Utah Tech got off to a quick start in its 2024 road opener at UNLV, but was not able to keep pace with its Division I FBS neighbors to the south as the Trailblazers were felled by a 72-14 count on Saturday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium.

Both teams traded haymakers to open the game. The first was landed by the Rebels, who went 64 yards in three plays and got on the scoreboard first thanks to a 27-yard Jai'Den Thomas touchdown scamper just 1:06 into the game.
 
The Trailblazers (0-2/0-0 UAC) clapped right back less than a minute later when after Chris Street picked up Utah Tech's first first down of the game, Deacon Hill found tight end Alec Burton all alone over the middle for a 64-yard catch-and-run to the endzone to tie the game at 7-7 at the 12:57 mark of the opening quarter. 

For Burton, it was his first reception as a Trailblazer, and the first collegiate TD for the Ohio transfer.

However UNLV (2-0) counter-punched with three Matthew Sluka-to-Ricky White III touchdowns on the Rebels' next three possessions in the period. That sudden burst kick-started a stretch that saw UNLV rattle off 37-unanswered points, as the Rebels scored on eight of their nine first-half possessions en route to a commanding 44-7 lead at the halftime break. 

Utah Tech picked up its second touchdown of the day when Hill hooked up with Street late in the third quarter. On 4^th and 4, Hill dumped the ball off to his junior tailback in the flat at the Rebel 30. 

Street then turned it up field, side-stepped one tackle, and streaked down the sideline to pay dirt with 1:14 to go in the stanza. 

Utah Tech was finished with 293 yards of offense on the day, including 226 yards through the air. Hill wound up with 188 yards on 14-of-28 passing to go with his two touchdown tosses, while Reggie Graff was a perfect 4-for-4 for 38 yards. 

Graff also led the Trailblazers with 30 yards on five carries as Utah Tech tallied 67 yards rushing. Street closed the day with 60 all-purpose yards, including 46 yards on a team-high five receptions, to go with 14 yards on the ground. 

On defense, linebacker Spencer Rich racked up a game-high 12 tackles, while safety Brevin Hamblin forced a fumble and collected 10 stops. Freshman Rick Mua'e recorded his first collegiate sack, and the Blazers lone sack on the day, late in the first half.  

A week after tying his own school record, senior punter Andy Day became Utah Tech's career leader in punts (179) during the third quarter. Day punted eight times officially for 323 yards (40.4 ypp). 

UNLV tallied 695 yards of total offense, with 504 yards coming on the ground with six rushing touchdowns. Sluka threw for 161 yards on 8-of-17 passing with three touchdowns, and ran for 70 more yards with a score.
 
Utah Tech returns home to face the second of three Big Sky opponents on the 2024 docket next Saturday night when the Trailblazer welcome Northern Arizona to Greater Zion Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (MT).