Stat Book - NEV 31, UCD 17
By Brady Johnson
Assistant Director, Athletic Communications
RENO, Nev. - The Nevada football team opened its 2015 season with three consecutive touchdown drives en route to a 31-17 victory over UC Davis on Thursday night at Mackay Stadium. The Wolf Pack (1-0) used a 232-89 advantage in rushing yards to race past the Aggies (0-1) in front of 21,483 fans at Mackay.
Senior RB Don Jackson rushed for a game-high 124 yards - his fifth career 100-yard rushing effort - and junior QB Tyler Stewart completed nine of his first 10 passes before finishing with 206 yards of total offense and two touchdowns.
How It Happened: The Aggies received the opening kickoff and went on a 10-play drive that took 6:15 off the clock before stalling on a failed fourth down conversion. After a lengthy UC Davis drive to open the game, it was all Nevada for the remainder of the half.
The Wolf Pack offense started with three consecutive drives that went at least nine plays and 75 yards, as each ended in the endzone. It marked the first time since the 2010 season opener against Eastern Washington that Nevada opened a game with three straight touchdowns. Nevada also opened a 20-0 lead in the 2013 meeting with UC Davis.
Stewart marched Nevada down the field with a 75-yard touchdown drive in the team's offensive debut. Jackson punched the ball in from the one-yard line to open a 7-0 lead. Nevada's next drive went 80 yards and was also capped by a Jackson run, this time from seven yards out. The Wolf Pack went up 21-0 on a two-yard touchdown pass from Stewart to junior TE Jarred Gipson.
The Aggies scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to tighten the score, but Nevada remained in control throughout the contest.
Player of the Game: Don Jackson only got the rock 13 times, but he put on a show when he had the ball, rushing for 124 yards on 9.5 yards per carry. Jackson scored early touchdown runs from one and seven yards out to help Nevada get in an early rhythm.
Jackson's effort led to his fifth career 100-yard rushing effort and his third-career multi-touchdown game.
Play of the Game: On 1st-and-goal from the seven-yard line, Jackson took a hand-off from Stewart in the shotgun and bounced over the right tackle. The Sacramento native appeared to run out of real estate on the sideline before shaking off two tackles and diving past the pylon on his second effort. The rushing touchdown gave Nevada a 14-0 lead with 11:47 left in the second quarter.
Quick Facts: Nevada used a 232-89 advantage in rushing yards to dictate the game and cruise to a 31-17 victory ... Tyler Stewart completed nine of his first 10 passes for 118 yards ... Neither team recorded a turnover in the season opener ... In his first career start, redshirt-freshman Asauni Rufus posted a game-high and career-high 12 tackles ... Redshirt-freshman Andrew Celis notched a career-long 40-yard punt return in the fourth quarter ... Nevada held an advantage in total offense, 395-327, while first downs were even at 22 apiece.
What it Means: With two upcoming games against power five opponents, Nevada secured critical momentum with its season opening victory against UC Davis. Although facing arduous tasks against No. 22 Arizona and Texas A&M next up on the schedule, the Wolf Pack will enter week No. 2 feeling positive about its season debut.
Up Next: Nevada (1-0) hosts No. 22 Arizona (1-0) next Saturday, Sept. 12, in a "Whiteout Game" at Mackay Stadium. Kickoff time is set for 4 p.m. PT, while the game will be televised by CBS Sports. The Wildcats lead the series history with the Wolf Pack, 3-1-1. Nevada played Arizona in a nail-biter in Tucson last year before falling, 35-28. In week two last season, the Wolf Pack defeated a Pac-12 foe in Washington State in a whiteout game at Mackay. After hosting Arizona, Nevada's next two games will be on the road. Next Saturday's contest will be a battle of unbeaten, as Arizona downed UTSA 42-32 at home Thursday night.
