Aug. 30, 2014 Recap | Final Stats | Quotes
POSTGAME NOTES
FINAL: Nevada (1-0) 28, Southern Utah (0-1) 19
Nevada improves to 60-45-1 all-time in season opening games, while head cach Brian Polian records his first season opening win ... Nevada improves to 13-3 all-time against FCS foes in the FBS era ... The Wolf Pack also improves to 2-0 against Southern Utah in program history, notching its first win over the Thunderbirds since 2003 in a game that was played exactly 11 years ago today.
Senior QB Cody Fajardo completed 30-of-40 passes for 303 yards and a touchdown, his sixth career 300-yard passing game and the first since throwing for 357 vs. UNLV on Oct. 26, 2013 ... With 669 career completions, Fajardo surpassed Eric Beavers (1983-86) for fourth place in Nevada's record book ... Fajardo is 32 yards away from becoming the third player in program history to reach 10,000 yards of total offense in a career.
In his first career start, sophomore Jerico Richardson tallied a career-high in receptions (13) and receiving yards (177) ... His previous career high was three receptions and 22 receiving yards in a game ... Richardson's 177 yards receiving is the most by Nevada player since Rishard Matthews tallied 220 receiving yards in 2011 vs. UNLV.
Junior RB Don Jackson surpassed 100 yards rushing in his first career start, taking 22 carries for 110 yards and a score ... Freshman RB James Butler scored his first collegiate TD and added 31 yards on 11 carries.
Nevada had a 300-yard passer (Fajardo, 303), 100-yard rusher (Jackson, 110) and 100-yard receiver (Richardson, 177) for the first time since the San Diego State game in 2013; Fajardo (304), Kendall Brock (112) and Richy Turner (111).
Making his first career start, senior FS Nigel Haikins recorded a key interception and fumble recovery ... The interception was the second of his career.
Nevada had seven players make their first career start; freshman LT Austin Corbett, sophomore TE Patrick Clifford, sophomore WR Jerico Richardson, junior RB Don Jackson, junior SS Duran Workman, senior FS Nigel Haikins and sophomore P Alex Boy.
The game opened with a combined nine consecutive punts before Nevada scored first at the 4:46 mark in the second quarter ... Nevada found its offensive rhythm in the second half, scoring a touchdown in three consecutive drives ... In 14 offensive drives, Nevada forced 10 punts, two turnovers and three three-and-outs by Southern Utah.
Nevada posted a 30-16 advantage in first downs while outgaining the Thunderbirds, 547-380.
