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The Nevada Wolf Pack kept this game closer than it probably should have been against FCS foe Southern Utah on Saturday afternoon. Quarterback Cody Fajardo led the way for Nevada by completing 30 of 41 for 303 yards and a touchdown, plus he reused for a modest 68 yards and another score.
A few changes in the Nevada lineup saw running back Kendall Brock move from running back to wide receiver, and Don Jackson getting the start at running back. Jackson was expected to have a good showing last year, but he under achieved. While Saturday's game was against a FCS team, Jackson had a very good day by rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown.
The big player for the Wolf Pack was sophomore Jerico Richardson who was making his first start and he had career highs in receptions, with 13, and yards with 177.
Senior free safety Nigel Haikins was also making his first career start and he recorded a key interception and fumble recovery, overall there were seven players who earned their first career start.
Nevada looked to have the game wrapped up when they were leading 28-6 with just under 12 minutes left in the game, but the Wolf Pack defense let up a big and allowed Southern Utah to come back in this game with a 39-yard touchdown pass. Then Fajardo had his only interception in the game and that was returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
Nevada started slow in this game and against a FCS team there is some concern with that but in the second and third quarters the offense started rolling. The defense giving up 380 yards is an issue especially since the time of possession saw Southern Utah holding the ball for just 19 minutes for the entire game, and that time discerpency is puzzling to see that Nevada won by just nine points.
Nevada earned the win and the offense looks to be closer to the 2012 version than the 2013 season which was the first year without former head coach Chris Ault running his patented pistol offense.