LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – UNLV (7-2/3-1) football improved to 5-0 on the road for the first time and won its seventh straight game since last season with a 29-27 final. Hawaii (4-6/2-3) in front of a rain-swept crowd of 12,691 fans Saturday night at the Clarence TC Ching Complex.

The Rebels improved to 15-1 under second-year head coach Barry Odom when they led after the third quarter, propelled in part by a pair of 100-yard rushers who each had a rushing touchdown — quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams (122) and running back Jet Thomas (109).

UNLV led throughout the first half, but only held a two-point lead, 12-10, at halftime in the back-and-forth affair. The visitors eventually built a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter before UH fought back to pull within two points again. However, the Rebels bullied the ball down the field in a decisive drive to run out the clock and give UNLV just its fourth win in 17 all-time trips to the Isles.

Defensively, All-America linebacker Jackson Woodard had 2.5 of UNLV’s nine tackles-for-loss, while DB Johnathan Baldwin contributed one of a team-high six sacks and an interception for the only turnover of the game.

GAME STAGE:

WR Ricky White III’s blocked punt that led to a UNLV safety added to his school single-season record — now a nationally-leading four.

REBEL OF THE GAME:

Ricky White III continued to climb the UNLV record books with a seven-catch, 128-yard night that included a key 37-yard touchdown. The team captain, in his third season in Las Vegas after transferring from Michigan State, is second in 100-yard games (13), tied for third in receiving touchdowns (22) and third in career receiving yards (2,901).

“I knew it would be a tough challenge. It’s hard to win. We know we left 14 points there. Obviously, if we had taken care of business there, I think we could have opened (the game) up early. We battled and made enough plays. Big credit to a team that found a way to win in a place where UNLV hasn’t won very often. We will build on it. We’re 7-2 with three games left in November to do something really special.”

– UNLV head coach Barry Odom

NOTABLES:

UNLV won at UH for the first time since 2016 and became just the third visiting team in the series to emerge victorious in the last 16 meetings

Barry Odom improved to 3-0 in trophy games at UNLV (UNR and UH), retaining the famous golden pineapple as part of the Ninth Island Showdown sponsored by the California Hotel.

The UNLV safety was her first since a similar drive blocked out of bounds by Spencer Briggs against North Texas on Sept. 17, 2022

Caden Chittenden made two of his four field goal attempts to give him 20 on the season, which ranks third in school history.

UH is UNLV’s oldest current rival, as they first faced each other in the Rebel program’s sophomore year in 1969.

Seven of the last 12 games between these two teams have been decided by a single score

UNLV had two non-offense touchdowns eliminated by penalties in the first quarter. A long kickoff return for a touchdown by DeAngelo Irvin Jr. (hold) and a pick-six by Antonio Doyle (returning the passer)

NEXT: The Rebels will play their first home game in three weeks when they host San Diego State on Saturday night. Kickoff at Allegiant Stadium is at 7:30pm and tickets are available by visiting UNLVTickets.com The match will be televised by CBS Sports Network.

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