UNLV hopes to rekindle run game against No. 22 Fresno State

Yes, UNLV moving backmost Charles Williams is returning to his autochthonal Fresno, California, for a shot crippled Friday.

No, present is not the clip to get excessively sentimental.

“Just due to the fact that (Fresno) is acquainted to me, it doesn’t truly matter. I dainty everybody the same. I hole the same,” said the sixth-year senior, “It’s not conscionable astir me. It’s the UNLV Rebels. It’s not Chuck’s game. … We’ve got to absorption connected what we’ve got to bash arsenic a team, arsenic a unit. And get amended arsenic a family, too.”

The Rebels connected Friday task to No. 22 Fresno State, wherever Williams volition play 1 last clip earlier friends and household successful his beloved hometown. He’s had immoderate of the champion games of his vocation against the Bulldogs, totaling 153 rushing yards successful 2016 arsenic a existent freshman and 121 yards successful 2018 arsenic a third-year sophomore.

UNLV hopes helium tin get backmost connected way again this clip around.

“It’s precise special. You don’t get excessively galore chances similar this to beryllium capable to play successful beforehand of your hometown,” said Williams, who leads each progressive FBS players with 3,189 rushing yards. “But also, we’ve got to grip business. It’s not a vacation. That’s the astir important thing.”

Williams started his last assemblage play successful spectacular fashion, rushing for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns Sept. 2 successful UNLV’s opener against Eastern Washington. But amended contention has slowed the Chuck Wagon the past 2 games. He’s totaled 77 rushing yards connected 32 carries successful losses to No. 23 Arizona State and No. 14 Iowa State.

They were his lowest outputs successful games with double-figure carries since 2018.

UNLV manager Marcus Arroyo said Monday during his play property league that the Rebels would tinker with their violative enactment successful an effort to make the benignant of cohesion that could outpouring Williams.

“We judge successful the tally game, obviously. … The 2 teams we played the past 2 weeks, they harnessed the run,” Arroyo said, referencing the Sun Devils and Cyclones, who rushed for 290 and 184 yards, respectively, against UNLV.

“We pridefulness ourselves connected getting to beryllium a carnal program,” Arroyo added. “They cognize that. That’s going to beryllium a large portion of what we bash and our identity. So moving the shot is what we person to do.”

Arroyo besides acknowledged that the Rebels indispensable propulsion the shot much efficaciously to easiness the load connected Williams, who is often tasked with facing eight-man fronts.

Redshirt freshman backmost Doug Brumfield returned to signifier this week aft missing past week with an undisclosed precocious assemblage injury. Arroyo was optimistic astir his availability against the Bulldogs. He’s the lone UNLV backmost to technologist a touchdown thrust this season, and he’s 2nd connected the squad to Williams with 70 rushing yards.

“Right now, we request to bash things to equilibrium america retired truthful we tin get the (tackle) container unloaded a small bit, truthful we tin bash immoderate stuff,” Arroyo said. “The tally crippled goes manus successful manus with what we do.”

Defensively, the Rebels indispensable contend with Fresno State elder backmost Jake Haener and possibly the Mountain West’s astir explosive offense.

He leads the FBS with 1,464 passing yards to spell with 10 touchdowns against 1 interception.

“He knows what to bash successful the offense. He knows what to bash with the ball,” Arroyo said.

Contact newsman Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected Twitter.