UNLV’s late-half mistakes are becoming a troubling trend

While a late second-quarter score might not have changed the eventual outcome in UNLV’s 44-6 blowout loss to the North Texas Mean Green in Denton, Texas, it still tells a story that has been present in each of the Rebels’ three games this season.

Offensive miscues at the end of the first half have derailed any momentum the program has had through 30 minutes of play.

The Rebels trailed 20-3 at halftime, but they had an opportunity to cut into that gap as UNLV received the ball with nearly two minutes to play and two timeouts.

With 49 seconds remaining in the second quarter, the Rebels entered the red zone and used their second timeout of the half. Following the break, UNLV used three plays to move the chains and put itself in a first-and-goal situation.

However, this is where things went awry for the Rebels.

With 22 seconds left, UNLV quarterback Jackson Arnold attempted to run the ball up the middle himself, gaining only three yards and forcing the Rebels to take their third and final timeout.

After the stoppage, UNLV elected to call a pass play with 15 seconds remaining on the clock. The only problem: tight end Keyan Burnett did not run his route deep enough, catching the third-down pass at the 1.

With the limited time on the clock, there was no way for the Rebels to bring on the field-goal unit to attempt to salvage three points.

Arnold was able to get a play off with a single second left on the clock and handed the ball off to running back Jaylon Glover, who was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage, sending Dan Mullen’s squad into the locker room both empty-handed and deflated.

“There were three plays at the end of the first half, simple plays that we practice. Obviously, you throw the ball into the end zone or nothing at all,” Mullen said. “We make that mistake, we actually practice our mistake to fix our mistake and then guys run the wrong freaking play.

“You come away with nothing and give them momentum, and they scored three out of their first four drives of the second half.”

Mullen also placed some of the responsibility on himself and his coaching staff.

“The players have to take ownership and responsibility, but as coaches we have to make sure we are prepared,” Mullen said. “There is a big difference between putting the onus on the kids, which we have to play better, but also I don’t feel like we had ourselves prepared the way we needed to for as many mental errors that we were making.”

This isn’t the first time the end of the second quarter has been problematic for the Rebels this season.

Last week in the Rebels’ 21-6 road win over the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, they found themselves in a similar position. The only difference was that UNLV was out in front 14-3.

With more than a minute remaining and two timeouts, the Rebels received the ball at their own 44 and ended the half two yards behind where they started after running the ball three times, committing a false-start penalty and allowing a sack.

While UNLV came out on top of the “Ninth Island Showdown,” the same cannot be said about its Week 0 matchup against the Memphis Tigers.

Leading 14-7 with two minutes remaining in the first half, the Rebels’ defense forced a turnover as Denver Harris punched the ball out of the hands of a Memphis wide receiver, setting UNLV up inside Tigers territory at the 48.

Arnold then delivered a 33-yard pass to wide receiver Taz Reddicks, putting the Rebels in the red zone with all three timeouts and more than a minute remaining in the second quarter.

However, following the big gain, UNLV used two timeouts over the next three plays and was also flagged for a false start before Burnett caught a pass that resulted in an 8-yard loss. The Rebels then missed a 32-yard field goal by Ramon Villela to close the quarter.