NEVADA WOLF PACK (6-3, 5-0 WAC)vs. FRESNO STATE (6-3, 5-1 WAC) Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 – 1:07 p.m. PTMackay Stadium (29,993) – Reno, Nev. TV: Comcast SportsNet California and ESPN GamePlan
RADIO: University of Nevada Sports Network (Flagship: ESPN Radio 630 AM, Reno) with Ryan Radtke (PxP) and Chris Vargas (analyst). Pre-game at 12:00 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY: Fresno State leads 25-15-1
LAST MEETING: Nevada rushed for more than 400 yards in a 41-28 win at Fresno State.
THE SKINNY
Coming off its sixth-straight victory, the WAC-leading Nevada football team comes home for its final game of the season at Mackay Stadium on Saturday as the Wolf Pack plays host to Fresno State ... Saturday is Senior Day for 15 Wolf Pack seniors who will be playing their final home game ... The game is also Heroes Day as the school will honor military, fire and law enforcement personnel ... The Wolf Pack’s six-game win streak is tied for 10th longest (active) in the nation and is Nevada’s longest streak since a seven-game win streak in 1995 ... Nevada’s 5-0 start to WAC play is the Wolf Pack’s best ever since joining the league in 2000 ... Nevada became bowl eligible for the fifth straight season with last week’s win over San Jose State ... The Wolf Pack continues to lead the nation in rushing at 341.1 yards per game ... Nevada is second nationally in total offense (522.2 ypg) and sixth in scoring offense (37.7 ppg) ... Nevada has two players in the top 25 in rushing in Vai Taua (15th, 110.0 ypg) and Colin Kaepernick (24th, 102.2 ypg) ... Dontay Moch is third in the nation in tackles for loss per game at 2.06 ... Nevada coach Chris Ault is 4-4 all-time against Fresno State with a 2-1 mark against the Bulldogs in Mackay Stadium ... Colin Kaepernick enters the game 16th in NCAA history in rushing yards by a quarterback.
THE LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET (Nov. 7, 2008)
FRESNO, Calif. -- Colin Kaepernick was a pitcher who had major league scouts salivating before he abandoned baseball to run Nevada's unorthodox offense.
The quarterback barely even needed to use his outstanding arm at Fresno State -- not while Kaepernick and his teammates were running right over every Bulldog in sight.
Vai Taua ran for a career-best 263 yards and a late touchdown, and Kaepernick added 118 yards and two scores in Nevada's 472-yard ground attack in a 41-28 victory Friday night, the Wolf Pack's first win in Fresno since 1998.
Courtney Randall had 66 yards rushing and another touchdown for the Wolf Pack (5-4, 3-2 WAC), who rarely stopped moving forward in another prodigious performance by Kaepernick and their distinctive "pistol" offense, which even gave Texas Tech some trouble earlier this year.
After holding on to the ball for 13:46 in the fourth quarter, Nevada finished with 600 total yards -- its third 600-yard game this season, even with Kaepernick going 7-for-17 for just 128 yards through the air.
Seyi Ajirotutu caught two touchdown passes from Tom Brandstater for the Bulldogs (5-4, 2-3), who lost their second straight and dropped to 1-3 at Bulldog Stadium this season with just their second loss to Nevada in the schools' last 10 meetings. Brandstater went 23-of-43 for 260 yards, but threw two interceptions.
LAST TIME OUT
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -Vai Taua had most of his family in the stands and Nevada had a national television audience.
“I wanted to give them a good performance,” Taua said. “The offense, the defense, special teams, we all played great.'”
Taua got his wish as Colin Kaepernick ran for 115 yards and three touchdowns to lead Nevada to a 62-7 victory over San Jose State on Sunday night.
Taua had 138 of his 144 yards rushing in the first half and scored a touchdown as the Wolf Pack (6-3, 5-0 Western Athletic Conference) won their sixth straight after losing the first three games of the season. It's their longest winning streak in 14 years
Luke Lippincott ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns and Lampford Mark had 114 yards and a score. The Wolf Pack tied an NCAA record by having four 100-yard rushers in the same game. Nebraska also did it in 2001 against Baylor.
