one interception, and had that premature penalty.

However, like Odom says, the best way UNLV responds to the teachings from a troublesome loss will outline the season. Buckle up, everybody, the following three months of Insurgent soccer could possibly be as thrilling as Friday night time.