Tyler Stewart’s pass on 4th-and-10 from the UNLV 47-yard line fell incomplete with just 35 seconds left in the game, and with that, Nevada suffered a 23-17 upset to its rivals UNLV on Saturday in the Battle for the Fremont Cannon.
The Wolf Pack (2-3, 0-1) scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter but couldn’t overcome a slow start against the Rebels (2-3, 0-1) in front of 29,551 fans at Mackay Stadium – the ninth-largest crowd in the stadium’s history. Nevada suffered just its second loss to UNLV in the past 11 meetings between the two programs.
Stewart passed for 202 yards and a score and ran for a career-high 61 yards while junior WR Jerico Richardson set season-highs with eight receptions and 87 yards. On the defensive side, senior LB Matthew Lyons posted a game-high 12 tackles while freshman FS Dameon Baber tallied his third interception in the past two games.
The 41st edition of the Battle for the Fremont Cannon got off to a rough start for Nevada as the Wolf Pack was shutout in the first half for the first time since Dec. 1, 2012. UNLV’s Keith Whitley scored on a 37-yard touchdown run in the first half and the Rebels took a 13-0 lead into the locker room on a 12-yard touchdown rush by Kurt Palandech just before half.
The Rebels outgained Nevada, 246-102, in the first half. Four of Nevada’s six drives in the first half started from inside its own 10 yard line as UNLV used a decisive advantage in field position to force Nevada to face an uphill battle.
Junior PK Brent Zuzo split the uprights from 27-yards out in the third quarter and Nevada later pulled with three points (13-10) with 10:47 left in the fourth quarter on Stewart’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Richardson. The Wolf Pack defense responded with a quick 3-and-out as the momentum appeared to shift towards the home side.
UNLV quickly reclaimed momentum though with a game-clinching play as junior LB Ryan McAleenan intercepted a Stewart pass on 2nd-and-6 and ran 52 yards to paydirt, putting the Rebels ahead 20-10 with 8:27 left in the game.
The Wolf Pack refused to go down without a fight and drove nine plays and 75 yards on the ensuing possession to pull within 20-17. Stewart went 4-of-4 on the drive for 49 yards before senior RB Don Jackson tallied a one-yard touchdown run – his sixth of the season.
Nevada again forced a 3-and-out on the ensuing possession but the Pack offense turned the ball over on downs, setting up a 45-yard field goal from Nicolai Bornand to make it 23-17 with 1:53 left in the contest.
The Pack tallied three first downs and moved the ball into UNLV territory before four-consecutive incompletions turned the ball over on downs, clinching a Rebel victory. The Wolf Pack outgained UNLV, 171-16, in the fourth quarter but couldn’t come up with a big play down the stretch to pull in front.
A pair of seniors on the defensive side led the Wolf Pack on Saturday night. Senior LB Matthew Lyons was all over the place and was Nevada’s most-frequent tackler, posting a game-high 12 tackles. Lyons’ efforts marked his second straight 10+ tackle performance after he posted a career-best 16 tackles in Nevada’s win at Buffalo last week.
Senior DE Lenny Jones also came up clutch, posting four tackles, 2.0 sacks and one pass breakup. Jones moved into seventh place in Nevada’s record book with 17.0 career sacks.
The Wolf Pack drove to UNLV’s 22-yard line with just under 11 minutes in the game facing a 13-3 deficit. On 1st-and-10, Nevada’s offensive line provided ample time for Stewart to sit in the pocket before hitting junior WR Jerico Richardson on a middle post route for a 22-yard touchdown reception. The play energized the crowd and gave reason for hope, but a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown by UNLV just two minutes and 20 seconds later negated the impact of the play.
Head coach Brian Polian and multiple players echoed similar sentiments in the postgame press conference – this loss hurts. The Wolf Pack suffered just its second loss to the Rebels in the past 11 years and won’t feel good about itself after allowing the Rebels to leave Mackay with the Fremont Cannon.
Nevada also shared another common thought in postgame interviews – they can’t let UNLV beat them twice; essentially meaning they don’t want to dwell on one loss and let it impact future games. The Pack falls to 0-1 in Mountain West play, but in a wide open West Division, there is still plenty left to play for. Despite a tough loss to its rivals, the sky isn’t falling – Nevada’s hopes for a MW title and bowl appearance is still in reach.
Nevada returns to Mackay Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 10, hosting New Mexico at 4 p.m. PT. The Lobos are 3-2 on the season after downing rivals New Mexico State, 38-29, today on the road. Nevada is 2-2-1 all-time against New Mexico. The game will be broadcast digitally by the Mountain West Network, powered by Campus Insiders.
Nevada Press Release 10/3/15