Other teams to get four rushers 100 yards were Army in 1984, Alabama in 1973, Texas in 1969, and Arizona State in 1951.
L.J. Washington caught a 46-yard touchdown pass. Kaepernick threw for 122 yards and a score.
The Wolf Pack gained 517 yards on the ground, second in the NCAA this year only to the 559 they ran for against UNLV.
NOTABLE FROM LAST WEEK’S GAME
With the win, Nevada won its sixth straight game and improved to 6-3 this season, 108-92 as an FBS school and 488-432-33 in its history (103rd season) ... Coach Chris Ault improved to 204-94-1 in his 25-year career ... Nevada became bowl eligible for the fifth straight season ... The Pack extended its series lead with the Spartans to 14-8-2 as Nevada has won seven of the last eight meetings ... Coach Ault is 7-2 all-time against San Jose State and 3-2 against the Spartans in San Jose ... Nevada tied an NCAA record for most players gaining 100 yards or more in a game as Vai Taua, Luke Lippincott, Colin Kaepernick and Lampford Mark each topped the century mark. The feat had only been done five other times in NCAA history: Arizona State in 1951, Texas in 1969, Alabama in 1973, Army in 1984 and Nebraska in 2001 ... Taua topped the 100-yard mark for the fifth straight game and 14th time in his career ... Lippincott hit the century mark for the 14th time in his career ... Kaepernick topped the 100-yard mark for third straight game and eighth time in his career ... This was Lampford Mark’s first career 100-yard game ... Receiver L.J. Washington, a true freshman, made his first career start and caught his first college touchdown -- a 46-yarder from Kaepernick ... True freshman safety Duke Williams also made his first career start ... Kaepernick moved past Eric Beavers (9,028 yards, 1983-86) into second place all-time at Nevada in total offense with 9,260 yards ... Kaepernick moved into fourth place all-time at Nevada in career touchdowns with 36, passing Trevor Insley, Bryan Reeves and Chance Kretschmer, who each had 35 ... Kaepernick is also fourth in career points scored now, passing Kretschmer and Reeves (who were tied for fifth) and Insley (who was fourth) ... Kaepernick also moved into seventh place all-time at Nevada in career rushing, going past John Vicari (2,539 yards, 1977-80). Kaepernick now has 2,643 rushing yards in his career ... Kaepernick now ranks 16th all-time in NCAA history with 2,643 yards. He entered the game in 23rd place with 2,528 and passed seven players on Sunday ... Kaepernick also tied Kretschmer for career rushing TDs with 35, which is fourth all-time at Nevada ... With 112 yards rushing on the night, senior Luke Lippincott moved into fifth place all-time at Nevada in rushing yards with 2,697. He passed Anthony Corley (1980-83), who tallied 2,677 in his career ... Vai Taua passed B.J. Mitchell (2002-05) for ninth place all-time as Taua now has 2,513 in his career. Mitchell tallied 2,395 in his career ... With two tackles for loss, including a sack, Dontay Moch passed Derek Kennard Jr. (38.5, 2000-03) and teammate Kevin Basped (39.0) in career tackles for loss as Moch now has 39.5 in his career. He ranks third behind Ezra Butler and Jorge Cordova ... San Jose State won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. Nevada kicked of for the ninth time in nine games this season … Jonathon Amaya’s team-best consecutive starts streak extended to 26 … L.J. Washington’s second career kick return was good for 46 yards to open the second half … Punter Brad Langley did not play … Nevada has still yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this year … Khalid Wooten recorded his first career interception for the Pack, picking off Jordan La Secla in the end zone.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Nevada’s coaching staff usually names a Player of the Week on each side of the ball after each victory during the season. The winners:
UNLV: Virgil Green (offense) and Dontay Moch (defense).
Louisiana Tech: Colin Kaepernick (offense) and Kevin Basped and Jonathon Amaya (defense).
Utah State: Luke Lippincott and Vai Taua (offense).
Idaho: Colin Kaepernick (offense) and James-Michael Johnson (defense).
Hawaii: Talaiasi Puloka Jr. (offense) and Doyle Miller (defense).
San Jose State: Luke Lippincott (offense) and Mike Bethea (defense).
