LAS VEGAS » It’s the situation that most place-kickers dream of.
Game on the line. Last play. Kick the game-winning field goal and get mobbed by your teammates.
It was something that UNLV senior Nolan Kohorst experienced for the first time — high school or college — when he drilled a 44-yarder as time expired to give the Rebels a wild 39-37 victory over Hawaii on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.
"Actually, I’d rather have our team go out and put 20 up and have us win like that," said Kohorst, who prepped just 4 miles away at Green Valley High School. "But I’m always willing to take that kick."
After UNLV quarterback Caleb Herring scored on an 8-yard run with 13:11 remaining to increase UNLV’s lead to 36-17, it looked like Kohorst would get his wish and watch his team cruise in with an easy 19-point victory.
But that all changed very quickly when the Rainbow Warriors scored 20 consecutive points in a 6:27 span, capped by a 44-yard touchdown pass from Sean Schroeder to Chris Gant to take a 37-36 lead with 1:44 remaining.
Suddenly, UNLV needed to drive for a game-winning field goal that put Kohorst in the spotlight.
For a while it looked like he might not get the chance. Facing a third and 10 on their own 46 and less than 30 seconds to go, Herring connected with Marcus Sullivan for just a 2-yard gain. However, Hawaii defensive back Trayvon Henderson grabbed Sullivan’s face mask for a 15-yard penalty to give UNLV a first down at the Warriors 37.
"That’s the kind of thing that happens when you have a great player trying to make a play," Herring said. "The defender tried to grab anything he could and ended up with his facemask. We’ll take it."
Three plays later, the Rebels found themselves with a first down at the Hawaii 26 with 5 seconds to go.
Enter Kohorst, who had earlier connected on tries from 35, 19 and 41 yards.
All that was riding on this attempt was UNLV’s first four-game win streak since 2000, the last time the school played in a bowl game.
Hawaii coach Norm Chow used his final timeout in an attempt to freeze Kohorst before the 44-yard try.
"I thought (UNLV coach Bobby) Hauck called it originally because I love having a timeout there," Kohorst said. "It gives me 30 more seconds to warm up and 30 more seconds to look at and evaluate everything instead of rushing out there and kicking it."
When it was finally time for his attempt, Kohorst, after a perfect snap from sophomore tight end Jake Phillips and a good hold by Herring, nailed the first game winner of his career.
"Ever," Kohorst said. "I didn’t play football until my sophomore year of high school. I had a couple at Green Valley where I’d kick a field goal with five minutes left and it would help lead us to a win. But it was never with five seconds left and we win like this."
