Aug. 31, 2016
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Mackay Stadium. As we count down the days until the opening of a newly renovated Mackay, let’s take a look back at some of the great games and memories from the first 50 years.
The Miracle at Mackay
Vargas directs the greatest comeback in NCAA history.
Nov. 2, 1991
For all intents and purposes, it was all coming to an end – Nevada’s undefeated season, their number one ranking, their 20-game home winning streak, and their defense of the Big Sky Championship.
Weber State led 42-14 at the half as eventual Walter Payton Trophy winner Jamie Martin was shredding the Nevada defense with 280 yards passing and three TDs by halftime. Nevada’s super sub Chris Vargas had come into the game late in the second quarter, but a perfect 45-yard pass from Vargas, which would have tightened the score to respectability, was dropped near the goal line.
Matters went from bad to worse when Weber State took the second half kickoff and drove 65 yards for yet another touchdown, making the score 49-14 and at the same time passing the point margin that any team had ever come back from for victory in the history of college football.
Unfazed, Vargas went to work. Before the third quarter was up he had 14 points back with two touchdown passes (one set up by a blocked punt by Brock Marion), and to open the fourth quarter, he bootlegged in from nine yards out for a third touchdown. Nevada scored again with 9:24 remaining after a 55-yard Vargas-engineered drive, and incredibly, Nevada was within eight points at 49-41.
Following a fumble recovery, Nevada drove 39 yards for a score, and had a chance to tie the game with a two-point conversion. But the attempt failed and it seem the game was destined for the “nice try” category. But a perfect onsides kick by Rick Schwendinger was recovered by Forey Duckett. With “Magic Man” Vargas at the controls, two completed passes later Nevada was at the two yard line with plenty of time left (over a minute). Eric Smith blasted in for his third straight rushing TD in the fourth quarter and history was made – no other team had ever come back from 35 points down.
Vargas finished with 346 yards passing in just over a half of work. Chris Singleton caught eight passes for 225 yards, including a 45-yarder which set up the winning score.
The comeback was accomplished in 10 minutes and 21 seconds worth possession time in the second half.
“We’ll never see anything like that again,” said head coach Chris Ault after the game.
Watch the game here:
