Senior quarterback Tyler Stewart was held to 10-of-23 passing for 113 yards and an interception as Nevada (1-1) fell hard at Notre Dame on Saturday, 39-10.
The Irish (1-1), who bounced back from a loss at Texas in the opener, led 39-3 after three quarters before backup quarterback Ty Gangi led the Pack’s lone touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Freshman third-string running back Jaxson Kincaide ended the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run.
Nevada finished with just 99 yards rushing as a team, on 30 attempts. James Butler was held to 50 yards on 17 touches.
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In his first appearance since getting named the starter, Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer completed 15-of-18 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He ran it 10 times for 35 yards and a score.
Nevada was just 3-of-12 on third down and was outgained 444-300.
The Pack’s defense started strong, forcing two Notre Dame punts and neither team got on the scoreboard in the first quarter. Things changed in a big way in the second quarter.
A short field goal put the Irish on the board less than three minutes into the quarter. Holding on the kickoff return, a three-and-out, and a long punt return set Notre Dame up at the 25. They scored the first touchdown of the game three plays later.
Ahki Muhammad took the next kickoff 1 yard into the end zone and got all the way out before stepping back in taking a knee. He wanted a touchback. He got a safety. Notre Dame suddenly led 11-0 less than five minutes into the second quarter.
The golden domers added two more touchdowns before the break to take a 25-0 lead. The first touchdown was set up by a Tyler Stewart interception on a screen pass in the shadow of Nevada’s goal line.
Nevada returns to Mackay Stadium on Saturday to play Buffalo. Kick is at 6 p.m.
Notes:
-Nevada played in front of 80,795 fans, tied for the third-largest crowd it has ever played in front of (played in front of the same number in 2009 at Notre Dame).
-James Butler rushed for 50 yards in the game, he passed Earnie O’Leary for 15th on Nevada’s all-time rushing list (2,150 career yards).
-Ty Gangi made his Division I collegiate debut on a quarterback draw on Nevada’s first drive (one carry for 13 yards).
-Ty Gangi’s first career pass attempt was a 20-yard completion to James Butler in the fourth quarter. He finished 2-of-3 for 88 yards, including Nevada’s longest play of the game, a 68-yard completion to sophomore WR Andrew Celis.
-True freshman Jaxson Kincaide scored Nevada’s only touchdown of the game, a six-yard rush late in the fourth quarter. It was his first career touchdown.
-Jaxson Kincaide’s first career rushing attempt came on Nevada’s touchdown scoring drive, a 17-yard run.
-Sophomore FS Asauni Rufus saw his first collegiate action on offense on Nevada’s first possession running the triple option and rushed for a first down.
-The Wolf Pack used three quarterbacks on its opening drive (Tyler Stewart, Ty Gangi, Asauni Rufus), all by design.
-Redshirt freshman LB Gabe Sewell recorded a career-high nine tackles.
-Junior LB Austin Paulhus posted a career-best five tackles.
-Redshirt freshman DB Riley Brand made his collegiate debut on special teams, making five tackles.
-Senior PK Brent Zuzo was 1-for-1 on field goal attempts, giving him 47 made field goals for his career. With four more field goals he will pass Damon Fine for fourth all-time.
-In two games, senior P Alex Boy has registered two of the longest punts of his career, a career-long 71-yarder vs. Cal Poly and a 68-yarder at Notre Dame, which matched his previous career-high
-Nevada is now 4-22 against ranked opponents (Notre Dame was ranked No. 18/21).
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