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Nevada sets NCAA record with third 1,000-yard rusher

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Nevada rushed for 575 yards – and shattered some NCAA record in the process – as the Wolf Pack beat New Mexico State 63-20 Saturday night.

Luke Lippincott had 162 yards on 19 carries, putting him at 1,028 yards for the season. He joined quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Vaia Taua as 1,000-yard rushers on the Wolf Pack roster, and Nevada became the first team in NCAA history to have three players in one season top the 1,000-yard rushing mark.

Lippincott crossed the threshold on a 32-yard touchdown in the third quarter, which put Nevada (8-3, 7-0 Western Athletic Conference) up 49-6.



The unbeaten Pack will play Boise State for the WAC championship on Friday night in Boise, Idaho. The game will be televised on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.

Kaepernick ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns while throwing for 96 yards and two more scores.



He also joined prestigious company when a 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter made him the fifth player in NCAA history to rush for 40 career touchdowns and throw for 40 as well.

Kaepernick now has at 40 career rushing scores and 57 passing TDs.

No NCAA player has ever scored 50 touchdowns both rushing and passing in a career.

Taua added 126 yards on 13 carries and Mark Lampford added 62 yards. Lippincott scored two touchdowns and Taua had another for Nevada.

Marcus Allen had two touchdowns on five catches for New Mexico State (3-8, 1-5).

Nevada jumped all over the Aggies from the start. After falling behind 3-0 to start the game, the Wolf Pack scored three touchdowns in six offensive plays, including a 56-yard touchdown pass from Kaepernick to Chris Wellington and a 57-yard TD run by Kaepernick. Lippincott added a 28-yard scoring run that gave Nevada a 21-3 lead.

The Wolf Pack extended the lead to 42-6 at halftime and 56-6 going into the fourth quarter.

Nevada outgained New Mexico State 671 yards to 232.


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