UNLV takes the LA Bowl with Coach Alexander

Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News

INGLEWOOD, CA. – Hajj-Malik Williams threw two touchdowns and the UNLV Rebels shutout California in the second half to win the LA Bowl 24-13 on Wednesday night.

The first half was full of big plays from both sides providing an exciting first two quarters for the fans in attendance.

It started with UNLV (11-3) trailing Cal (6-7) 3-0 in the first quarter when the Rebels quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams found freshman wide receiver Kayden McGee for a 49-yard touchdown pass to score the first touchdown of the game.

Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News

The Golden Bears answered with a 9 play 89 yards that was culminated by a 29-yard touchdown run by freshman wide receiver Josiah Martin. That gave Cal a 10-7 lead to end the first quarter.

Not to be outdone, UNLV used a fake punt to prolong their drive. Punter Marshall Nichols flipped the ball to Cameron Oliver for 52 yards to get the Rebels to Cal’s 9. On the next play Williams pitched the ball forward wide receiver Jacob De Jesus for the score putting Las Vegas up 14-10.

“My head was in the clouds and (special teams) coach (James) Shilbest said, `Hey, you want to run it?’ I mean, I didn’t’t figure out where the ball was and I said, go I’ve seen it every day in practice for a year or two years, ” UNLV interim coach Del Alexander said. “I think I was facing the wrong way, but I saw it go and said ‘OK, good.’”

Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News

UNLV went into the half leading 14-13 over Cal.

The second half was all UNLV as their defense put the clamps on Cal’s offense keeping them scoreless.

The running game picked up in the second half for the Rebels as they finished the game rushing 143 yards. Running back Jai’Den Thomas led the way with 18 carries for 72 yards.

After forcing and recovering a Cal fumble, UNLV scored the decisive touchdown when running back Kaylin James found a hole to run for a 23-yard touchdown to put the Rebels up 21-13.

UNLV added a late field goal to completely put the game away.

Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News

“The game came down to the fake punt they got a score off of, we had the ball at the 2-yard line and couldn’t quite get it in the end zone,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said.

With the win, the Rebels won a bowl game for the first time since 2000 and the first outside of the Las Vegas Bowl. It also gave the Rebels 11 wins for the first time as an FBS program.

Coach Del gets LA Bowl belt from Gronk after the win. Photo by fi360 News

“This is exactly how we wanted to finish it. I mean, not many people can say they got 11 wins in a season,” said linebacker Jackson Woodard, who the Defensive MVP of the game.