UNLV football catches up and beats Kansas with late touchdown from Kylin James | UNLV football | Sports

KANSAS CITY, Kansas – There will be days when the wins come easier for UNLV and the nerves are not as high as they were Friday night.

However, it could be a while before the Rebels' resolve is tested – or rewarded – as it was in their 23-20 victory over Kansas at Children's Mercy Park.

When it comes to turning programs around and never going back, it's nights like Friday that often become turning points. Not necessarily because of the result, but because of the obstacles overcome along the way, against a tough opponent in a game where the Rebels were on the losing side in nearly every statistical category.

In front of a national television audience and a hostile crowd that made communication nearly impossible at times, the Rebels found a way to win, opening the season with three straight wins for the first time since 1984.

“You have to stay in the arena, you have to continue to trust your preparation and your habits,” coach Barry Odom said. “And you have to keep playing six seconds at a time. And when you do that, you have a chance to win games in the fourth quarter.”

Slow start overcome

Not only did they have to climb out of a 17-6 hole, but they also had to find a way to slow down Kansas' offense, which harassed them on the ground and in the air during a frustrating first half.

Nor were they concerned with getting through the times when they ended promising drives without scoring or traded field goals for touchdowns.

When the Rebels look back on this victory, they will remember the game-winning drive that began at their 25-yard line with 11:25 left and ended with backup running back Kylin James' second attempt across the goal line from the 1-yard line on fourth down, giving UNLV a 23-20 lead with 1:55 left.

The drive lasted 14 plays and 9½ minutes. The Rebels converted two fourth downs, overcame a costly penalty that turned a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line into a first-and-10 from the 16-yard line. And somehow they survived quarterback Matthew Sluka's fumble that was nearly recovered by three defenders but James eventually landed on it for UNLV.

Knowing they had no choice but to score a touchdown, the Rebels responded to every desperate moment with the appropriate action.

“That was a must-have drive,” said center Jack Hasz, whose powerful push at the point of attack helped James score the decisive touchdown.

“A field goal wasn't right for us,” said Sluka, who had a team-leading 124 yards on 19 carries and completed 7 of 18 passes for 86 yards. “So it was just a matter of getting the ball in the end zone, and however we did that, we did it.”

It was the only point of the fourth quarter for the Rebels, who scored just 10 points in the second half. But it was enough because the defense overcame a sloppy first half and held Kansas to three points at halftime.

Defense improves in the second half

UNLV gave up 17 points and 260 yards in the first half, but allowed just 92 yards the rest of the half. By keeping the Jayhawks under control in the second half, Sluka and the offense had just enough room to start the comeback.

“A lot of it was just our work, and it started with me,” said linebacker Jackson Woodard, who had one of UNLV's two interceptions. “I felt like we were a little nervous and did a little too much. Everyone just settled in and did their job.”

UNLV's first interception helped change the course of the game. It came late in the first half when the Jayhawks led 17-6, and after Devin Neal's 24-yard run, they got to the UNLV 44-yard line with 57 seconds left.

But quarterback Jalon Daniels, who has thrown six interceptions in three games, threw the ball too far over his target and landed in the arms of safety Jalen Catalon, who carried the ball back 46 yards to Kansas' 33-yard line.

UNLV got it done, albeit just barely. As the clock ran out after Sluka's 6-yard toss to Jacob De Jesus put the ball on the Kansas 27-yard line, the Rebels looked confused while simultaneously trying to line up for the second down and communicate the play from the sideline. Sluka even ran to the sideline to get the play, then sprinted back onto the field to make the signals.

The snap came with six seconds left in the half, giving Sluka just enough time to throw a swing pass to Jai'Den Thomas, who secured the ball at the 15 with two seconds left and ran into the end zone. And just like that, the Rebels had cut their deficit to 17-13.

This was an amazing turn of events considering how Kansas (1-2) had moved the ball at will.

“Time management… at the end of the half, of course I wouldn’t write it like that,” Odom said.

But as the Rebels did all night, they made a great play when they needed it.

“All credit goes to the effort and the impact, the great plays when we needed them,” Odom said.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at [email protected]. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.