UNLV defense finds its ‘edge’ in blowout road win against Akron

UNLV’s defense turned a sluggish start into a dominant second‑half performance, leading the Rebels to a 38‑10 road victory over Akron on Saturday. The unit forced three turnovers, including a pick‑6 by Mumu Bin Wahad, and held the Zips to just 26 rushing yards after the opening quarter. Although the final score was lopsided, the opening drive resembled UNLV’s earlier struggle against North Texas, as Akron marched 70 yards in seven plays for a touchdown on its first possession. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther attributed the slow beginning to a feeling‑out process, explaining that the defense needed to identify Akron’s intentions. “At the opening of the game, we were slumber walking determination successful the archetypal mates series,” Guenther said. “We weren’t getting our gaps, but we started to fig retired what they were trying to bash by getting connected the shot and trying to spot what coverages we were successful and what beforehand we were in.” He added, “Once I got a consciousness for what they were doing astatine halftime, we came successful and we drew immoderate things up and our guys truly executed successful the 2nd half.” The adjustments paid off when Holy Cross transportation linebacker Cam Santee recorded his first interception of the season during an Akron drive deep in UNLV territory, swinging momentum back to the Rebels. On the ensuing play, quarterback Jackson Arnold connected with wide receiver Taz Reddicks for a 59‑yard touchdown, extending UNLV’s lead to three scores early in the third quarter. Santee reflected on the shift in intensity after halftime. “We came retired of the 2nd fractional with a batch much borderline than we did successful the first,” Santee said. “I would accidental we came retired benignant of level successful the archetypal half. The discourtesy being capable to travel retired and people is immense for us, and past the defence conscionable took the vigor and rolled with it.” He continued, “This was a immense week for america as a squad each passim practice, and the bye week past week, I felt similar it was a pivotal week to marque a decision: ‘Are you going to autumn isolated aft a nonaccomplishment oregon travel unneurotic aft a loss?’ And I consciousness similar we decidedly came unneurotic and had a caller edge.” The performance marked just the fifth time since the 2020 season that UNLV has held an opponent to 10 points or fewer, and the second such occurrence this year following a 21‑6 road win at Hawaii. It also represents the 19th occasion in program history that the Rebels have recorded at least three interceptions in a game, the first since head coach Barry Mullen’s debut against Idaho State in 2025. Mullen praised the result but stressed that improvement remains necessary as the season advances. “I deliberation we did, I deliberation we were capable to bash that a small spot amended today,” Mullen said when asked whether the team could place players in winning positions. “We gotta proceed to bash that as coaches and we person to proceed to look and proceed to physique to bash those things.” He concluded, “There was a batch to similar and determination was a batch to get amended at, but I similar that. It is simply a batch easier to manager hard and get things fixed with a elephantine grin connected your face.”