SERIES HISTORY
Nevada fell to 0-2 all-time against Texas A&M. Saturday was the first meeting between the Wolf Pack and Aggies since 1950—a 48-18 Aggie victory in San Antonio.
NEVADA PLAYS FIRST SEC FOE
Saturday’s game was the Wolf Pack’s first contest against an SEC team in program history.
NEVADA PLAYS IN FRONT OF LARGEST CROWD IN PACK HISTORY
Texas A&M’s Kyle Field had an announced attendance of 102,591, marking the largest crowd Nevada has ever played in front of. The previous largest crowd Nevada’s been a part of was 84,078 at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium in 2007.
NEVADA VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
Nevada was in pursuit of its fifth victory against a ranked opponent all-time and its first since defeating No. 4 Boise State in 2010. The Pack has now played nationally ranked opponents in back-to-back weeks for third time in program history and for the first time since playing No. 12 Texas Tech and No. 6 Missouri consecutively in 2008. Nevada fell to 4-25 all-time against ranked opponents 0-15 against ranked foes on the road.
BUTLER HITS 100-YARD MARK
Sophomore running back James Butler eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the second time in his career, rushing 17 times for 107 yards (6.3 yards per carry). Butler’s rushing output was his most since his 116-yard effort against UNLV on Nov. 29, 2014.
STEWART SETS CAREER-HIGH
Junior quarterback Tyler Stewart finished with a career-high 206 yards passing, eclipsing his previous career-high of 202 yards against Hawai’i in 2013. Stewart completed 16-of-29 passes for 206 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. It marked his second-straight multi-touchdown passing game.
RUFUS LEADS TEAM IN TACKLES, AGAIN
Redshirt-freshman Asauni Rufus has led the Wolf Pack in tackles in his first three collegiate games. The strong safety posted a game-high nine tackles to lead Nevada. Rufus’ 31 tackles on the season ranks first nationally among freshmen.
HENDERSON’S BIG DAY
Junior wide receiver Hasaan Henderon pulled down a one-armed 27-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter for his second receiving touchdown of the season and the seventh of his career. Henderson finished with a team-high five receptions and 69 receiving yards. Henderson also drew four defensive pass interference or holding penalties in the game.
GROUND GAME
Nevada fell to 2-15 in the Brian Polian era when being out-rushed by its opponent and 2-14 when allowing a 100-yard rusher. The Pack is 0-2 this season when being out-rushed.
ONSIDE KICK
After a 75-yard touchdown drive pulled Nevada within 41-27 in the fourth quarter, Polian attempted his first onside kick of the season. Brent Zuzo’s short squib kick caught Texas A&M off guard, as junior corner Elijah Mitchell recovered the ball. It was for not however as Nevada punted four plays later.
BOY HITS CAREER-LONG PUNT
Junior punter Alex Boy’s career-long 63-yard punt last week didn’t last long. After setting a career-high mark against Arizona, Boy set a new personal best with a 68-yard punt to pin the Aggies on their own 9-yard line in the first quarter. Boy finished with eight punts, 45.9 yards per punt, two 50+ yard punts and two punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
ZUZO REMAINS PERFECT
Zuzo connected on field goals from 28 and 27 yards for the Wolf Pack to remain perfect on the season. Zuzo improved to 5-of-5 on the year and 33-of-40 in his career. Entering the game, Zuzo’s career 81.6 field goal percentage ranked 11th among active FBS players.
TURNOVERS
The Nevada defense forced two key turnovers against the Aggies. First, senior defensive tackle Kevin McReynolds forced a fumble with Texas A&M at Nevada’s 5-yard line early in the second quarter. Redshirt-freshman CB Elijah Moody recovered the fumble for his first career fumble recovery. Later, sophomore safety Jaden Sawyer intercepted a Kyle Allen pass on 3rd-and-14 early in the third quarter. Sawyer’s first career interception at Nevada resulted in a Wolf Pack field goal.
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