Simulating the Season (Game #3)

The college football season for the Mountain West was postponed this fall. A painful announcement for college football fans such as myself. As such, I found a college football game simulator online that would give a final score for a selected matchup.

So far, I have simulated the Idaho State/New Mexico & UC Davis/Nevada games that were to be played during Week 0.

This week I’m looking at a Week 1 game that was canceled in Louisiana Tech @ UNLV.

2019 Louisiana Tech went 10-3, including 6-2 in conference (Conference USA) and winning the Independence Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes. Skip Holtz is back for Year 8 as head coach of the Bulldogs.

2019 UNLV went 4-8, including 2-6 in conference. Marcus Arroyo starts Year 1 as head coach of the Rebels.

UNLV is excited to take the field again at Sam Boyd Stadium. The season opener had been played at the newly opened Allegiant Stadium the week before against Cal. However, a scheduling conflict with the Raiders meant that the Rebels were back in Sam Boyd Stadium for this game.

Come game day (9/5/20), it is scorching hot as the teams take the field on a sunny day with the temperature at 100 degrees at kickoff.

Louisiana Tech comes out onto the field in all white uniforms.

UNLV comes out wearing their silver helmets and black uniforms.

UNLV received the opening kickoff. The Rebels manage a coupe of first downs, but the drive stalls, resulting in a UNLV punt.

The Bulldogs take the ball and drive down the field. The drive stalls at the Rebels 26, and the LA Tech kicker pushes the field goal attempt wide right.

UNLV takes the ball, and flips the field position on a big run. (Just squint a little and assume the white jerseys are LA Tech in the videos below.)

The Rebels finish off the drive with a TD to take the early lead. LA Tech 0, UNLV 7

LA Tech gets a nice return on the ensuing kickoff and puts together a nice scoring drive to tie things back up. LA Tech 7, UNLV 7

UNLV would quickly three-and-out and punt the ball back to the Bulldogs. The Rebels would get the ball back though on the first turnover of the game.

The Rebels would capitalize on the good field position, driving down for their 2nd TD of the game. LA Tech 7, UNLV 14

Going into the 2nd quarter, the Bulldogs would put together a long drive that would stall deep in Rebel territory. Louisiana Tech nails the chip-shot field goal to cut into the UNLV lead. LA Tech 10, UNLV 14

UNLV and LA Tech exchange a couple of punts. On the next, UNLV possession the Bulldogs create a turnover on a strip-sack to set up the Bulldogs in Rebels territory. The Bulldogs capitalize, finding the end zone for the 2nd time. LA Tech 17, UNLV 14

UNLV and LA Tech exchange a couple more punts before time runs out on the first half.

The Bulldogs receive the 2nd half kickoff. However, the Rebels come up with their 2nd turnover of the day to give UNLV back the ball at midfield.

The Rebels take advantage and retake the lead. LA Tech 17, UNLV 21

From here, the Bulldogs and Rebels again exchange punts. However, the Bulldogs put together a long drive to take the lead before the end of the 3rd quarter. LA Tech 24, UNLV 21

The Bulldogs force their 2nd strip-sack of the UNLV QB on the next Rebel drive, and Louisiana Tech drives down the field for another TD to extend their lead. LA Tech 31, UNLV 21

UNLV responds with a strong drive as the Rebels march down the field to get themselves back within a score. LA Tech 31, UNLV 28

Unfortunately, the UNLV defense can not come up with a stop. The Bulldogs run off most of the rest of the clock while marching down the field for another TD. LA Tech 38, UNLV 28

UNLV gets to midfield on their next drive before turning the ball over on downs.

The Bulldogs take a knee to run out the clock.

LA Tech 38, UNLV 28 (This is the score from the online game simulation.)

Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below about Game #3 for Simulating the Season.