First quarter
UNLV opened the game with the ball and used its rushing attack to march down the field. The Rebels, who ran the ball nine times on the 11-play drive, hit a big one when Keith Whitley went untouched for 37 yards up the middle for the game’s first score, giving UNLV a 7-0 lead. Nevada marched past midfield but couldn’t get any further and punted. UNLV moved down the field again, using two third-down penalties by the Wolf Pack to sustain the drive before Nevada FS Dameon Baber picked off UNLV’s Blake Decker at the Nevada 3-yard line for the game’s first turnover.