University of Nevada Athletics

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Dameon Baber claimed a spot in the NCAA record book with three touchdowns off returns and Nevada pounded San Jose State 59-14 on Saturday.
 
Baber returned a blocked punt six yards for the go-ahead score near the end of the first quarter, as Nevada (2-8, 2-4 Mountain West) took a 14-7 lead, then intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for a score. He added another pick six, from 39 yards, in the third quarter, by which time the Wolf Pack led 52-7.
 
The junior safety intercepted Aaron Montel on the game's opening drive, his first pick since 2015. He finished as the first player in Mountain West history to have a pair of three-interception games and is the third player in NCAA history to score three TDs via runbacks (Johnny Jackson, Houston, 1987 and Antonio Perkins, Oklahoma, 2003).
 
Ty Gangi completed 16 of 23 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns and Wyatt Demps had seven catches for 115 yards and two TDs.
 
Tyler Nevens rushed for 118 yards with a TD for San Jose State (1-10, 0-6).

Postgame notes
 
-Junior safety Dameon Baber picked off a pass on the opening drive of the game, his first interception since his freshman season in 2015. He had gone 25 games without an interception.
-Dameon Baber picked off a second pass in the endzone in the second quarter, his first multi-interception game since 2015 (25 games), and the first pick six of his career. His return of 100 yards is the longest interception return for a TD in the history of the program, breaking the previous record of 96 yards set in 1972 against Cal State Hayward by Scott Nader. Baber's pick six was the first by a Nevada player since Jordan Dobrich had one against Utah State on Nov. 21, 2015. It was the third 100-yard interception return in Mountain West history.
-Dameon Baber then picked off a third pass in the third quarter, and his second pick six of the game, his second career three-interception game and first in 25 games. He finished the game scoring three touchdowns (two interception returns, one returned blocked punt). He becomes the first player in Mountain West history to record multiple career outings with three picks. His three interceptions today tied the conference's single-game record.
-Dameon Baber is just the third player in NCAA history to score three touchdowns via return (joining Johnny Jackson in 1987 and Antonio Perkins in 2003). He is the second player this season to return two interceptions for TDs in the NCAA.
-Nevada scored its second TD of the game on a blocked punt that was returned for a TD. The punt was blocked by senior WR Wyatt Demps, the first block of his career, and returned by junior safety Dameon Baber, the first return for a TD of his career. It was Nevada's first time blocking a punt since Bubba Boudreaux blocked one against New Mexico on Oct. 15, 2011.
-Senior WR Wyatt Demps extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 22 games when he hauled in a 39-yard TD reception in the first quarter. That was Demps' 18^th career TD reception, tying him with Brandon Wimberly and Scott Threde for 10^th all-time at Nevada. He later gained sole possession of 10^th with his 19^th career receiving TD in the second quarter. He has 10 TD receptions this season, setting a new single season high, and is one of five players nationally who have at least 10 TD receptions.
-Wyatt Demps went over 100 yards receiving for the second time this season and third time in his career. He finished with 115 yards on seven receptions.
-Nevada's 6.0 team sacks are the most in a game this season and the most for the Pack in a Mountain West game.
-Junior DE Malik Reed now has 14.0 sacks in his career, 11^th-most in program history, the first 3.5-sack game of his career.
-Senior DT Patrick Choudja's strip sack in the second quarter gives him 3.5 sacks in his career and was the third forced fumble of his career. Junior NT Hausia Sekona recovered the fumble, the first recovery of his career. Sekona later recovered a second fumble.
-Nevada's 35 first half points are the most in any half by the Wolf Pack this season. It was the most points Nevada has scored in a half since it scored 42 in the first half against New Mexico State on Nov. 21, 2009. Nevada scored 24 of those 35 points in the second quarter, the most by Nevada in a Mountain West game.
-Nevada's 52 points are the most points scored by the Wolf Pack since it put up 69 at Hawai'i on Sept. 22, 2012 and are the most points in the Jay Norvell era.
-Sophomore RB Jaxson Kincaide scored his first TD of the season on a 6-yard TD reception, the first receiving TD of his career.
-True freshman WR Elijah Cooks recorded the first reception of his career in the fourth quarter, a 16-yard catch from Cristian Solano. Senior WR Tucker Melcher and junior WR Dominic Christian also hauled in the first catches of their careers in the fourth quarter.
-Sophomore QB Cristian Solano took over at QB for the fourth quarter, his first time under center in his career. He finished completing 4-of-5 passes for 33 yards.
-Junior QB Ty Gangi's rushing TD in the second quarter was his fourth of the season, which leads the team.
-Junior RB Blake Wright established a new career long with a 26-yard rush in the fourth quarter. His previous career high was 22 yards at Washington State earlier this season.
-Nevada had 11 players catch a pass in the game, a season-high.
-Nevada led in turnovers forced, 5-0.
-The team captains for today's game were senior OL Austin Corbett, junior DE Malik Reed, sophomore RB Kelton Moore and sophomore PK Spencer Pettit.
-The all-time series between Nevada and San Jose State now stands at 20-9-2 in favor of the Wolf Pack. Nevada has won eight of the last nine meetings.