RENO, Nev. (AP) — Ty Gangi threw three touchdown passes to McLane Mannix and Nevada cruised past Portland State 72-19 on Friday night in a season opener for both teams.
Nevada had five 40-plus-yard touchdowns. Daniel Brown returned an interception 42 yards, Mannix scored from 47 and 58 yards out, Jaxson Kincaide added a 73-yard grab and true freshman Romeo Doubs went 80 yards on a punt return.
It was the fifth-highest scoring output in Nevada's history and the most in its FBS era, which began in 1992.
Gangi was 16-of-26 passing for 342 yards and three TDs, and Mannix caught four passes for 132 yards. Doubs gave Nevada its first punt return touchdown since 2011.
Nevada scored 23 unanswered points for a 23-9 lead and it was 30-19 at halftime before the Wolf Pack took control with 42 straight points in the second half.
Touchdowns on six straight drives put Nevada ahead 58-19.
Postgame Notes
-Nevada's 72 points ties the most scored by the Wolf Pack at home since 1991 when it defeated North Texas 72-0.
-The Wolf Pack's 636 yards of total offense are the most since the Pack put up 659 against Arizona in December of 2012.
-Romeo Doubs returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the first since Rishard Matthews took one 86 yards to the house against Fresno State in 2011.
-The Pack's 72 points are tied for the second-most in Mountain West history, and are the most Nevada has scored since joining the Mountain West.
-Nevada's 42 points are the second-most ever scored in a second-half in conference history.
-The Nevada defense held Portland State to going 3-of-19 on third down.
-Sam Hammond's blocked punt in the first quarter was Nevada's first blocked punt since Wyatt Demps against San Jose State on 11/11/17. It was the first block of Hammond's career.
-With four tackles tonight, Asauni Rufus broke into the top-10 in Nevada history with 279, tying him with John Ramatici at 10th all-time.
-Jaxson Kincaide recorded a career-high 73-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, Nevada's longest offensive touchdown since McLane Mannix caught a 75-yard touchdown against Toledo on 9/11/17.
-Wide receiver Kaleb Fossum set new career-highs and led Nevada with six receptions and 139 receiving yards. Fossum also made a career-high 33-yard reception in the third quarter.
-Mannix and Fossum are the first WR tandem to go over 100 yards receiving each since Brendan O'Leary-Orange and Wyatt Demps did at San Diego State on 11/18/17.
-Daniel Brown recorded his first career interception and scored his first-career touchdown in the opening quarter for Nevada's first points of the game. This was the first interception returned for a touchdown by the Wolf Pack since 11/11/17 when Dameon Baber ran back two against San Jose State.
-Mannix scored three touchdowns in the contest, setting a single-game career high.
-Lucas Weber set a career-high in tackles and led the team with 10.
-Austin Arnold made his first career start, taking the field with the Nevada defense on the first play of the game. He finished with one tackle on the night.
-Elijah Cooks hauled in a 29-yard catch in the third quarter for his longest career reception. His 29-yard catch also sets a single-game high for receiving yards.
-Korey Rush tied his single-game high in sacks with one in the first quarter.
-Ramiz Ahmed hit his first career field goal to end the first half, good for 46 yards.
-Quarterback Cristian Solano scored his first-career touchdown on a nine yard run in the fourth quarter.
-True freshman Toa Taua ripped off a career-long 18 yard run in the second quarter.
-True freshman Devonte Lee scored his first collegiate touchdown in the second quarter on a 19-yard run.
-Maliek Broady recorded his first-career sack in the third quarter.
-Kaleb Meder made his first career Division I start.
-True freshman Carson Strong made his first-collegiate appearance for the Wolf Pack in the fourth quarter.
-The all-time series between Nevada and Portland State is now 7-2 in favor of Nevada.
