LOGAN, Utah --Travis Dixon needed a half to settle down and get comfortable in his first start.

After 30 minutes, the freshman had the poise of an upperclassman and UNLV rallied to beat Utah State 23-16 Thursday in the Rebels' first road win in almost three years.

Frank Summers scored on an 11-yard run with 1:02 remaining and Sergio Aguayo kicked three field goals as the Rebels snapped a 15-game road losing streak.

``We just came out and dialed up the ball plays that we needed to help put us into position to win,'' said Dixon, who ran for 129 yards and a touchdown and passed for 141 more, completing 10 of 17 passes in the second half.

In the first half, whatever Dixon and the Rebels were dialing wasn't getting through. He had two yards passing and UNLV gained 49 yards total in the first two quarters.

Dixon came out in the third quarter and started completing some short passes, which opened up the middle for two crucial option keepers. Dixon ran 45 yards on one to set up a field goal that got the Rebels within 10-9, then ran up the middle again for a 15-yard touchdown that put the Rebels up 16-10.

Utah State tied it after Dixon fumbled, his only mistake of the second half, but the Rebels pinned the Aggies deep in their own territory and needed to go just 36 yards on the final scoring drive.

After a 14-yard run by Dixon got the ball to the Utah State 11, Dixon just handed it off to Summers and nothing could stop the 240-pound running back. UNLV receiver Casey Flair was among the players who got in Summers way and was knocked into the end zone.

``He said 'man, you gave me the hardest hit all night,''' Summers said. ``I didn't even see him. I didn't feel anything. I was just trying to get in there.''

UNLV hadn't won on the road since beating Brigham Young on Oct. 8, 2004 and the Rebels had never won a road game under Mike Sanford, who opened his third season with a victory -- just his fifth since UNLV hired him in 2004.

The Rebels held Utah State to 98 yards in the second half and sealed it when Kevin Robinson fumbled the kickoff after Summers' touchdown. Utah State hasn't won a season opener since 1997.