UNLV showcased a dominant performance in their home opener against Utah Tech, securing a 72-14 victory. Matthew Sluka and Ricky White III were a formidable duo, combining for three touchdowns in the first quarter. Sluka, a transfer from Holy Cross, connected with White for scores of 5, 55, and 7 yards, propelling the Rebels to a 28-7 lead after the opening quarter. Freshman Caden Chittenden contributed three field goals in the second quarter, extending UNLV’s lead to 44-7 by halftime.

During the game, UNLV demonstrated a strong running game by running the ball 20 consecutive times, resulting in two touchdowns. Greg Burrell and Timothy Conerly both found the end zone with rushing touchdowns in the second half. Sluka had a standout performance in the first half with 161 passing yards and 81 rushing yards. In the second half, Hajj-Malik Williams and Cameron Friel led the offense, with Williams rushing for 88 yards and Friel adding a rushing touchdown. Devin Green sealed the victory with a 38-yard touchdown run.

UNLV’s rushing attack was a key factor in the game, with Burrell accumulating 101 yards on the ground out of the team’s total of 504 rushing yards. A total of twelve different players carried the ball for UNLV, showcasing the team’s depth and versatility. Friel made the only pass for UNLV in the second half, completing a 30-yard throw to Conerly.

Utah Tech’s Deacon Hill had a solid outing, completing 15 of 29 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. He connected with Alec Burton for a 64-yard touchdown and found Chris Street for a 31-yard score in the third quarter.

Overall, UNLV’s dominant performance on both offense and defense led to a convincing victory over Utah Tech in their home opener.