UNLV 51, Air Force 48 | More from the highest-scoring Falcons game in 20 years

Details from a heartbreaker in Las Vegas, as Air Force scored the most points in a loss in program history.

Air Force Player of the Game

Owen Allen, jr., fullback

The fullback ran for a career-best 192 yards, at times battering his way to yards and at other times running remarkably untouched – like on his touchdown runs of 28 and 21 yards right through the middle of the UNLV defense.

“To go without getting touched, that’s almost unheard of in college football,” Allen said. “I think we have the best O-line in college football.”

Allen averaged 11.3 yards on his 17 carries and even took a pitch on the perimeter for a 43-yard gain.

The 192 yards was the most for an Air Force player since Emmanuel Michel went for 203 in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2023 and came after Allen had rushed just seven times for 18 yards in the three previous games.

What we watched

Revisiting items The Gazette’s Brent Briggeman identified prior to the game.

The breaks in a close game

UNLV, as it has throughout its unbeaten start, made the plays that ultimately mattered. The Rebels forced the game’s lone turnover and capitalized with a touchdown on the next snap. They also hit three field goals (from 45, 32 and 20 yards), while Air Force missed its lone attempt.

But Air Force also might have allowed an opportunity to create its own break slip away when it took the ball with 50 seconds and two timeouts remaining in the second quarter in what was starting to look like a shootout and, even after a 15-yard run on the first play that advanced the ball to their 40-yard line, opted not to use a timeout and let time expire.

“That was a choice we made,” coach Troy Calhoun said.

Third down

Air Force started the game by holding UNLV on 4 of its first 6 third-down attempts, a marked improvement for the Falcons. They entered the game ranked 132nd nationally in that category, allowing opponents to convert on 55% of third-down tries. UNLV was 23rd nationally in converting 49.2% of its tries.

Two of those stops came on UNLV dropped passes.

The Rebels cleaned it up from there, converting on 3 of their final 5 third-downs, finishing 5-of-11.

The bigger problem for Air Force on Saturday was first and second down, as the Rebels only had 11 third-down situations despite scoring on nine possessions.

Air Force’s wide receiver depth

The Falcons had a clear top two receivers through the first four games of the season. Now both are injured.

Tre Roberson hurt a knee prior to the Navy game and has missed the past two weeks, now Quin Smith is out and did not dress on Saturday.

Sophomore Jonah Dawson started at receiver and caught three passes for 79 yards. Behind him, junior Adam Hrynciw saw significant action.

Air Force quarterback Liam Szarka (9)looks to throw a pass while under pressure from UNLV defensive lineman Tunmise Adeleye (30) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

By the Numbers

6

Wins for UNLV in its first 6-0 start since 1974 and making it bowl eligible for the third consecutive season, a first in program history.

10

Points by which Air Force has been outscored 240-230 during its 1-5 start.

48

Points for Air Force, the most in a loss in program history.

99

Combined points for Air Force and UNLV, the most in a Falcons game since 103 vs. BYU in 2005.

1,025

Passing yards this season for Air Force quarterback Liam Szarka through six games (just three starts). It’s the third 1,000-yard season for the Falcons in the past eight years.

1,200

Combined yards of offense (603 for Air Force, 597 for UNLV), which is the fourth-most ever for a Falcons game and trails only the 1,247 vs. Utah State in 2021.