NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Known more for their running, the Rebels used a big pass play en route to an upset victory over Vanderbilt.
Kenyon Oblad threw for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns, Chad Magyar rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown and UNLV beat Vanderbilt 34-10 on Saturday.
UNLV (2-4) snapped a four-game losing streak, earning its first-ever road win against an SEC opponent. Mountain West schools are 3-2 this season against SEC opponents. It was the first-ever match-up between the schools.
"Obviously really excited for that locker room," UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said. "Those kids worked extremely hard, from spring ball through camp through the duration of the season, and things have not started the way we wanted them to this year. These guys show up every day, they've got a great attitude, there's never moping around."
Vanderbilt (1-5) couldn't generate much after their first drive of the game against the Rebels. The Rebels scored on their first four drives of the first half, with the three drives that resulted in touchdowns all going in excess of 70 yards.
"For us, it's been explosive plays given up, man, that's really let games sort of get away," Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said. "I thought second half, defense played harder, a little better. We had our fair share of opportunities, but didn't capitalize on any of them. You know, then games start to get away."
Oblad, a redshirt freshman, was efficient in the opening half, and connected on 5 of 7 seven pass attempts. Two of the completions were for touchdowns, including a 63-yard pass to Randal Grimes early in the second quarter.
It was a play the Rebels have worked on in practice, but the first time they had a chance to use it in a game, Oblad said.
"He's been doing a great job, throwing the ball, reading his keys and everything like that and being a smart guy overall," Grimes said of Oblad.
The only drive the Rebels failed to score on in the first half was their final one which began with less than two minutes remaining in the half. UNLV ran the ball three times to take a 24-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Vanderbilt had a strong start, taking a 7-0 lead after an impressive 8-play, 76-yard opening drive that concluded with a 4-yard Ke'Shawn Vaughn touchdown run.
Vaughn was the lone bright spot for the Commodores, rushing for 140 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.
Following their first drive, the Commodores struggled to generate much offensively. Starting quarterback Riley Neal was replaced by Deuce Wallace for a couple of drives before returning late in the second quarter.
A pair of Neal second half turnovers on back-to-back drives doomed any chances the Commodores had of mounting a comeback.
