Nevada Football: Wolf Pack Victorious Over UTEP 37-21
Cristian Solano and Malik Henry saw playing time at quarterback in Nevada’s 37-21 victory over UTEP.
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Nevada’s Two QB Attack A Success As Wolf Pack Defeat UTEP 37-21
With Carson Strong out with an injury, Cristian Solano got the start at quarterback and led the Nevada Wolf Pack to a 37-21 victory on the road against the UTEP Miners on Saturday night in El Paso. Solano completed 13 of 19 passes for 182 yards and two touchdown passes while also rushing for 100 yards. Nevada’s victory over the Miners on the road was just the fourth road victory for the Wolf Pack under head coach Jay Norvell.
It wasn’t easy but the Wolf Pack got it together in the second half and pulled away with the victory. WIth the win over UTEP, the Wolf Pack concluded their non-conference portion of their schedule with a 3-1 record.
The Miners did put up a good fight against Nevada by using their rushing attack to keep them in the game. Over the course of the night however, Nevada showed that they were the better team and the Wolf Pack forcing three UTEP turnovers was a major key in Nevada securing the road victory over UTEP.
The Miners did jump out to an early lead when Miners running back Treyvon Hughes scored on a four yard touchdown run to put UTEP up 7-0. In the second quarter, Nevada responded with a scoring drive of their own when Toa Taua scored on a five yard touchdown run to even the score a seven a piece. UTEP retook the lead when Hughes scored his second rushing touchdown to put the Miners up 14-7.
The Wolf Pack tied the game at 14-14 when Solano connected with Elijah Cooks for a 28 yard touchdown pass. Later in the second quarter, Solano found Cooks again for another touchdown pass but this time it was for 20 yards out to put the Wolf Pack up 21-14.
In the third quarter, the Miners went on 17 play scoring drive that took almost ten minutes off the clock when UTEP quarterback Kai Locksley scored on a one yard run to tie the game at 21. Nevada responded back with a scoring drive that ended with Brandon Talton converting a 27 yard field goal to put the Wolf Pack up 24-21.
The game changed in favor of the Wolf Pack at the end of the third quarter when Kai Locksley’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Nevada’s Jordan Lee. In the fourth quarter after that turn over, Kelton Moore scored from five yards out to put Nevada up 30-21. Moore would score again for the Wolf Pack later in the fourth quarter when he scored from one yard out to put the Wolf Pack up 37-21 which was the final score of the contest.
For the Wolf Pack, running back Toa Taua had ten carries for 43 yards and a rushing touchdown while Kelton Moore ran for 34 yards on eight carries and scored two rushing touchdowns.In total the Wolf Pack totaled 200 yards rushing against UTEP.
In this game against the Miners, the Wolf Pack played both Solano and Malik Henry, who went 2 for 2 passing for 21 yards. With Strong out with an injury and his availability for next week’s game uncertain, Wolf Pack head coach Jay Norvell has a decision to make in regards to who starts at quarterback for Nevada.
The Wolf Pack return to Reno for their next contest against Hawaii this Saturday night.
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