BIG BLOCKER
In every game that Nevada wins, the Basalite Big Blocker is awarded to the offensive lineman who grades out the best. The honorees:
UNLV: Mike Gallett, junior tackle.
Louisiana Tech: Kenneth Ackerman, senior center.
Utah State: Chris Barker, redshirt freshman guard.
Idaho: John Bender, junior guard.
Hawaii: Alonzo Durham, senior tackle.
San Jose State: Steve Haley, redshirt freshman tackle.
BLACKSHIRTS
Each week, the Wolf Pack coaching staff awards a black practice jersey to those excelled on special teams during the previous game. The winners:
Notre Dame: Brad Langley.
Colorado State: Mike Ball, Brad Langley, Ahmad Wood.
Missouri: Mike Ball.
UNLV: Ricky Drake, Albert Rosette, Brett Roy, Duke Williams.
Louisiana Tech: Kaelin Burnett, Joe Easter.
Utah State: Brad Langley, Adam Liranzo, Brett Roy.
Idaho: Shane Anderson, Luke Collis, Ricky Drake, Scott Frisbie, Duke Williams.
Hawaii: Luke Collis, Ricky Drake, Scott Frisbie.
San Jose State: Adam Liranzo, Brett Roy and Duke Williams.
SIX HAVE NOW EARNED STRIKER AWARDS
After just seven games, junior tight end Virgil Green earned the team’s prestigious Striker Award, which is given to a player for dominating and consistent play. A player’s position coach must nominate the player after a stretch of such play and if the player continues that excellence for at least five games, he is given the Striker Award, which is symbolized by a silver stripe on the player’s helmet.
Junior defensive end Dontay Moch earned the honor as well after the Hawaii game.
Now nine games into the season, Green and Moch have been joined by four of their teammates. Senior center Kenneth Ackerman, senior running back Luke Lippincott, junior guard John Bender and junior running back Vai Taua have all earned Striker Awards.
NEVADA TIES NCAA MARK
Nevada tied an NCAA record for most players gaining 100 yards or more in a game during its 62-7 victory over San Jose State on Sunday. Vai Taua, Luke Lippincott, Colin Kaepernick and Lampford Mark each topped the century mark. The feat had only been done five other times in NCAA history: Arizona State in 1951, Texas in 1969, Alabama in 1973, Army in 1984 and Nebraska in 2001.
Vai Taua led the way with 144 yards on the ground, including a touchdown. This is the 14th time in his career that he’s gone over the 100-yard mark. Taua has hit the 100-yard mark six times this year.
Colin Kaepernick had 115 yards and three scores on the ground, topping the 100-yard mark for the eighth time in his career. This is the third straight game that Taua and Kaepernick have both topped the century mark. This is the fourth time this season that Kaepernick hit the mark.
Luke Lippincott had 112 yards and two scores on the ground, hitting the century mark for the 14th time in his career and fourth time this season.
And Lampford Mark recorded his first career 100-yard game with 114 yards and a touchdown.
SINGLE-GAME SUPERLATIVES
O Nevada owns the top three rushing performances in the country this season with 559 yards against UNLV, 517 against San Jose State and 484 yards against Idaho.
O Nevada owns three of the top 12 total offense performances this season, including the top spot with 773 against UNLV. The 665 yards against San Jose State is ninth and the 662 yards against Idaho is No. 12.
O Nevada owns three of the top 16 spots in terms of points scored in a game this year. The 70 points against Idaho is second and is the most by an FBS team against another FBS team this year. The 63 points against UNLV is tied for 10th. And the 62 points against San Jose State is tied for 16th
O Colin Kaepernick's 230 rushing yards against Idaho is the 13th-best single-game output this year and the most by a quarterback.
O Mike Ball's five touchdowns against UNLV is tied for first place in most points in a game this year. Colin Kaepernick's four TDs against Idaho is tied for fifth.
O Nevada owns two of the top seven longest runs in FBS this year as Mike Ball's 89-yarder against UNLV and Vai Taua's 89-yarder against Idaho are tied for fifth. Colin Kaepernick's 75-yard run against Idaho is tied for 28th.
For the complete notes package, please click on the PDF link.
