No. 24 UNLV executed a brilliant fake punt, surprising Cal and leading to a crucial touchdown in the LA Bowl
Los Angeles: So, you won’t believe what happened in the LA Bowl! UNLV really pulled a fast one on Cal. It was a wild play that had everyone talking.
In the second quarter, they faced a tough 4th-and-7. Instead of the usual run or pass, they went for a fake punt that totally caught Cal off guard. Cameron Oliver, the right gunner, made a sneaky move inside while the rest of the team sprinted downfield.
Cal sent a bunch of blockers at the punter, Marshall Nichols, which left Oliver wide open. He took off and gained a whopping 52 yards! It was a game-changer.
Then, just like that, quarterback Jacob De Jesus threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Hajj-Malik Williams, putting UNLV ahead 14-10. Talk about a momentum shift!
Some folks might have thought, “Wait, isn’t that an ineligible receiver?” But UNLV played it smart. Oliver ran behind the line of scrimmage, so they dodged that penalty. College football rules can be a bit different, and they took full advantage.
While the NFL might not be stealing this play anytime soon, it’ll be interesting to see if other college teams take a page from UNLV’s playbook in the upcoming playoffs.