FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - KeeSean Johnson had seven receptions for 104 yards and a career-high tying three touchdowns and the Fresno State defense forced six turnovers -- including three on downs -- to help the Bulldogs beat Nevada 41-21 on Saturday night.
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Marcus McMaryion completed 24 of 32 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns and Ronnie Rivers had 12 carries for 82 yards and a score for Fresno State (2-2, 1-0 Mountain West).
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Jamire Jordan returned the opening kickoff 71 yards to set up a 10-yard scoring catch by Johnson on the fourth play from scrimmage. After James Bailey blocked Nevada's 45-yard field-goal attempt, Fresno State's Jimmy Camacho hit a 29-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter. Nevada went three-and-out on its next three drives -- during that span, Josh Hokit hit Johnson on a halfback pass for a 16-yard touchdown -- before Jaron Bryant's 18-yard interception return for a touchdown made it 24-0 with 5:05 left in the first half.
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Wyatt Demps had a career-high 10 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown for Nevada (0-5, 0-1). The Wolfpack finished with 23 carries for 61 yards.
Postgame notes
-True freshman
Nephi Sewell forced a fumble and recovered it on a kickoff return in the second quarter, which led to Nevada's second TD in less than a minute. It was the first forced fumble and recovery of Sewell's career.
-Junior TE, and Sparks native,
Trae Carter-Wells made his first collegiate reception in the second quarter for two yards.
-Junior LB
Lucas Weber, a Reno native, recorded the first sack of his career and first forced fumble on the same play in the third quarter.
-Junior WR
Andrew Celis made his first reception of the season on the first play on the fourth quarter, a 2-yard catch.
-Fresno native
Blake Wright rushed three times in the game for 22 yards and a touchdown in a game in his hometown.
-QB
Ty Gangi found the hands of 10 different receivers in tonight's game, a season-high.
-Junior LB
Lucas Weber and redshirt freshman LB
Lawson Hall each posted seven tackles in the game, both career highs.
-Junior CB
Vosean Crumbie picked off a pass in the third quarter for the first time in his Division I career.
-Just before the first half ended,
Ty Gangi found redshirt freshman
Trevion Armstrong from 21-yards out for the Pack's second touchdown in under 30 seconds. It was the first TD reception of Armstrong's career, and tied his career long reception.
-Senior WR
Wyatt Demps hauled in his fourth touchdown reception of the season in the second quarter, which leads the team. It is the 13th of his career, all of which have come since the 2016 season. He finished with a career high 10 catches in the game, the first Nevada player with 10 receptions in a game since
Jerico Richardson caught 10 vs. Colorado State in 2014.
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Ty Gangi's pass in the second quarter was picked off and returned 18 yards for a touchdown. The first interception return for a touchdown given up by Nevada since it's game against UNLV in 2015.
-Junior DT
Kalei Meyer made his season debut in the second quarter.
-True freshman WR
Daiyan Henley attempted the first pass play of his career in the second quarter, an incompletion to
Wyatt Demps.
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Spencer Pettit's 45-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter was blocked. It was the first time Nevada had a field goal blocked since it played BYU on Nov. 30, 2013.
-Senior LB
Travis Wilson forced a fumble in the first quarter, the first of his career, and sophomore LB
Gabriel Sewell landed on it, the first fumble recovery of his career.
-The team captains for this game were senior DB Jimbo Davis, junior DE
Malik Reed, junior DB
Asauni Rufus and junior QB
Ty Gangi.
-Junior
Ty Gangi returned to the starting QB role for the first time since week 2 against Toledo. He finished 31-of-48 for 253 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He is the first Nevada quarterback to complete 30 passes in a game since Cody Fajardo also completed 31 against Southern Utah in 2014. Additionally he went over 2,000 yards passing for his career.
-Nevada has been shut out in the first quarter in three consecutive games.
-The all-time series between Nevada and Fresno State now stands at 28-20-1 in favor of Fresno State.
-Nevada starts the season 0-5 for the first time since 1964.
-The Wolf Pack's booster luncheons return this year with four dates set and a new location for 2017. Coach
Jay Norvell's "Gritiron" luncheons will recap games to date and preview upcoming opponents at the luncheons, which are open to the public. This year's luncheons are $20 per person will be held at the Eldorado in Reno on Oct. 9 and Nov. 6, with one scheduled for the Carson Valley Inn in Minden (Oct. 23). Doors open at 11:45 a.m. and the program begins at 12:15 p.m. For more information, call 775-682-6901.