Image courtesy of Nevada Athletics. Quarterback Cristian Solano throws a pass against Wyoming on Oct. 26, 2019. Nevada lost the game 31-3, dropping the team to .500 on the year.

In a Mountain West Conference showdown, Nevada football lost to the University of Wyoming 31-3, on Saturday, Oct. 26. The loss pushes the Wolf Pack to .500 on the season and 1-3 in conference play.

Starting at quarterback for the Wolf Pack was Carson Strong. Strong threw for 247 yards and an interception while completing 65 percent of his passes. 

Much of the offense’s production ran through Strong and to wide receivers, Romeo Doubs and Melquan Stovall. Doubs caught five passes for 98 yards, while Stovall hauled in seven catches for 57 yards.

The Pack’s ground game struggled throughout the contest with Toa Taua and Devonte Lee combining for less than 60 yards on 14 carries. 

Nevada’s defense didn’t fare much better, giving up nearly 500 yards of total offense including 206 on the ground to running back Xazavian Valladay. 

On their first possession, the Pack struggled. An incomplete pass, followed by two negative plays forced the Wolf Pack to punt. Quinton Conaway’s punt, set Wyoming up at the 47-yard line after Wyoming’s Austin Conway returned it seven yards. 

The first quarter went mostly Wyoming’s way, as they scored two touchdowns in the quarter. A 53-yard pass by quarterback, Sean Chambers, to Valladay and a 2 yard run by Chambers pushed the Cowboys up 14-0 before Nevada put a notch on the scoreboard. 

Following the second Wyoming score, Nevada quarterback, Cristian Solano, briefly came into the game. The drive stuttered, leading to another Conaway punt.

The first and only Pack score came late in the first quarter. Freshman placekicker, Brandon Talton, split the uprights on a 28-yard kick attempt. Talton missed a field goal in the third quarter, pushing his season total to 14-16 on the season.

Wyoming scored two more times before the end of the half, a touchdown on a 37-yard pass from Chambers to Raghib Ismail and a late field goal as time expired in the first half. Wyoming led Nevada 24-3 at the half.

To start the third quarter, Wyoming scored once more on a 25-yard pass from quarterback, Tyler Vander Waal, to tight end Jackson Marcotte. The extra point attempt connected, pushing the Cowboys’ lead to 31-3. The Wyoming field goal was the final score of the game. 

In the second half, Nevada struggled to get the offense clicking. The Pack had five possessions in the final half, three of those possessions ended with turnovers while the other two resulted in punts. 

Nevada’s offensive woes were felt throughout the game. In total, Nevada had 17 first downs compared to Wyoming’s 22.

Looking ahead

Next up for the Wolf Pack is New Mexico. The Lobos will travel to Mackay Stadium on Nov. 2 for a night game. 

According to CBS Sports, the Lobos have the No. 25 ranked rushing attack in the country. New Mexico’s successful ground game has largely been carried on the backs of Ahmari Davis and Bryson Carroll. The pair have accounted for 1,234 yards on the ground, with Davis taking claim to 759 yards worth of that total. Both running backs are averaging over 5.7 yards per carry.

Despite having a potent ground game, New Mexico is 2-6 on the year. This is most likely due to a struggling defense which ranks at No. 129 in the country per CBS Sports. The Lobos are giving up nearly 350 yards through the air per game and 160 yards on the ground. 

Madeleine Chinery can be reached at rfreeberg@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @SagebrushSports.