Postgame Notes
- The 48-yard TD reception by Marko Mitchell in the fourth quarter was the longest scoring play for Mitchell since a 59-yard TD reception against San Jose State last season.
- Marko Mitchell has now caught a pass in 16 straight games and in 27 of the 28 games in his career.
- Junior Mo Harvey blocked a field goal in the second quarter, marking the second game this year and third straight game that Nevada has had a blocked kick. The Wolf Pack blocked two kicks in the New Mexico Bowl to end the 2007 season and Ryan Coulson was credited with a block against Grambling State in the season opener.
- Senior kicker Brett Jaekle matched a career high with four field goals (26, 27, 31, and 43). He set the personal mark against Miami in the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl.
- Colin Kaepernick was 7-of-8 for 73 yards in the first quarter.
- Starter changes: Ryan Coulson started at defensive end (OR with Kevin Basped) ... James-Michael Johnson made his first career start, in place of Jerome Johnson at SLB ... Dominic Green started at guard in place of Brad Eskew ... Nevada opened in a double-tight end set with Kevin Bohr and Virgil Green.
- Nevada had two interceptions on the night. Uche Anyanwu got a pick in the first half the first for the safety since 2006. Jonathon Amaya picked off Graham Harrell in the fourth quarter, the first for the junior since picking off a pass and returning it for a TD against Nebraska in the 2007 season opener.
Nevada is now 0-3 all-time against teams in the Big 12 Conference and 0-1 in the series with Texas Tech. The teams are scheduled to play again in Lubbock in 2011.
- Nevada coach Chris Ault is now 192-86-1 in his career.
Postgame Quotes
Nevada Head Coach Chris Ault
On Overall Defense
“The defense played excellent for 3 quarters, we had some major breakdowns in the 4tth quarter. We did a good job of pressuring Harrell in the first half.”
On Overall Offense
“We moved the ball well in the first half. We were in the goal zone 8 times, we had two missed field goals, one lost fumble in the end zone, and one interception. We have to score when we’re in the goal zone.”
On The Team’s Overall Performance
“I feel much better about our team this week than I did last week.”
On Lippincott’s Injury
“It’s an ACL injury. Luke is devastated, forget about a football player, we’re talking about a great person here. He’s a very special kid, and he’s very important to this team.”
On Other Running Backs
“With Luke out, Vai and Fragger are going to have to step up. They are going to have to play well.”
On Texas Tech
“They are a great team and they deserve their ranking. They have a great offense, and a lot of people underestimate their defense.”
Nevada kicker Brett Jaekle
On his personal performance overall
“It was just like what happened in Boise, I made 4 field goals but we still lost..”
On something positive to take away
“Our team played hard, defense did well and the offense played hard.”
Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick
On impression of the game
“We let one get away from us, offense got in the red zone too many times unsuccessfully but our defense stepped up and did great.”
“As a team we still lost. We are not happy.”
On Lippincott’s injury and absence from game
“He’s a great player, leader and captain of our team. Losing him will be hard to overcome but we can do it.”
Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach
On the game
“I think we really played really well. We put them in a hole a few times. The defense bailed us out a bunch of times. Honestly, today which ever team had our defense would have won the game.”
On his and Nevada head coach Chris Ault’s gambling plays
“I thought I gambled stupid. I thought it was just dumb. Being in Reno, I guess I got the bug. I was stuck in a hotel where you don’t have any clocks and they were pumping oxygen in there. I thought it was my lucky day, we won the game. But (Nevada head coach Chris Ault’s) gambles were better. He’s got more expertise. He knows which ones not to do.”
On the team’s defense
“We started out as a lightning strike. Then we became a beetle and then it became an ape. We’re trying to ensure that they don’t evolve too far because they begin to lose their edge. I thought it was pretty good. I need them to play a bit more aggressive.”
Texas Tech defensive end Brandon Williams
On the team’s performance
“We just wanted to come out here and play hard. People said that their offense is really physical so we wanted to come out and play as hard as we could.”
On playing on the road
“I feel real different. Not having the home crowd, I feel like we dominated.
