Despite a slow start, the Nevada Wolf Pack’s high-octane offense powered past the Utah State Aggies 34-9 Thursday evening at Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nev. The Pack improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2010— a season they went 13-1.
Utah State (0-3) jumped out to a quick 9-0 advantage with 5:32 in the first quarter, but Nevada scored 34 unanswered en-route to the blowout victory.
“We’re showing the type of team we are capable of being,” Nevada head coach Jay Norvell said postgame. “I’m starting to really believe in this team because of how we prepared ... We’ve got a long ways to go, but we’re excited about this next opportunity.”
The Wolf Pack — who was second in the Mountain West in yards per game (496.5 ypg) heading into Thursday — totaled just 16 yards with one first down on their first three drives.
They eventually brushed the dust off their shoulders.
Nevada (3-0) mustered together 526 yards of offense on its final ten drives and had 542 for the game. It was the third consecutive contest totaling 450-plus yards.
The dynamic duo of quarterback Carson Strong and receiver Romeo Doubs continued their reign of dominance. Strong went 36-for-52 with 411 yards, three touchdown passes and no interceptions. He now has five consecutive games of 350-plus passing yards.
The 6-foot-4 redshirt sophomore has completed 96-of-131 (73.2 percent) of his passes for 1,181 yards and nine touchdowns with zero interceptions through three games. Let’s prorate those figures over an eight-and 12-game season.
Carson Strong’s 2020 statistics
Current Statistics | Prorated over 8 games | Prorated over 12 games | |
---|---|---|---|
Current Statistics | Prorated over 8 games | Prorated over 12 games | |
Completions | 96 | 256 | 384 |
Attempts | 131 | 349 | 524 |
Passing Yards | 1,181 | 3,149 | 4724 |
Touchowns | 9 | 24 | 36 |
Strong completed passes to ten different players, with eight accumulating multiple catches. He has 282 consecutive pass attempts without an interception— the most in the nation and the second-most in Mountain West history.
1. Carson Strong (Nevada) - 282
2. Dillon Gabriel (UCF) - 166
3. Jayden Daniels (Arizona State) - 157
4. Tyrrell Pigrome (WKU) - 143
5. Ian Book (Notre Dame) - 129
6. Max Duggan (TCU) - 127
7. Kedon Slovis (USC) - 126
Doubs finished with seven catches for 137 yards (19.6 yards per reception) and three touchdowns— all in the first half. He now leads the conference in receptions (26), receiving yards (473) and receiving touchdowns (5), while placing second in receiving yards per contest (157.67 ypg).
“Romeo is an amazing football player,” Norvell said. “Him and Carson have great chemistry. The plays that they made early kind of gave us that confidence back and got us back in the game.”
There have been 23 occurrences in school history where a receiver caught three touchdowns in a single game. The last time it was done in one half was Bryan Reeves against Utah State in 1994.
Let’s do the same proration for Doubs like we did for Strong:
Romeo Doubs’ 2020 statistics
Current Statistics (thru 5 games) | Prorated over 8 games | Prorated over 12 games | |
---|---|---|---|
Current Statistics (thru 5 games) | Prorated over 8 games | Prorated over 12 games | |
Receptions | 36 | 57 | 86 |
Receiving yards | 778 | 1,245 | 1,867 |
Touchdowns | 9 | 14 | 22 |
Of course, the current statistical figures for both players are not likely to be sustainable, but it puts into perspective of how good they’ve been throughout Nevada’s first three games.
Justin Lockhart added six catches for 95 yards, while Cole Turner tallied four receptions for 66 yards. Toa Taua tallied 12 carries for a season-high 107 rushing yards. He proved to be a big benefactor as a checkdown receiver, tying a team-high with seven catches for 45 yards.
Thursday’s loss drops Utah State to 0-3 on the year, its worst start since 2008. It has lost by a combined 85 points in their first three contests. The struggles offensively continued for the Aggies after totaling just 210 yards of offense, including just 81 (on plays) in the second half. Jason Shelley completed 15-of-27 of his passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Jaylen Warren, who missed last game due to a leg injury, did not look like his usual self on the field. He had 33 total yards on nine touches. Devonta’e Henry-Cole had six carries for 23 yards.
Utah State failed to have a player record more than 30 yards receiving yards. Deven Thompkins posted a team-high six receptions for 30 yards, while Justin McGriff tallied two catches for 24 yards and a touchdown.
The game did not start smoothly for the Wolf Pack. Nevada turned the ball over on downs on its first drive. On the first play of its ensuing possession, AJ Vongphachanh sacked Strong in the endzone for a safety.
The Aggies capitalized on the early miscue. Shelley connected with McGriff in the back of the endzone on a four-yard score — giving the Aggies a 9-0 lead with 5:32 left in the first quarter.
