USU starts road trip in Reno
The USU Aggies will again be trying to pick up the elusive second win Saturday in Reno as they play the University of Nevada Wolf Pack.
On the one hand the visiting team has won the last five games in the series, including a 30-24 Pack victory in Logan last year. But on the other Nevada hasn’t been bested in ten contests in their FieldTurf-equipped Mackay Stadium, which seats 29,993.
USU Head Coach Brent Guy said Nevada has a team that is “peaking at the right time.”
“When you look at them statistically other than passing and net punting they’re second or third in every major statistical category,” Guys said.
Last year of course was a dream season for the Pack as Head Coach Chris Ault won WAC Coach of the Year and the team tied with Boise State for first in conference thanks to an unlikely upset of Fresno State.
With quarterback Jeff Rowe returning Nevada has again had an impressive year to this point, notching non-conference wins over Colorado State and Northwestern. Last time out they beat Idaho easily, 45-7.
Nevada is ranked second in the WAC in total defense, and third in rushing offense. Reno native Rowe has thrown a TD pass in every game this year and can run it as well, with 11 career rushing TDs. He is ranked third on the all-time Nevada passing completions list.
Other big offensive threats for the Pack are running back Robert Hubbard; who has back-to-back 100+ yard efforts after being slowed by injury early in the year, receiver Mike McCoy; who has nine touchdowns on just 21 receptions, and receiver Caleb Spencer; the leading receiver with 43 catches for 481 yards.
As USU standout Riley Nelson fights to lead the team to their first road win against Nevada’s defense, he will have to know where Nevada defenders JJ Milan, Ezra Butler and Joe Garcia are. Garcia has forced six turnovers and has 31 tackles at cornerback. Linebacker Butler has 48 tackles to lead the team while Milan leads the team in sacks with 8.5 and is reigning WAC defensive player of the week.
USU offensive tackle Shawn Murphy, who will have to get Milan and company blocked, said, “Their personel are really good, they’re very fundamentally sound. Their DE’s were preseason all-WAC and they lead the WAC in sacks.”
The Aggie offense Nelson quarterbacks is led by running back Marcus Cross, who has rushed for 608 yards and three touchdowns, and Kevin Robinson, who has 383 yards and four TDs through the air and averages 14.7 yards a catch. Guy said Cross has been cleared to play Saturday and he has been practicing all week after being replaced by Antraun McDaniel against Hawaii.
Thanks to their aggressive pass rush and Rowe taking care of the ball on offense, the Wolf Pack leads the nation in turnover margin.
“They lead the nation in TO margin,” Guy said of Nevada, who have 28 total takeaways against just 16 giveaways.
Ault’s squad started out their WAC season with losses to Fresno State and Hawaii but Guy said they have righted the ship.
“I think they’re peaking at the right time. They are a veteran team,” Guys said, “they have more seniors starting than we have on our entire team.”
Devon Hall leads the USU defense with 56 tackles, two ahead of safety Antonio Taylor’s 54. Ben Calderwood, who Guy said had three titanium pins inserted into his pinky this week, leads USU with 6.5 tackles for loss. Five players have intercepted a pass for USU: Hall, Taylor, Caleb Taylor, Terrance Washington and Drew Pearson.