Nevada vs. Fresno State
Nov. 7, 2008
Nevada Post-Game Notes
Nevada improved to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the Western Athletic Conference.
Nevada coach Chris Ault is now 196-89-1 all-time in his career.
This is Nevada’s first win over Fresno State in Fresno since 1998 (27-24).
Sophomore Colin Kaepernick’s 16-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and his 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter marks his 13th and 14th of the season (and 19th and 20th of his career). He is now tied for fifth on Nevada’s single-season charts for most rushing TDs in a season (Charvez Foger, 1985 and 1986; Kin Minor, 1994). He is now tied for ninth all-time at Nevada in career rushing TDs with 20, tied with NFL Hall of Famer Marion Motley (1940-42).
Kaepernick topped the 100-yard mark in rushing for the third time this season and fifth time in his career. He finished with 118 yards on the ground.
Sophomore Vai Taua had a career-best 263 yards on 26 carries. This is the sixth time of the season (and his career) that he has topped the 100-yard mark and the first time in his career that he topped the 200-yard mark. He is the 15th player in Nevada history to rush for at least 200 yards in a game. It is the second time this season a Nevada player has topped 200 yards (Colin Kaepernick, 240 yards vs. UNLV).
Taua also topped the 1,000-yard mark (1,159) for the season. He entered the game with 896 rushing yards on the year in eight games. Since Nevada went Division I in 1977, this marks the 21st time a Nevada player has broken the 1,000-yard mark. Since Nevada went Division I-A (FBS) in 1992, this is the 11th time a Nevada player has hit the mark.
This is the third time this season that both Kaepernick and Taua topped the 100-yard mark in rushing (UNLV, Hawaii).
This is the second time this season that Nevada has produced a 200-yard rusher and a 100-yard rusher in the same game (vs. UNLV Kaepernick 240 yards; Taua 123 yards).
Junior safety Jonathon Amaya recorded his third interception of the season and fifth of his career with a pick in the first quarter.
Sophomore safety Kevin Grimes recorded his second interception of the season and of his career.
Nevada now has 12 interceptions on the season after recording just seven in the 2007 season.
Senior wide receiver Mike McCoy scored his first receiving touchdown of the year with a 36-yard catch from Colin Kaepernick in the second quarter. It was McCoy’s second touchdown of the season the first being a
Senior kicker Brett Jaekle connected on a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter. Jaekle is now 9-of-12 on FGs on the year.
Et Cetera: Jerome Johnson started at middle linebacker in place of Joshua Mauga ... Marko Mitchell has now caught a pass in 23 straight games and in 34 of 35 games in his career ... Nevada will return home for the final two home games of the season. First up is San Jose State on Saturday, Nov. 15 for Heroes Day (discounted tickets available for area military, fire and law enforcement personnel).
