I had to start another thread because the wording exceeded the limit. 
The fight for the Fremont Cannon ensues this Saturday night when the Nevada Wolf Pack welcome the UNLV Rebels to Mackay Stadium in Reno for a non-conference tilt between in-state rivals. Nevada head coach Chris Ault, who is back in the driver's seat for a third time with the Pack, was brought back to the sidelines last year for a change of pace and to get the school to end its losing streak against the Rebels. At the moment the all-time series between the programs is tied at 15 games apiece, but that's only because UNLV has run off five straight victories against the Wolf Pack, including a lopsided 48-13 decision a year ago. This season UNLV, a member of the Mountain West Conference, started right out of the gate with a league meeting against New Mexico on the road, losing that heartbreaker by a score of 24-22. Last week the Rebels bounced back with a tight 34-31 win over Idaho, one of the new schools that has joined Nevada over in the Western Athletic Conference. The Wolf Pack didn't start the new campaign until this past weekend, falling to Washington State at home and in front of a nationally-televised audience, 55-21.
Back on Labor Day a missed extra point by kicker Sergio Aguayo early in the game against New Mexico forced the Rebels to take some chances later in the contest. Last weekend Aguayo made up for his mistake somewhat by nailing a 41- yard field goal as time expired to give UNLV the three-point win over Idaho at home. Putting him in a position for redemption was quarterback Shane Steichen who finished the contest 22-of-34 for 250 yards and two touchdowns, adding 104 yards on 17 carries to become the first player to ever throw for at least 200 yards and rush for 100 in the same game. Steichen remains the team's leading rusher with 143 yards over two games, with his 51-yard TD run last week playing a huge part. His arm has resulted in 62.5 percent passing for 477 yards and four touchdowns. So far this season the primary target in the receiving department looks to be Donnell Wheaton who has 12 catches for 185 yards and a pair of scores. Tight end Greg Estandia, who is listed as one of the best in the nation at his position, adds eight catches for 86 yards and a score as well.
As good as the Rebels may have been on offense down the stretch, they simply allowed the Vandals to stick around too long in their own building. Idaho quarterback Steven Wichman averaged better than 20 yards per completion against the UNLV defense, finishing with 390 yards and three scores. Wichman, who was named the Offensive Player of the Week in the WAC even though his team lost, was a huge part of the reason why UNLV's defense permitted almost 500 yards of offense. Opponents are presently averaging just 93.5 ypg on the ground against the Rebels, but that's an easy stat to explain since New Mexico didn't have a healthy DonTrell Moore and Idaho figured the best way to attack UNLV was through the air. Matt Pattison is the team leader with 15 tackles for UNLV, followed by John Guice who has 13 stops, with 10 of those coming on solo efforts. Leon Moore may have just six stops so far, but four of those are for loss, with three coming against quarterbacks.
Not much went right for the Nevada offense in the opener last week. The squad was kept off the scoreboard for the entire first half, with Caleb Spencer finally dragging the unit into the end zone on a 21-yard TD pass from Jeff Rowe. Later in the third period B.J. Mitchell crossed the goal line on a 14- yard scoring run, followed by Robert Hubbard who checked in with a three-yard touchdown run of his own less than three minutes later. Mitchell finished the contest with 59 yards on 13 carries and Hubbard 25 yards on six attempts. Rowe chipped in with 38 yards on 11 carries, but he also lost 20 yards along the way as well. Obviously the loss of Chance Kretschmer at running back is going to take some time to adjust to, but Nevada has to figure out a way to make a smooth transition if it hopes to be successful this season. Rowe hit on 19- of-32 pass attempts for 219 yards, but was constantly under pressure in the pocket as he was sacked five times and intercepted once. Spencer led the receiving corps with seven catches for 126 yards and far behind him was All- WAC performer Nichiren Flowers who had a mere two grabs for 20 yards.
While the offense for the Wolf Pack was struggling to find continuity and a successful strategy, the defense was not doing the team any favors by allowing Washington State to march up and down the field at will. WSU runners produced a hefty 247 yards on 43 rushing attempts for an average of close to six yards per carry. Even when Nevada might have tightened up in the trenches, Washington State simply went over the top and threw for 287 yards. Altogether, Nevada surrendered 534 yards of total offense to the visitors in the opener, certainly nothing to be proud of this early in the season. Nick Hawthrone, who figured to be one of the focal points of the defense again this year, was at the top of the tackles list with 11 stops, the only player on the unit with double-digit tackles in the setback. Roosevelt Cooks checked in with seven tackles, tying him with three other players for second on the team, but he stood out more with two TFLs, one sack and a forced fumble. The rest of the unit might have to pick up the slack this week with Hawthrone listed as questionable with a calf injury.
Let`s take a shot with the road chalk......
