UNLV's defense dominates in season-opening victory over Houston

Field Level Media|published: Sat 31st August, 23:07 2024

Dec 26, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; UNLV Rebels head coach Barry Odom reacts against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Matthew Sluka threw two touchdown passes and also rushed for 59 yards and Jalen Catalon had two interceptions, including one he returned 36 yards for a touchdown, as the visiting UNLV Rebels spoiled Willie Fritz's Houston head coaching debut with a 27-7 victory over the Cougars on Saturday night in the season opener for both schools.

Sluka, a senior transfer from Holy Cross, where he earned Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2023, completed 6 of 13 passes for 71 yards and was intercepted once. All-American Jacob De Jesus caught three passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns and Jaden Bradley had two receptions for a game-high 60 yards for the Rebels. Caden Chittenden added field goals of 40 and 34 yards.

Senior linebacker Jackson Woodard, the preseason Mountain West co-Defensive Player of the Year, finished with a game-high 11 tackles, including four for loss, and had three of the Rebels' six quarterback sacks.

Donovan Smith completed 15 of 30 passes for 135 yards and was intercepted twice and Mekhi Mews, a junior transfer from Georgia, caught three passes for 58 yards for Houston. A.J. Haulcy finished with five tackles and thwarted another UNLV scoring charge in the third quarter with an interception in the end zone and a 48-yard return.

UNLV built a 14-0 first-half lead on touchdown passes of 13 and 24 yards from Sulka to DeJesus, outgaining the Cougars 242-71 in the process.

Chittenden's 40-yard field goal made it 17-0 at the 9:49 mark of the third quarter. Catalon made it 24-0 later in the quarter when he deflected Smith's pass to himself in the right flat then raced 36 yards for a touchdown, his sixth career interception.

Houston drove to UNLV's 25-yard line on its ensuing possession thanks to a 57-yard pass play from Smith to Mews. But the Cougars came away empty-handed on the drive when Jack Martin missed a 42-yard field goal.

Chittendon extended the lead to 27-0 with five minutes to go on a 34-yard field goal after Catalon's second interception at the Houston 20.

Houston spoiled the shutout with one minute remaining when third-string quarterback Ui Ale, who drove the Cougars 90 yards in 12 plays, hit tight end Joseph Manjack IV with a two-yard touchdown pass.

--Field Level Media

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