UNLV defense finds its ‘edge’ in blowout road win against Akron

The UNLV Rebels are back on the winning track following a 38-10 blowout road victory over the host Akron Zips on Saturday, propelled by a defensive performance that turned the game in the second half.

The Rebels forced three turnovers, including a pick-6 by Mumu Bin Wahad, and shut out the Zips after halftime while allowing 26 rushing yards following the first quarter.

However, despite the final result, the opening quarter looked similar to UNLV’s previous outing against the North Texas Mean Green, as Akron scored a touchdown on seven plays during its first possession.

Rebels defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said the slow start was the result of an early feeling-out process as the defense tried to determine what Akron was looking to attack.

“At the beginning of the game, we were sleep walking there in the first couple series,” Guenther said. “We weren’t getting our gaps, but we started to figure out what they were trying to do by getting on the ball and trying to see what coverages we were in and what front we were in.

“Once I got a feel for what they were doing at halftime, we came in and we drew some things up and our guys really executed in the second half.”

The adjustments Guenther and the defense made after allowing 17 first downs in the first half paid dividends early in the third quarter when Holy Cross transfer linebacker Cam Santee came up with his first interception of the season during an Akron drive deep in UNLV territory.

The turnover immediately swung momentum back to the Rebels.

On the ensuing possession, quarterback Jackson Arnold connected with wide receiver Taz Reddicks on a 59-yard touchdown, extending UNLV’s lead to three scores early in the third quarter.

“We came out of the second half with a lot more edge than we did in the first,” Santee said. “I would say we came out kind of flat in the first half. The offense being able to come out and score is huge for us, and then the defense just took the energy and rolled with it.

“This was a huge week for us as a team all throughout practice, and the bye week last week, I felt like it was a pivotal week to make a decision: ‘Are you going to fall apart after a loss or come together after a loss?’ And I feel like we definitely came together and had a new edge.”

The performance marked just the fifth time since the 2020 season that the Rebels have held an opponent to 10 points or less, and the second time this season, following their 21-6 road win at Hawaii.

It was also the 19th time in program history that UNLV recorded at least three interceptions in a game and the first since Mullen’s debut with the program against Idaho State in 2025.

While Mullen was pleased with the result, he emphasized that there is still plenty for the Rebels to clean up as the season progresses.

“I think we did, I think we were able to do that a little bit better today,” Mullen said when asked if the program was able to put players in positions to succeed this week. “We gotta continue to do that as coaches and we have to continue to look and continue to build to do those things.

“There was a lot to like and there was a lot to get better at, but I like that. It is a lot easier to coach hard and get things fixed with a giant smile on your face.”

Contact Donovan Hicks at dhicks@reviewjournal.com. Follow @HicksSports on X.