LAS VEGAS – Hajj-Malik Williams played a pivotal role in UNLV’s decisive 41-20 victory over San Diego State on Saturday night, showcasing his skills with a touchdown pass and two rushing touchdowns.

Williams completed 20 of 29 passes for 244 yards, also making significant contributions on the ground with rushing touchdowns of 12 and 7 yards.

The scoring for UNLV began with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Kaleo Ballungay with just 4:05 remaining in the first quarter. This was followed by a 20-yard touchdown run by Greg Burrell early in the second quarter, which capped off a nine-play drive spanning 70 yards. Jai’Den Thomas added to the scoring with a 4-yard rushing touchdown, extending the lead to 21-0 with 9:20 left in the first half.

San Diego State managed to respond when Danny O’Neil connected with Louis Brown IV for a 29-yard touchdown pass. However, the two-point conversion attempt fell short as O’Neil was unable to find Michael Harrison, leaving the Aztecs trailing 21-6 with 3:25 left in the second quarter. After a defensive stop that forced a UNLV punt, San Diego State faced a setback when Jalen Catalon intercepted O’Neil, allowing UNLV to regain possession at their own 47-yard line. Six plays later, Williams added to his tally with a 12-yard scramble for a touchdown, bringing the halftime score to 28-6 in favor of UNLV.

The Aztecs started the second half with a quick three-and-out, and then Williams continued his strong performance by finishing an eight-play, 73-yard drive with a 7-yard rushing touchdown. A minute later, the Aztecs responded when Ja’Shaun Poke caught a 46-yard touchdown pass for his first touchdown with the team after transferring from West Virginia. Nonetheless, Caden Chittenden retaliated with a 46-yard field goal, extending UNLV’s lead to 38-13 as they headed into the fourth quarter.

In the final quarter, O’Neil executed a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, scoring for San Diego State and narrowing the deficit to 38-20 with 13:46 left in the game. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, this loss marked their fourth consecutive defeat, as the team struggled to regain momentum in their season.