After a shaky Week 1 showing against Idaho State, the UNLV Rebels bounced back in convincing fashion on Friday night, defeating the Sam Houston Bearkats 38-21 in Houston to improve to 2-0 on the young season.
Colandrea Leads the Way
Quarterback Anthony Colandrea, a transfer from Virginia, showcased why he was brought in to lead the Rebels’ offense. Colandrea completed 19 of 23 passes for 237 yards, tossing two touchdowns and adding another on the ground. While he did throw one interception and put the ball on the turf twice, neither fumble was lost a reminder that while his playmaking ability is a strength, ball security remains an area for improvement.
Running back Jai’Den Thomas chipped in with 65 rushing yards and a touchdown, while wideout Jaden Bradley had a breakout game with six receptions for 125 yards and a score, providing a much-needed deep threat for the Rebels’ passing game.
Aamaris Brown Shines on Defense
The story of the night, however, belonged to defensive back Aamaris Brown, who delivered one of the best individual defensive performances in recent UNLV memory. Brown racked up four tackles (three for loss), two sacks, and a pivotal 52-yard pick-six in the second quarter that swung momentum firmly in the Rebels’ favor.
Oddity in Houston
The game also featured an unusual wrinkle: late in the first half, the in-stadium game clock at Shell Energy Stadium malfunctioned and never came back online. While it created confusion at times, UNLV stayed composed and continued to pull away in the second half.
Big Picture
With Boise State falling to South Florida, UNLV’s 2-0 start takes on even more significance in the Mountain West Conference race. If Colandrea can keep delivering high-efficiency play while cleaning up turnovers, and if the defense continues to make impact plays like Brown’s, the Rebels look poised to contend for a league title.
UNLV will now look to build on its strong start and prove that last week’s scare against Idaho State was just a blip on the radar.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