THE REBELS.......-2
BET ID=31935829
Straight Wager 09/17/05 19:54 ET
250.00/227.27 Result: Pending
UNLV
Nevada 09/17/05 (22:00 ET)
UNLV -2
The fight for the Fremont Cannon ensues this Saturday night when the Nevada Wolf Pack welcome the UNLV Rebels to Mackay Stadium in Reno for a non-conference tilt between in-state rivals. Nevada head coach Chris Ault, who is back in the driver's seat for a third time with the Pack, was brought back to the sidelines last year for a change of pace and to get the school to end its losing streak against the Rebels. At the moment the all-time series between the programs is tied at 15 games apiece, but that's only because UNLV has run off five straight victories against the Wolf Pack, including a lopsided 48-13 decision a year ago. This season UNLV, a member of the Mountain West Conference, started right out of the gate with a league meeting against New Mexico on the road, losing that heartbreaker by a score of 24-22. Last week the Rebels bounced back with a tight 34-31 win over Idaho, one of the new schools that has joined Nevada over in the Western Athletic Conference. The Wolf Pack didn't start the new campaign until this past weekend, falling to Washington State at home and in front of a nationally-televised audience, 55-21.
Back on Labor Day a missed extra point by kicker Sergio Aguayo early in the game against New Mexico forced the Rebels to take some chances later in the contest. Last weekend Aguayo made up for his mistake somewhat by nailing a 41- yard field goal as time expired to give UNLV the three-point win over Idaho at home. Putting him in a position for redemption was quarterback Shane Steichen who finished the contest 22-of-34 for 250 yards and two touchdowns, adding 104 yards on 17 carries to become the first player to ever throw for at least 200 yards and rush for 100 in the same game. Steichen remains the team's leading rusher with 143 yards over two games, with his 51-yard TD run last week playing a huge part. His arm has resulted in 62.5 percent passing for 477 yards and four touchdowns. So far this season the primary target in the receiving department looks to be Donnell Wheaton who has 12 catches for 185 yards and a pair of scores. Tight end Greg Estandia, who is listed as one of the best in the nation at his position, adds eight catches for 86 yards and a score as well.
As good as the Rebels may have been on offense down the stretch, they simply allowed the Vandals to stick around too long in their own building. Idaho quarterback Steven Wichman averaged better than 20 yards per completion against the UNLV defense, finishing with 390 yards and three scores. Wichman, who was named the Offensive Player of the Week in the WAC even though his team lost, was a huge part of the reason why UNLV's defense permitted almost 500 yards of offense. Opponents are presently averaging just 93.5 ypg on the ground against the Rebels, but that's an easy stat to explain since New Mexico didn't have a healthy DonTrell Moore and Idaho figured the best way to attack UNLV was through the air. Matt Pattison is the team leader with 15 tackles for UNLV, followed by John Guice who has 13 stops, with 10 of those coming on solo efforts. Leon Moore may have just six stops so far, but four of those are for loss, with three coming against quarterbacks.
Not much went right for the Nevada offense in the opener last week. The squad was kept off the scoreboard for the entire first half, with Caleb Spencer finally dragging the unit into the end zone on a 21-yard TD pass from Jeff Rowe. Later in the third period B.J. Mitchell crossed the goal line on a 14- yard scoring run, followed by Robert Hubbard who checked in with a three-yard touchdown run of his own less than three minutes later. Mitchell finished the contest with 59 yards on 13 carries and Hubbard 25 yards on six attempts. Rowe chipped in with 38 yards on 11 carries, but he also lost 20 yards along the way as well. Obviously the loss of Chance Kretschmer at running back is going to take some time to adjust to, but Nevada has to figure out a way to make a smooth transition if it hopes to be successful this season. Rowe hit on 19- of-32 pass attempts for 219 yards, but was constantly under pressure in the pocket as he was sacked five times and intercepted once. Spencer led the receiving corps with seven catches for 126 yards and far behind him was All- WAC performer Nichiren Flowers who had a mere two grabs for 20 yards.
While the offense for the Wolf Pack was struggling to find continuity and a successful strategy, the defense was not doing the team any favors by allowing Washington State to march up and down the field at will. WSU runners produced a hefty 247 yards on 43 rushing attempts for an average of close to six yards per carry. Even when Nevada might have tightened up in the trenches, Washington State simply went over the top and threw for 287 yards. Altogether, Nevada surrendered 534 yards of total offense to the visitors in the opener, certainly nothing to be proud of this early in the season. Nick Hawthrone, who figured to be one of the focal points of the defense again this year, was at the top of the tackles list with 11 stops, the only player on the unit with double-digit tackles in the setback. Roosevelt Cooks checked in with seven tackles, tying him with three other players for second on the team, but he stood out more with two TFLs, one sack and a forced fumble. The rest of the unit might have to pick up the slack this week with Hawthrone listed as questionable with a calf injury.
Let`s take a shot with the road chalk......
THE REBELS.......-2
BET ID=31935829
Straight Wager 09/17/05 19:54 ET
250.00/227.27 Result: Pending
UNLV
Nevada 09/17/05 (22:00 ET)
UNLV -2
