UNLV Rebels vs. Boise State Broncos Recap: Rebs flirt with upset, fall to BSU 55-27

The announced crowd of 14,315 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas saw a much tighter contest than expected between the UNLV Rebels and Boise State Broncos.

Ultimately, the Broncos turned a one score game in the fourth quarter into a blowout, running away from the Rebels in a 55-27 victory. Boise State scored 28 fourth quarter points in the win.

Senior Blake Decker returned at quarterback for the Rebels. Decker missed the last two games due to a separated shoulder. He completed 29 of 50 passes for 357 yards against Boise State, his highest total of the season.

The Rebels offense wasn't the problem on Saturday. UNLV amassed 487 yards of total offense against a Boise State team that before Saturday yielded just 265 a game. Decker found 8 different Rebel receivers led by Devonte Boyd's 116 yards on 10 catches. UNLV nearly matched Boise State blow for blow. Then the fourth quarter happened.

In the opening minute of the fourth Shane Williams-Rhodes rushed to the end zone from 9 yards out, extending the Boise State lead to 34-20. UNLV needed just 3:10 for Xzaviar Campbell to answer with a rushing touchdown of his own, this one from 11 yards to cap a 7 play, 75 yard drive. That was as close as UNLV would get.

Three Boise State scoring drives of 68, 95, and 66 yards followed, aided by a pair of Decker interceptions, burying the Rebels. Those drives from the league's top offense drove the Bronco total to a staggering 705 yards, their highest of the season and the highest in all of Mountain West Conference play this year.

True freshman Brett Rypien continued his assault on the MWC, completing 35-52 yards for 469 yards and 2 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Jeremy McNichols topped 100 yards rushing for the fourth straight game he's appeared in, logging 122 yards on 22 carries.

Boise State improves to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the MWC. Following a bye week they'll host New Mexico on November 14th. UNLV falls to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in league play Hawaii comes to Las Vegas on November 7th.