UNLV hopes to carry over momentum from New Mexico victory

When UNLV crippled time against Hawaii dawns Saturday, it volition person been 7 days since the Rebels past won a shot game.

Before defeating New Mexico 31-17 past week, it had been 707 days since the Rebels past won. The roadworthy triumph snapped what was concisely the nation’s longest losing streak astatine 14 games and was Marcus Arroyo’s archetypal arsenic UNLV coach.

Afterward, his players gave him the crippled ball. Arroyo gave it close backmost to moving backmost Charles Williams, who had acceptable the schoolhouse grounds for vocation rushing yards successful the game.

Deciding who gets the crippled shot is simply a bully occupation to person for UNLV (1-8, 1-4 Mountain West), which volition effort to marque it 2 consecutive victories erstwhile it hosts Hawaii (4-6, 1-4) astatine 1 p.m. Saturday astatine Allegiant Stadium.

“To play carnal and power the crippled … and to propulsion done and decorativeness it was a measurement successful the close direction,” Arroyo said during his quality league this week.

He said the Rebels celebrated arsenic a squad should aft winning. But past it was similar coaches archer players aft they people a touchdown: Act similar you’ve been determination before.

Get up and go

“The 1 happening that’s large astir a triumph is you tin consciousness bully astir what you did, and past you get a accidental to manager guys harder and spot however overmuch (performance) was near retired there,” Arroyo said. “We won’t alteration precise overmuch from a triumph oregon a loss. There’s inactive a batch of accidental for america to find a batch of bully careless of the outcome.”

Starting against Hawaii. This is different winnable crippled for the Rebels, who are 3-point underdogs and person won 9 of the past 17 meetings against the Warriors. Five of the past 8 games person been decided by a touchdown oregon less, though Hawaii won past twelvemonth 38-21.

Much similar the Rebels, Hawaii has been competitory against immoderate of the Mountain West’s apical teams. The Warriors are coming disconnected a 17-10 location nonaccomplishment to 24th-ranked San Diego State and earlier this play handed No. 17 Fresno State a 27-24 defeat.

Arroyo, who seldom shows emotion during his quality conferences, broke into a grin erstwhile asked astir the aboriginal kickoff.

“I americium ecstatic astir the 1 p.m. kickoff. I emotion aboriginal games, you tin get up and go,” helium said earlier suggesting the ample fig of Hawaiians that telephone Las Vegas location volition supply a lively ambiance nether Allegiant Stadium’s translucent roof.

In past games betwixt the Rebels and Warriors astatine Sam Boyd Stadium, fights person breached retired successful the stands.

“Hopefully, it’s each legal,” Arroyo said. “I bash emotion the information that if there’s immoderate excitement, immoderate emotion astir the buildup of a crippled betwixt 2 teams, it makes it fun.”

Contact Ron Kantowski astatine rkantowski@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-0352. Follow @ronkantowski connected Twitter.