Fresno State preview: UNLV has been a thorn, and not just because of its Bullard star

Fresno State had an extra few days to recover from a short week leading up to its victory over Colorado State, the first for Kalen DeBoer, the Bulldogs’ new coach, and now it gets a chance to build some credibility and its resume before a rough stretch of games.

The Bulldogs on Saturday will play at 0-2 UNLV, followed by a trip to play 0-2 Utah State.

UNLV is 11th in the Mountain West Conference in scoring offense and ninth in scoring defense. Utah State is 12th and 12th, last in both statistical categories.

After that, Fresno State returns home to play 2-0 San Jose State and 2-0 San Diego State.

But the Rebels, even at 0-2, could present some challenges.

UNLV was 1-5, its win over an FCS opponent, when it beat Fresno State in 2014. It was 1-3, its win again over an FCS opponent, when it ripped the Bulldogs 45-20 in 2016. And it was 2-5 when it rolled into Bulldog Stadium and won 26-16 as a 22-point underdog in 2017.

Here is a first look at the Rebels …

FRESNO STATE-UNLV

Where and when: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 12:30 p.m. Saturday

TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network/ESPN940AM

Fans: UNLV will have about 2,000 fans in attendance with the approval of the Southern Nevada Health District and state officials.

Records: Bulldogs 1-1, Rebels 0-2

Series: Bulldogs lead 15-7

Last meeting: The Bulldogs ripped UNLV 56-27 in 2019, rushing for 260 yards and 6 TDs and scoring 28 points off Rebels turnovers

Coaches: Kalen DeBoer (1-1, 1-1 in the Mountain West), Marcus Arroyo (0-2, 0-2 in first season as a head coach)

Line: Bulldogs -11

BEWARE THE ‘CHUCK WAGON’

The Fresno State defense rebounded nicely in an easy 38-17 victory over Colorado State, taking apart the Rams’ run game after allowing 323 rushing yards in an opening loss to Hawaii.

The Bulldogs had spent most of what little time they had preparing to face quarterback Patrick O’Brien, but the Rams instead started dual-threat Todd Centeio. Fresno State adjusted quickly after Centeio hit it on runs of 35, 11 and 11 yards in his first six carries, and limited Colorado State to 81 rushing yards on 27 plays the rest of the way.

That could just be an outlier, though.

Colorado State was playing its first game of the season and went into it with very little experience on the offensive line.

UNLV running back Charles Williams will be going up against his hometown team with a lot of incentive, once again. And, while UNLV has an offensive line that like most of its team is a work in progress, it has been able to get some things done in the first two games.

In the Rebels’ opening loss at San Diego State, Williams rushed for 80 yards, which doesn’t sound like much, but is notable considering …

▪ The Rebels had nothing else going on offense with three quarterbacks combining to hit 17 of 28 passes for just 106 yards.

▪ The Aztecs return eight starters on defense, and year after year rank among the best in the Mountain West against the run. In 42 regular-season conference games over the past five-plus seasons, only seven running backs have rushed for 100 or more yards against San Diego State.

113 – Charles Williams (UNLV), Oct. 26, 2019

133 – Lexington Thomas UNLV), Nov. 10, 2018

128 – Alexander Mattison (Boise State), Oct. 14, 2017

112 – Jordan Mims (Fresno State), Oct. 21, 2017

131 – Brian Hill (Wyoming), Nov. 19, 2016

104 – Izzy Matthews (Colorado State), Nov. 26, 2016

103 – Dalyn Dawkins (Colorado State), Nov. 26, 2016

The Aztecs have held an opponent’s leading rusher to 50 yards or less in that same stretch 20 times, so 80 rushing yards and 4.0 yards per play isn’t too bad. In Game 2, the Aztecs held Utah State running back Devonta’e Henry-Cole to 27 rushing yards, which was the Aggies’ team-high.

Williams, the former Bullard High star who got little to no recruiting interest from the Bulldogs, has had some big games against Fresno State. In three career games he is averaging 6.0 yards per play, rushing for 356 yards and one touchdown, and two of his nine career 100-yard rushing games have come against Fresno State.

Williams goes into the matchup against the Bulldogs ranked sixth on the all-time UNLV rushing list and with a chance to move into the Top 5. He is just 32 yards behind Kirk Jones, No. 5 on the Rebels’ all-time list.

Tim Cornett is the leading rusher in school history with 3,733 yards.

UNLV STRETCHING THE FIELD – HORIZONTALLY

The Rebels went start to finish with Max Gilliam at quarterback Saturday in a 37-19 loss to Nevada, after playing the fifth-year senior as well as sophomores Kenyon Oblad and Justin Rogers in the opening loss at San Diego State.

Gilliam hit a high percentage of his passes and he should – the Rebels utilize a lot of short, quick throws on slants, screens and crossing routes.

UNLV is averaging just 4.7 yards per pass attempt and in two games has just three explosive pass plays of 20 or more yards.

It also is averaging just 7.3 yards per completion and 55 of the 103 teams in the nation are averaging more per attempt than the Rebels are averaging per completion, with the dead plays (incomplete passes) in the equation.

NOT SO SPECIAL, REALLY

UNLV has not returned a punt for a touchdown since Troy Mason went 52 yards in a 31-3 victory over San Diego State on Oct. 13, 2001.

It also has not returned a kickoff for a touchdown since Deante Purvis went 98 yards in a 38-35 victory over Colorado State on Oct. 29, 2011.

Fresno State shouldn’t be the one to poke fun, though.

The Bulldogs have not returned a kickoff for a touchdown since A.J. Jefferson had a 92-yard return in a 41-28 loss to Nevada on Nov. 7, 2008.

They have gone 149 games and 537 returns without a touchdown.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Wideouts have not done much damage to Fresno State through two games – the Bulldogs have allowed six explosive pass plays of 20 or more yards, but three have been to tight ends, and they have not allowed a passing touchdown to an outside receiver.

But if UNLV has a receiver who can make an impact down the field, it is junior Tyleek Collins.

Collins did not get off to a great start, catching three passes for minus-5 yards in the Rebels’ loss at San Diego State. But against Nevada he had five receptions for 74 yards including plays of 26 and 20 yards, and he is the only wideout, tight end or running back on the team with more than one reception for even 15 or more yards.

Collins has three, but the danger is deeper in his history.

As a freshman in 2018, Collins had four catches for 139 yards and one touchdown in a loss at Utah State and nine receptions for 170 yards and four touchdowns in a loss at San Jose State including plays of 46 and 75 yards.

HEY, WHY NOT? IT’S A GAMBLING TOWN

UNLV coach Marcus Arroyo has if nothing else proven that he is unafraid of taking a few risks, attempting to turn a fourth-down play into a new set of downs 10 times already. That’s five more than any team in the conference.

The first four weren’t much of a big deal – down 27-0 in the third quarter at San Diego State for the first play and 27-6 in the fourth for the other three.

But against Nevada, Arroyo went for a first down six times including a fourth-and-4 from the Wolf Pack 35 when a long field goal would have tied the score and a fourth-and-1 from the UNLV 34 when a stop would give Nevada a short field and a chance to go up by three scores.

The Rebels have converted on 8 of their 10 fourth-down plays.