OHIO DEFEATS UNLV AND EXTENDS ITS BOWL WINNING STREAK IN THE FRISCO BOWL
Updated: Oct 31
FRISCO, Texas. Ohio leaned on discipline, field position and a dominant rushing performance from Sieh Bangura to secure a 17-10 victory over UNLV on Tuesday night in the Frisco Bowl, ending the Rebels’ third straight bowl appearance with a frustrating loss defined by missed opportunities.
UNLV consistently moved the ball but struggled to finish drives, a theme that ultimately shaped the outcome. Two costly first-half turnovers and an inability to capitalize on defensive stops allowed Ohio to control the tempo despite a relatively low-scoring affair.
The game’s first points came midway through the second quarter when Parker Navarro capped a 10-play drive with a five-yard quarterback keeper. A missed extra point left Ohio ahead 6-0, and UNLV’s chances to respond before halftime vanished when DJ Walker intercepted Anthony Colandrea in the end zone with 32 seconds remaining, sending the Rebels into the break scoreless for the first time all season.
Ohio seized momentum early in the third quarter behind Bangura, who repeatedly punished UNLV’s front seven. The Bobcats’ running back broke free for a 23-yard touchdown run, and Ohio successfully converted the two-point attempt to extend the lead to 14-0.
UNLV briefly swung the field position battle after Kayden McGee recovered a muffed punt, but the Rebels once again stalled in the red zone and settled for a 50-yard field goal by Ramon Vilela. Ohio responded with a clock-draining drive early in the fourth quarter, finishing with a 45-yard David Dellenbach field goal to push the margin to 17-3.
The Rebels finally found the end zone on their most complete possession of the night. Colandrea used his legs to spark a 79-yard drive, finishing it himself with a two-yard touchdown run on fourth down to cut the deficit to 17-10 with 4:45 remaining. Ohio, however, never gave the ball back, closing out the game with controlled clock management.
Bangura was the clear difference-maker, rushing for 149 yards on 19 carries while consistently breaking chunk plays. Navarro efficiently managed the offense, completing 11 of 15 passes for 143 yards despite an interception. For UNLV, Colandrea threw for 184 yards on 19-of-30 passing, but the Rebels finished with 281 total yards and two turnovers.
The win extends Ohio’s bowl winning streak to seven games, dating back to 2017, and caps a 9-4 season under interim head coach John Hauser. UNLV closes the year 10-4, with the program facing a reshaped Mountain West landscape in the seasons ahead and lingering frustration over a night where execution, not effort, proved decisive.
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