Things began to fall apart for the Utah State defense in large part to the Strong-Doubs connection. Doubs put Nevada ahead 14-9 after scores from 42-and-3 yards away on its ensuing two drives.
The 6-foot-2 wideout completed the hat-trick on a 54-yard score for his third touchdown catch of the first half in as many drives. He finished the first half with seven catches, 137 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Romeo Doubs in the 1H:
— Pack Center (@PackCenterNV) November 6, 2020
7 receptions
137 yards
3 touchdowns
Pretty good. pic.twitter.com/KkvRw8PbME
On the first three drives:
— Pack Center (@PackCenterNV) November 6, 2020
Nevada: 16 yards, one 1st down
Strong: 2-for-4, 6 yards
Doubs: 1 rec., 10 yards
On their final four drives (1H):
Nevada: 291 yards, 13 1st downs
Strong: 21-for-29, 276 yards, 3 TDs
Doubs: 6 rec., 127 yards, 3 TDs#Battleborn #NevadaGrit
The Wolf Pack picked up right where they left off in the second half. Strong began 5-for-5 for 62 yards, but the drive was capped-off by a powerful 15-yard rushing score by Taua to put the Pack up 28-9.
Utah State struggled to manifest much offense in the final half, alternating between Shelley and Peasley. It was forced to punt on 11 of its first 12 total drives.
“I’m really proud of our defense,” Norvell said. “We basically controlled their offense and we’re excellent on third down. We didn’t give up any big plays and managed their offense really well.”
The Wolf Pack followed up with two field goals by placekicker Brandon Talton — from 36 and 26 yards away. Utah State had one more opportunity to score in the waning seconds, but turned it over on downs after an incomplete pass to Carson Terrell in the endzone.
Up next:
The Wolf Pack hit the road to play New Mexico (0-1) on Saturday, Nov. 14. The conference announced that it would be moved from Albuquerque, N.M., to Sam Boyd Stadium Las Vegas, Nev. due to COVID-19 health concerns in New Mexico. Kickoff is still scheduled for 3:30 p.m. PST and will air on Fox Sports 2.
Utah State will host Fresno State (1-1) on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PST on Fox Sports 2.
He's here.
— Nevada Football (@NevadaFootball) November 6, 2020
He's there.
He's everywhere.
Sam Hammond with a big stop on 3rd down❕
Q1 11:57 | Nevada 0, Utah State 0#BattleBorn // #NevadaGrit pic.twitter.com/QZTwp2OUCC
TAUA POWA.
— Nevada Football (@NevadaFootball) November 6, 2020
Strong's pass to Toa Taua is good for a Wolf Pack first down!
Q1 5:19 | Nevada 0, Utah State 9#BattleBorn // #NevadaGrit pic.twitter.com/5z9BRVtpWt
Oh my... @RomeoDoubs
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 6, 2020
An absolute snag gets @NevadaFootball on the board pic.twitter.com/SLCQUNGIS1
This is officially a Carson Strong and Romeo Doubs stan account. Thx for following.
— Nevada Football (@NevadaFootball) November 6, 2020
Strong connects to Doubs on 3-yard TD to give Nevada the lead!#BattleBorn // #NevadaGrit pic.twitter.com/9AsnE9ilNt
KEEP FEEDING HIM
— Nevada Football (@NevadaFootball) November 6, 2020
Strong hits Doubs for a 54-yard Wolf Pack TD. pic.twitter.com/geiJPn2Eg9
It's the spin move for us.
— Nevada Football (@NevadaFootball) November 6, 2020
TOA TAUA WITH THE 15-YARD TD. NEVADA UP, 28-9.#BattleBorn // #NevadaGrit pic.twitter.com/pmLvP2hTS3
Here's a serotonin boost brought to you by Toa Taua!
— Nevada Football (@NevadaFootball) November 6, 2020
Taua with the 60-yard run.
Q3 5:46 | Nevada 28, Utah State 9#BattleBorn // #NevadaGrit pic.twitter.com/OpePQbkKY0
AMIR JOHNSON WITH HIS FIRST CAREER SACK pic.twitter.com/w7d6uFUJYB
— Pack Center (@PackCenterNV) November 6, 2020
Final from Mackay Stadium:
— Pack Center (@PackCenterNV) November 6, 2020
Utah State: 9
Nevada: 34
THE WOLF PACK SCORED 34 UNANSWERED AND ARE NOW 3-0 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2010. pic.twitter.com/nuskMD1AW1
QB Carson Strong balled out in Nevada's W.
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 6, 2020
The Wolf Pack are now 3-0 for the first time since 2010, when Colin Kaepernick was QB. pic.twitter.com/FGHFBIuLNL