BOISE, Idaho — Five takeaways from the UNLV football team’s 42-25 loss to No. 22 Boise State on Friday night:
1. Special teams especially bad
The Rebels have struggled to return punts and kicks and to cover them this season. The Broncos had 60 yards of punt returns all season before Cedrick Wilson’s 73-yard punt return in the first quarter set up Jeremy McNichols’ 6-yard touchdown on the next play. Wilson also had a season-high 44-yard kickoff return at the end of the first half that led to a missed 28-yard field goal try. Incredibly, UNLV has minus-1 yard on 12 punt returns this season, which ranks next to last in the nation. The Rebels, who gave up a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown to…
