The last time Nevada won a conference game was in 2023 over New Mexico. Nearly two years later, Nevada had a chance to break its 13-game conference losing streak against the same team.
The opportunities were there, but despite an overall clean game by the Pack and QB Carter Jones playing well, Nevada fell 24-22 to New Mexico, pushing the conference losing streak to 14.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter:
7:16: D.J. McKinney 2-yard rush TD (Luke Drzewiecki PAT)
Nevada 0 – New Mexico 7
3:41: Joe McFadden 33-yard FG
Nevada 3 –
New Mexico 7
2nd Quarter:
6:51: Scottre Humphrey 1-yard TD run (Luke Drzewiecki PAT)
Nevada 3 – New Mexico 14
1:51: Joe McFadden 36-yard FG
Nevada 6 – New Mexico 14
0:41: Caleb Ramseur 3-yard TD run (2-pt conversion attempt failed)
Nevada 12 – New Mexico 14
3rd Quarter:
11:45: D.J. McKinney 22-yard TD run (Luke Drzewiecki PAT)
Nevada 12 – New Mexico 21
3:25: Caleb Ramseur 4-yard TD run (Joe McFadden PAT)
Nevada 19 – New Mexico 21
0:00: Luke Drzewiecki 29-yard FG
Nevada 19 – New Mexico 24
4th Quarter:
10:55: Joe McFadden 41-yard FG
Nevada 22 – New Mexico 24
Final: Nevada 22, New Mexico 24
Offense
Nevada’s offense has been one of its weaker points this season, but this game showed a step in the right direction. The Pack scored the most points it has all season and the passing game looked a bit more open.
Jones once again got the start at QB, going 23-29 with 202 yards. The commentators complimented Jones’ accuracy all game, showcasing his ability to get the ball out at various arm slots to find connections.
This was also done with many of Nevada’s starting wide receiver corps out, including Marcus Bellon. Jones leaned on Marshaun Brown (seven catches, 75 yards) and Dakota Thomas (eight catches, 67 yards) and threw to eight different receivers in total.
The first half was definitely an improvement for Nevada’s offense, scoring on 3/5 of its offensive drives. The Pack’s offense also managed to allow only one three-and-out in nine drives.
What hurts the most is how close this offense truly was to taking this game over. New Mexico tried giving this game away a lot. The Lobos gave up two turnovers, which gave Nevada the ball inside the 25-yard line, and missed a crucial field goal late in the game that gave Nevada life with six minutes left and down by two.
After that missed field goal, Nevada picked up two first downs and ran the clock down to the 2:30 mark. The Pack made it to the 50-yard line until it faced a 4th & 7, desperately needing the first down to continue their potential game winning drive.
Jones threw it up the middle, trying to hit Thomas, but it fell incomplete, and New Mexico got the ball back. As unfortunate as it was, the passing game looked much better and Jones looked more comfortable in his second career start.
The run game for Nevada continues to be an issue, however. The team rushed for a total of 55 yards, with Caleb Ramseur leading the way with 39 yards on 14 carries. Herschel Turner continues to sit in the doghouse ever since his fumble against Fresno State as he only picked up one yard on three carries in this one.
Defense
New Mexico had 348 total yards, but most of that damage came from the 210 rush yards between five players. Lobos QB Jack Layne led the run game with 71 yards on eight carries while throwing 138 yards and a completion percentage of 64 percent.
I mentioned earlier that New Mexico gave Nevada plenty of chances, and the Pack’s defense definitely added to that fire. New Mexico fumbled the ball three times, two of which Nevada recovered. New Mexico also had eight penalties for 64 yards, one of which took away a late touchdown.
Nevada was able to clean it up after a rough first half with eight penalties, three of which extended drives for New Mexico. Nevada only had one in the second half, totaling 61 yards on nine penalties. It was also the Pack;s first turnover free game of the season, a huge milestone for a program near the top in the nation in that category.
Nevada’s defense picked up 61 total tackles, four of which were TFL. After Nevada turned the ball over on downs late in the game, New Mexico faced its own fourth down right at the two-minute warning mark. Scottre Humphrey was handed the ball and was briefly stuck, but a late push by his teammates gave the Lobos the first down and ultimately ended the game.
What’s Next
Although the conference losing streak extends another week, Nevada’s confidence is building at a perfect time. The Pack will head home to take on one of the best in the conference in Boise State. The Broncos just took down the undefeated UNLV Rebels in a 56-31 win.
It’ll be the Wolf Pack’s homecoming game, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. PST on Friday, Oct. 24.
