Nevada scored a 22-17 win over Cal on Saturday to improve to 1-0 this season. Here is a Monday review (but on a Tuesday thanks to Labor Day) of the game and a look-ahead to Nevada's next opponent, Idaho State.
Just the facts
The Wolf Pack dropped into an early 14-0 hole before the Nevada defense held Cal to just a single field goal over the final three quarters. While the Wolf Pack offense didn't look its sharpest, three deep bombs from Carson Strong, including one to Romeo Doubs and two to Tory Horton, was enough to help put 22 consecutive points on the board as Nevada snared its third road win over a Power 5 school in the program's FBS era (the Wolf Pack improved to 3-25 in such games). Nevada completed a three-game sweep of Cal (also beating the Bears in 2010 and 2012), clearing one of the most difficult hurdles on the Wolf Pack's 2021 schedule, which sets up nicely (Nevada won't play a Top 25 team, or even top-40 team, this season, barring the unexpected).
Murray's take
Nevada didn't play its cleanest game on offense but won the explosive play game — the Wolf Pack had nine plays of more than 15 yards; Cal had only four such plays — and buckled down the run defense after the first two series. Cal ran the ball 13 times for 76 yards on its first two drives (5.85 yards per carry), but largely abandoned the run game thereafter (just 14 carries on its last nine series, while still averaging 5.5 yards per carry). Given how good of a defensive coach Cal's Just Wilcox is, it was unlikely the Wolf Pack was going to put up major points, but Nevada only had one turnover (which essentially turned into a punt downed at the 1-yard line) and didn't allow any busts on defense, which was the key to success against a low-level Bears offense. Nevada needs to get its run game going — only 61 yards on 26 attempts (2.3 yards per carry) — but it was an encouraging win for the Wolf Pack given the team's unusual fall camp, which included practicing at eight venues due to poor air quality in the region.
Overall MVP
Quarterback Carson Strong was named the Mountain West's offensive player of the week, and for good reason. The junior quarterback completed 22-of-39 passes for 312 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He had completions of 46, 43 and 42 yards and showed a deft touch on deep balls, including one throw to Tory Horton that set social media abuzz. Nevada had seven drops on the day, so Strong's numbers could have been even better, but it's become routine for Strong to hit the 300-yard mark even if it doesn't feel like an A+ game. While many of the 2022 draft's top quarterbacks struggled in Week 1, Strong was not among them. He raised his stock, and got a big win, in the victory over Cal.
"This is probably the sweetest win I've had since I've been at Nevada and for the team," Strong said. "It's awesome. Coming in here, we didn't play our best game, but we beat one of the best defenses and one of the best teams in the Pac-12. Our defense showed why they're one of the best defenses in our conference. I know on offense we get a lot of attention, but those boys can play. We have a championship defense, and they came up clutch tonight."
Offensive MVP
The Wolf Pack had three preseason Biletnikoff award watch list honorees, but it was a fourth pass-catcher that came through big against Cal, that being sophomore Tory Horton, who caught a 46-yard pass and a 42-yard pass. The 46-yarder, shown above, came one play before Carson Strong hit Elijah Cooks on a 16-yard touchdown that gave Nevada the lead for good. Horton finished the contest with three catches for 94 yards. Romeo Doubs (six catches, 83 yards) and Cole Turner (seven catches, 75 yards) also put up solid numbers, but Horton made some of the game's biggest plays. The fact he is Nevada's fourth-best pass-catcher shows you how deep and dangerous the Wolf Pack's air game is.
Defensive MVP
A number of players could fill this slot, including safety JoJuan Claiborne (team-high 10 tackles) and defensive end Sam Hammond (a number of pressures on Cal quarterback Chase Garbers), but the honor goes to cornerback Isaiah Essissima, a transfer from Wake Forest who made his Wolf Pack debut and grabbed a key fourth-quarter interception. Cal had gained possession of the ball down 22-17 with 4 minutes, 29 seconds remaining and had first-and-10 from its own 15. Garbers threw a deep ball on the series' first play, and Essissima made an athletic pick, the first of his career (he also added four tackles). Because Nevada couldn't melt the clock with its run game, Cal got one more possession, but that Essissima interception was the defense's biggest play of the game.
Fun stat
3-4 — Nevada is 3-4 against Power 5 schools under Jay Norvell, including wins over Oregon State (in 2018), Purdue (in 2019) and Cal (in 2021). In its FBS era (since 1992), the Wolf Pack is 6-31 against Power 5 foes in games when not coached by Norvell. Norvell gets a chance to even his record against Power 5 schools in two weeks when Nevada plays at Kansas State, from the Big 12.
Up next
After a season-opening road win at a Pac-12 school, Nevada will host an FCS opponent, Idaho State, in its home opener. The Bengals beat Nevada, 30-28, in 2017, Norvell's first season at the helm of the Wolf Pack. But this is not a good FCS program. Idaho State lost its season opener to North Dakota, 35-14, and is 15-26 overall and 11-19 in the Big Sky in five seasons under coach Rob Phenicie. The biggest question is whether the air quality will be good enough for Nevada to host this game or if the Wolf Pack will have to move locations.
Video recaps
"Review" - Google News
September 07, 2021 at 11:20PM
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Nevada football's Monday review: Wolf Pack snares rare Power 5 road win - Nevada Sports Net
"Review" - Google News
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