Idaho vandalized at Pack homecoming

RENO - Two Western Athletic Conference games, and two wins. Everything is rosy in Nevada's little corner of the football world these days.

The Wolf Pack played their best game of the season in all phases en route to an easy 62-14 homecoming win over Idaho before a small crowd of 11,584 Saturday afternoon at Mackay Stadium.

"It was a complete win," Nevada coach Chris Ault said. "It was our best game to date on both sides of the ball and the kicking game. We haven't had a team win like that. We needed it."

"I am really pleased with the offensive line, especially after losing both of our centers last week. Dominic Green did a great job. Coach K (line coach Chris Klenakis) did a wonderful job (with the line)."

Idaho, after nice outings against Washington State and UNLV, seems to have gotten worse, according to head coach Nick Holt.

"It was a bad day; total embarrassment," Holt said. "We didn't do anything well. It was a complete bad game. I have to give Reno credit, but we need to get better.

"I thought we were getting better. We certainly weren't better today. We've regressed."

Here is what Holt and the Vandals had to suffer through:

- The 62-point outburst was the most since Nevada steamrolled North Texas 65-10 in 1997 under Jeff Tisdel, and the 537-yard offensive effort was the most since the Pack rolled up 598 yards in the 2004 season-opener against Sacramento State.

And B.J. Mitchell scored a career-best four times on runs of 4, 7, 56 and 7 yards, and rushed for a career-best 149 yards, giving him back-to-back 100-yard games for the first time in his career.

- The Wolf Pack defense allowed only 38 rushing yards on 23 attempts, an anemic 1.6 average, and the unit scored twice. Nick Hawthrone scored on a 90-yard fumble return and De'Angelo Wilson returned an interception 47 yards for a score.

- Justin Bergendahl, the leading punter in the WAC, averaged 46.2 for his four kicks, and had two kicks of 50 yards or better. His best punt came when his 35-yarder spun back and rolled down to the Idaho 6-yard line. Brett Jaekle did an outstanding job on kickoffs, booming four that weren't returned from the end zone and he recovered his own onside kick.

The victory also gives Nevada (3-2, 2-0) a boost heading into the meaty part of the schedule. Over the next four weeks Nevada plays Louisiana Tech (Oct. 15), has a bye, visits Boise State (Oct. 29) and hosts Hawai'i (Nov. 5).

"It would be better to be 3-0 (in the WAC)," quarterback Jeff Rowe said. "I've never beaten Louisiana Tech. It's on a lot of people's minds. We're going to enjoy this tonight and get after Louisiana Tech starting tomorrow."

This was a game where everything the Pack tried seemed to work. It was a game that Nevada jumped ahead early and didn't let its collective foot off the throttle unlike last week when the Pack let a 20-point lead slip away against San Jose State.

Nevada's defense took control immediately, as Roosevelt Cooks sacked Idaho QB Steven Wichman for a 5-yard loss back at the Idaho 2. Two plays later, Idaho's Mike Barrow slammed a low punt up near midfield. Kevin Stanley grabbed the ball at the 48 and took it down to the Idaho 21.

Five plays later, Mitchell scored on a 4-yard run on a third-and-goal situation. Jaekle's PAT made it 7-0 with 9:59 left.

The defense came up big on the next series when Rolly Lumbala was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 play at the Nevada 49 by Jeremy Engstrom, who was criticized earlier in the week by the coaching staff for sub-par play. Engstrom finished with eight tackles.

Six plays later, Nevada was back in the end zone on Mitchell's 7-yard run, and Nevada had a 14-0 lead. Rowe (21 of 30, 251 yards) passed for 36 yards and ran for 13 on the drive.

"I give it all (the credit) to my line," said Mitchell, who scored twice more in the second half. "They stepped up. I see them (big holes) in practice all the time.

"It (back-to-back good games) let's me know I can do it. I just want to keep it going. I always believe I can do it, but it's nice when it comes to fruition."

Bergendahl put Idaho in trouble with a 35-yard punt down to the 6, the Vandals again failed to get a first down. Barrow got off a 55-yard punt, and the Pack was hit with a 10-yard penalty, which moved the ball back to their 35.

Rowe completed 4 for 5 passing for 51 yards, including a 20-yard TD to Spencer. Rowe showed his athleticism on the play, rolling right and lofting a pass back toward the middle of the end zone to Spencer, who was all alone, for a 21-0 lead.

Nevada went for the onsides kick, and Jaekle recovered it at midfield.

"We almost did it last week," Ault said. "On film we saw Idaho was leaning out (going back) and we felt it was there."

Eight plays later, the Pack was back in the end zone, as Rowe tossed a shovel pass to Bishop on a fourth-and-goal play for a 2-yard score with 2:25 left in the half.

Idaho bounced back with its first score, as Wichman tossed a 7-yard scoring pass to D.J. Smith with 59 seconds left, capping a 65-yard drive. Jason DeMars blocked the PAT.

It was indeed a great half for Nevada's defense which yielded only 136 yards, and the pressure made it tough for Wichman to get untracked.

"They did a great job of doing what they do," Wichman said. "We prepared for what they would bring. They did a good job."



-- Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1281



60-POINT GAMES

1998 - Nevada 63, Cal Poly 0

1997 - Nevada 65, North Texas 10

1996 - Nevada 66, Arkansas State 14

1996 - Nevada 63, New Mexico 14

1996 - Nevada 66, Boise State 28

1996 - Nevada 63, Kent State 42