New quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams piloted the UNLV Rebels to a 59-14 pasting of Fresno State in their Mountain West opener Saturday afternoon. The win came after a week of distraction when starting QB Matthew Sluka abruptly left the team after an NIL dispute on Wednesday.
It brought the team to 4-0 this season, 1-0 in the conference with a Top 25 ranking and possible playoff contention in sight.
Sluka wasn’t missed as Williams, a transfer from the FCS Campbell Camels of North Carolina tossed three touchdowns on 13-16 passing for 182 yards while rushing for 119 yards on 12 carries and another score.
Rebel coach Barry Odom told the media, “It was business as usual. We’ve got a very mature team.”
“Our players, we’ve got strong leadership. They understand the mission that we’re on and they got it done.”
They raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first half and extended that to 31-0 before the visiting Bulldogs got on the board with a touchdown late in the third quarter. Williams opened the game with a 6-yard TD run for a 7-0 lead, then Ricky White’s 13-yard return of a blocked punt made it 14-0 near the end of the first quarter. White caught a 12-yard scoring pass from Williams just before half.