Graney: UNLV defense, Jackson Arnold make 2nd-half magic vs. New Mexico

UNLV quarterback Jackson Arnold was talking about what occurred at halftime:

“Mullen got into our asses yelling,” Arnold said. “He talked about wanting to fight, so we went out and put up a great fight in the second half.”

I would say so.

Considering the opponent and venue and what was at stake, UNLV’s football team played its best half of the season Saturday night before it dismissed No. 23 New Mexico 21-17.

Dan Mullen was proud of his team afterward and had every reason to be. UNLV beat a ranked team for the first time since 2008. It snapped 11-game winning streaks in conference play and at home at University Stadium for the Lobos.

The Rebels overcame a 14-point deficit against one of the best defenses nationally. And did so by handling adversity and making enough plays on both sides of the ball over those final 30 minutes.

UNLV was one of several teams affected by Friday’s air ground stoppage from the FAA, taking off several hours later than scheduled to Albuquerque.

Didn’t seem to bother the Rebels over the course of their victory.

Defense the key

“I’m glad that we got off the ground and were able to play the game,” Mullen said. “It shows our guys’ toughness. We’ve faced a lot of different adversities this year.

“All week we were talking about how it’s a couple plays that are going to make a difference in every game. A couple of times last year, we seemed to make a lot of those plays. A couple of times this year, we haven’t made those plays.”

They did Saturday.

Credit goes to a defense that again made the right halftime adjustments and held New Mexico to three points following intermission.

Think about it: Over its past three games, two of them wins, UNLV has limited opponents to a total of 17 second-half points.

Something right is being said in the locker room.

UNLV (6-4, 4-2 Mountain West) held the Lobos (8-2, 5-1) to just 88 yards after intermission, putting the clamps down on one of the conference’s best run games.

“We just wanted to see how they were going to attack us formationally and personnel-wise,” defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. “We came in at halftime and said, ‘These are the four or five calls our guys are good with.’ The guys stepped up. We sent some pressure, we changed the fronts, we did a little more stunting … The kids played really well.”

It’s a (really) young defensive line. The Rebels have also been hit with an inordinate number of injuries on that side of the ball. But they sure came through Saturday.

“The one thing that’s different in the NFL than college, is that in the NFL you go in at halftime and have about two minutes to make adjustments and you’re back out there,” Guenther said. “In college, it seems like it’s half an hour. And the kids played better. In the college game, it takes all 11 guys. It was a big win for us.”

Also credit offense

New Mexico has proven this season to be a great team. This was by far the best win in Mullen’s two years as UNLV’s coach. And it just wasn’t the defense.

Credit also to Arnold and those making things happen around him. The quarterback would pass for 201 yards and run for 98, the game-winner coming from a 44-yard sprint that was far more about his instincts than any called play.

But offensive coordinator Corey Dennis told Arnold during the week how things might go on that specific snap, and it did to perfection.

What it all means: UNLV is now bowl eligible and still in the running to play in a fourth straight conference title game.

The Rebels still need to win their final two games (at San Jose State and home to UNR) and get some help from others, but the New Mexico win was a must in terms of staying alive.

“Against a really good team, we were able to overcome (mistakes) and find a way to win the game and make the plays we needed to,” Mullen said. “I’m really proud of our guys and how tough they were in the second half.”

He should be. They were more than a 16-point underdog.

Considering it all, the best 30 minutes UNLV has played this season.

Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at [email protected]. Follow @edgraney on X.