Nevada (2-0) vs. Incarnate Word (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 - 2:30 p.m.
Reno, Nev. - Mackay Stadium

TV: Nevada Sports Net / Mountain West Network (PxP - Alex Margulies; Analyst - Lucas Weber; Sideline - Shannon Kelly)
Radio: ESPN 94.5 FM / The Varsity Network App (PxP - John Ramey; Analyst - Mike Edwards)
Tickets: MyNevadaTickets.com

RENO, Nev. - Nevada (2-0) hosts wraps its September home slate at Mackay Stadium Saturday afternoon, hosting Incarnate Word (1-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday's contest will be broadcast on Nevada Sports Net with Alex Margulies (play-by-play) and Lucas Weber (analyst) on the call, with Shannon Kelly reporting from the sidelines.

The Wolf Pack Radio Network will call the game as well on ESPN 94.5 FM with John Ramey (play-by-play) and Mike Edwards (analyst) in the booth, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 1:30 p.m.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's contest will be the first meeting all-time between Nevada and Incarnate Word.

ABOUT INCARNATE WORD
Incarnate Word opened its 2022 campaign this past Saturday with a 64-29 victory over Southern Illinois. Cardinal quarterback Lindsey Scott threw for 391 yards and six touchdowns on the day, as Incarnate Word racked up 550 yards of total offense.

The Cardinals went 10-3 last year, reaching the Round of 16 of the FCS Playoffs, where they fell, 49-42, to No. 1 Sam Houston State.


A 3-0 START ON TAP?
Nevada goes for its second 3-0 start to a season over the past three years, and just its third since 2010, when it hosts Incarnate Word Saturday afternoon.

SANDERS PICKS UP MOUNTAIN WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For the second-straight week, Nevada found itself on the Mountain West's weekly honor roll. Fifth-year defensive back Bentlee Sanders claimed the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week honor following his standout performance in Saturday's 38-14 win over Texas State.

Sanders had a hand in three of Nevada's four takeaways, nabbing two interceptions and forcing a fumble. The Tampa, Fla., native returned the second of his two picks 34 yards for a touchdown, capping the Pack's 24-point third quarter which blew the game open at 38-7.

He also made five tackles, including 2.0 for loss.

All three turnovers which Sanders created led to Wolf Pack touchdowns. The first came when Sanders picked off a pass at the Texas State 35 late in the first quarter, setting up a short field. That Pack drive culminated with Devonte Lee's five-yard score, doubling Nevada's lead to 14-0.

Sanders' forced fumble midway through the third quarter was picked up by Maurice Wilmer and returned to the Texas State 45, setting up another short field for the Pack offense, this time in a 17-7 game. Nevada again cashed in, with Nate Cox taking it in from eight yards out to open up a 17-point lead and start the Pack's pulling away.

Sanders' honor makes three Mountain West awards for the Pack through two weeks. After the Week 0 win at New Mexico State, Isaiah Essissima was named Defensive Player of the Week, and kicker Brandon Talton was named Special Teams Player of the Week.

TEAM TAKEAWAY
The Nevada defense has put together two dominant efforts to open the season, making nine takeaways (six INT, three fumble recoveries). That figure, along with the Pack's six interceptions, rank second in the country.

After making five takeaways (four INT, one fumble recovery) in the season-opening win at New Mexico State, the Pack kept up its ball-hawking ways Saturday against Texas State, totaling four takeaways (two INT, two fumble recoveries). Bentlee Sanders led the way with two picks, including one returned 34 yards for a touchdown, while Dom Peterson made his second fumble recovery of the season.

Through two weeks, Sanders leads the nation with three interceptions, followed by cornerback Isaiah Essissima, with two.

SETTING UP THE OFFENSE
The Nevada defense's takeaways have played a critical role in the Pack putting points on the board. Of the Pack's nine takeaways, seven have directly resulted in points. One could even say the Pack is *really* 7-for-8 on converting takeaways, as Tyson Williams' interception at New Mexico State came with 32 seconds left, and the Pack then kneeled out the clock.

Below is a list of Pack takeaways and results:

Aug. 27 at New Mexico State
1Q - Interception -> Punt
2Q - Interception ->Touchdown (7-2 Nevada)
2Q - Interception -> Field Goal (10-2 Nevada)
2Q - Fumble -> Touchdown (17-2 Nevada)
4Q - Interception -> Kneel out the clock

Sept. 3 vs. Texas State
1Q - Interception -> Touchdown (14-0 Nevada)
3Q - Fumble ->Touchdown (24-7 Nevada)
3Q - Fumble -> Touchdown (31-7 Nevada)
3Q - Bentlee Sanders Pick-Six (38-7 Nevada)

WINNING THE BATTLE
The Pack defense is also digging in and winning the battles of the late downs, early on this season. Through the first two contests, opponents are just 13-for-32 on third downs (40.6 percent) and 0-for-3 on fourth downs.

Nevada has also fought gamely in the red zone, holding its opponents to just three scores in five red-zone chances this season.