Nevada 28, San José State 13
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Reno, Nev. - Mackay Stadium
RENO, Nev. - A week after an emotional loss at North Dakota State, Nevada picked itself up off the mat with a full team effort in a 28-13 Homecoming victory over San José State Saturday at Mackay Stadium.
Luke Duncan made his second start of the season and went 18-for-29 for 178 yards and two touchdowns, all career highs. Duncan started the game leading the Wolf Pack (3-4, 2-2 MW) on a 16-play, 72-yard drive capped by a four-yard pass to
Marshaun Brown for the game-opening score.
Brown had himself a game in front of the hometown crowd, catching five balls for 52 yards and a score while also throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass to Herschel Turner in the third quarter to put Nevada up 21-10. Fellow Northern Nevada resident
Trace Estes (Minden) found the end zone for the first time in his career on a 25-yard catch-and-run from Duncan for Nevada's second score.
The Wolf Pack defense prevented the Spartans (4-4, 2-2 MW) from building any momentum throughout the contest. The Spartans were kept out of the end zone in the first half and limited to just 29 yards including just 12 on the ground. For the game, San José State managed just 65 yards on the ground while three quarterbacks combined to go just 12-for-26 for 139 yards.
The Nevada rush played a key role in that.
Dylan LaBarbera had one of his best games of the season, racking up two sacks and three tackles-for-loss, while
Jeremy Naborne-Owens and
Brandon Amaniampong added sacks.The Pack also broke up a season-high 10 passes led by three from
Aiden Walker and two from
Bryson Snelling.
The Wolf Pack took control of the contest late in the third quarter as Duncan's touchdown pass to Estes capped a nine-play 84-yard drive and put the Pack ahead two possessions with 4:26 left in the period. Although the Spartans found the end zone for the only time in its ensuing drive, Nevada answered as
Ky Woods' 90-yard kickoff return set up a four-yard scoring run from
Dominic Kelley to make it 28-10.
