INGLEWOOD — On Wednesday night, UNLV beat Cal, 24-13, in the 2024 Art of Sports LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium for its first bowl victory since 2000. Here are some of the sights and sounds from the game.
Key plays
Cal and UNLV showcased tough defenses and offensive creativity throughout the game. UNLV converted one of the most impressive fake punts this season in a key turning point early.
On fourth and 7, the Rebels lined up for a seemingly routine punt with 13:52 remaining in the second quarter. Punter Marshall Nichols dropped down, and instead of kicking the ball, he threw a jump pass over the rush to Cameron Oliver for a first down inside Cal’s 10-yard line that quickly led to a 14-10 UNLV lead.
Late in the third quarter, in a close game, Cal quarterback EJ Caminong dropped back to pass and scrambled to avoid the charging UNLV defense. As he was pressured, he threw a backward pass and UNLV’s Jett Elad recovered it.
The Rebels scored on the following drive to make the score 21-13, all but sealing the game.
A family moment for two fans
Sometimes, the game isn’t just about the X’s and O’s.
Rene and Jordan Zavala braved the trek up the 5 freeway from San Diego for seats on the 50-yard line to watch Jordan’s high school football teammates suit up for UNLV.
More importantly, college football continues to link generations. Rene started taking Jordan to Padres games when Jordan was a boy. Now, overcome with emotion, Rene expressed gratitude for the opportunity to take the day off from his cement masonry job to catch another game with his son, who is now grown.
Photos from Keith Birmingham:
Cal tight end Jack Endries lunges short of the goal line during the first half of the LA Bowl against UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal wide receiver Trevor Rogers runs with the ball after a catch during the second half of the LA Bowl against UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV wide receiver Jacob De Jesus runs for yardage during the second half of the LA Bowl against Cal on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal linebacker Liam Johnson can’t hold on to a UNLV fumble during the second half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV defensive back Jett Elad, right, recovers a Cal fumble as Cal running back Jaivian Thomas reaches for the ball during the second half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV defensive back Jett Elad (9) celebrates with fellow defensive back Johnathan Baldwin after recovering a Cal fumble during the second half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal running back Jaydn Ott can’t reach the ball on an errant pass during the second half of the LA Bowl against UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV linebacker Marsel McDuffie (8) reacts after tackling Cal wide receiver Isaac Torres (26) for a loss of yards during the second half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV running back Kylin James runs for a touchdown past Cal defensive back Ryan Yaites during the second half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal head coach Justin Wilcox walks off the field after their 24-13 loss to UNLV in the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV linebacker Jackson Woodard celebrates with the Defensive Player of the Game trophy after they defeated Cal, 24-13, to win the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV players celebrate after defeating Cal, 24-13, to win the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
LA Bowl host and former NFL star Rob Gronkowski holds up the championship belt after UNLV defeated Cal, 24-13, to win the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV interim head coach Del Alexander holds up the championship belt as game host and former NFL star Rob Gronkowski, right, looks on after UNLV defeated Cal, 24-13, to win the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV wide receiver Jacob De Jesus, left, and linebacker Jackson Woodard, right, show off their Offensive and Defensive Player of the Game trophies after they defeated Cal, 24-13, to win the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV linebacker Marsel McDuffie, center, celebrates with teammates after they defeated Cal, 24-13, to win the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV linebacker Jackson Woodard holds the championship belt after UNLV defeated Cal, 24-13, to win the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV defensive back Jett Elad, left, knocks away a pass intended for Cal wide receiver Trevor Rogers, right, as defensive back Tony Grimes (0) looks on during the first half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal running back Jaydn Ott runs for a first down during the first half of the LA Bowl against UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV running back Greg Burrell runs for a first down during the first half of the LA Bowl against Cal on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV wide receiver Jacob De Jesus catches a pass and tumbles into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl against Cal on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams scrambles during the first half of the LA Bowl against Cal on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal quarterback CJ Harris scrambles with the ball during the first half of the LA Bowl against UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal quarterback CJ Harris, front, is sacked by UNLV defensive back Johnathan Baldwin (3) and defensive end Antonio Doyle Jr. (2) during the first half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams dives for yardage during the first half of the LA Bowl against Cal on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal quarterback CJ Harris, center, is sacked by UNLV defensive back Johnathan Baldwin, left, and defensive end Antonio Doyle Jr. during the first half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal wide receiver Josiah Martin runs for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl against UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal quarterback CJ Harris scrambles during the first half of the LA Bowl against UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV tight end Kaleo Ballungay, top, leaps for yardage as Cal linebacker Liam Johnson (15) tries to bring him down during the first half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal defensive back Matthew Littlejohn, left, knocks away a pass intended for UNLV wide receiver Jacob De Jesus during the first half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal fans cheer and comment on LA Bowl host Rob Gronkowski during the first half of the LA Bowl between Cal and UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV running back Kylin James, center, is tackled for a loss of yards by several Cal defenders during the first half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal tight end Jack Endries catches a pass for a first down during the first half of the LA Bowl against UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV tight end Kaleo Ballungay, top, leaps for yardage as Cal linebacker Liam Johnson (15) tries to bring him down during the first half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV wide receiver Kayden McGee catches a pass and runs for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl against Cal on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal wide receiver Josiah Martin runs for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl against UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal wide receiver Josiah Martin (17) celebrates with fellow wide receiver Mavin Anderson after running for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl against UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV wide receiver Jacob De Jesus catches a pass and runs for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl against Cal on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cal tight end Jack Endries, center, catches a pass for first down before being wrapped up by several UNLV players during the first half of the LA Bowl on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV wide receiver Jacob De Jesus flips after running for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl against Cal on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV wide receiver Jacob De Jesus catches a pass during the first half of the LA Bowl against Cal on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UNLV fans cheer during the first half of the LA Bowl against Cal on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Cal tight end Jack Endries lunges short of the goal line during the first half of the LA Bowl against UNLV on Wednesday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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