PonyFans.com preview: NEVADA
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2002 7:27 pmThe SMU football team will try to win its second consecutive home game Saturday when the Mustangs welcome the Nevada Wolf Pack to Gerald J. Ford Stadium for a game that kicks off at 2 p.m. and can be heard locally on KTCK 1310 (AM), "The Ticket."
Nevada (3-5 overall, 2-2 in Western Athletic Conference games) is a team that has had to alter its approach this year after sophomore RB Chance Kretschmer, who became just the second freshman in NCAA history to lead the nation in rushing by gaining a school record 1,732 yards last year, ripped up his anterior cruciate ligament and is out for the season.
Nevada invariably gets into high-scoring games, such as Saturday's 50-47 loss at Louisiana Tech, a game in which Nevada scored its47 points, had 533 yards total offense and held the ball nearly 40 minutes nut couldn't stop the Bulldogs. Such has been the case all year for Nevada, which is averaging 30.9 points and 466.4 yards per game in total offense. but which also is allowing an average of 453.5 yards and 33.2 points per game.
In Kretschmer's absence, the Pack has gone back to its biggest area of success prior to his arrival in Reno: the pass. UN has thrown for 2,473 yards this year, which accounts for 66.3 percent of the team's 3,731 total yards this year. Leading Nevada's aerial attack is quarterback Zack Threadgill, who has completed 193-of-301 passes (64.1 percent) for 2,432 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Threadgill is averaging 304.0 passing yards per game.
Threadgill's favorite receiver is senior WR Nate Burleson (6-2, 187), who has an eye-popping 85 catches already this year, for 1,043 yards and seven touchdowns, including a long reception of 95 yards. Against LaTech, Burleson had 13 catches for 107 yards and a score. After Burleson, the team's top two receivers are junior WR Tim Fleming (6-1, 183) who has 33 catces for 361 yards and three touchdowns, and senior tight end Eric Streelman (6-5, 250), who has 25 receptions for 271 yards, and also has three touchdowns. The team has nine players who averaging 10 yards or more on receptions.
With Kretschmer shelved for the year, the Wolf Pack's ground game is led by redshirt freshman RB Matt Milton (6-1, 211), who has 819 yards on 148 carries (5.5 yards per) and 8 touchdowns. He averages 102.4 yards per game on the ground, and has a season-long run of 71 yards.
Sophomore defensive back Keone Kauo leads the team with 58 tackles and two of the team's five interceptions. Senior inside LB Daryl Towns (6-1, 238) is next on the team with 51 tackles. Redshirt freshman LB Logan Garter is third on the team with 40 tackes and has a pair of sacks. Junior DEs Jorge Cordova and Derek Kennard, Jr. (yes, the son of the former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman) lead the team with 6 sacks each.
Kicker Damon Fine has connected on 26-of-28 extra points and 7-of-9 field goals. His longest field goal of the year is 41 yards.
Nevada (3-5 overall, 2-2 in Western Athletic Conference games) is a team that has had to alter its approach this year after sophomore RB Chance Kretschmer, who became just the second freshman in NCAA history to lead the nation in rushing by gaining a school record 1,732 yards last year, ripped up his anterior cruciate ligament and is out for the season.
Nevada invariably gets into high-scoring games, such as Saturday's 50-47 loss at Louisiana Tech, a game in which Nevada scored its47 points, had 533 yards total offense and held the ball nearly 40 minutes nut couldn't stop the Bulldogs. Such has been the case all year for Nevada, which is averaging 30.9 points and 466.4 yards per game in total offense. but which also is allowing an average of 453.5 yards and 33.2 points per game.
In Kretschmer's absence, the Pack has gone back to its biggest area of success prior to his arrival in Reno: the pass. UN has thrown for 2,473 yards this year, which accounts for 66.3 percent of the team's 3,731 total yards this year. Leading Nevada's aerial attack is quarterback Zack Threadgill, who has completed 193-of-301 passes (64.1 percent) for 2,432 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Threadgill is averaging 304.0 passing yards per game.
Threadgill's favorite receiver is senior WR Nate Burleson (6-2, 187), who has an eye-popping 85 catches already this year, for 1,043 yards and seven touchdowns, including a long reception of 95 yards. Against LaTech, Burleson had 13 catches for 107 yards and a score. After Burleson, the team's top two receivers are junior WR Tim Fleming (6-1, 183) who has 33 catces for 361 yards and three touchdowns, and senior tight end Eric Streelman (6-5, 250), who has 25 receptions for 271 yards, and also has three touchdowns. The team has nine players who averaging 10 yards or more on receptions.
With Kretschmer shelved for the year, the Wolf Pack's ground game is led by redshirt freshman RB Matt Milton (6-1, 211), who has 819 yards on 148 carries (5.5 yards per) and 8 touchdowns. He averages 102.4 yards per game on the ground, and has a season-long run of 71 yards.
Sophomore defensive back Keone Kauo leads the team with 58 tackles and two of the team's five interceptions. Senior inside LB Daryl Towns (6-1, 238) is next on the team with 51 tackles. Redshirt freshman LB Logan Garter is third on the team with 40 tackes and has a pair of sacks. Junior DEs Jorge Cordova and Derek Kennard, Jr. (yes, the son of the former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman) lead the team with 6 sacks each.
Kicker Damon Fine has connected on 26-of-28 extra points and 7-of-9 field goals. His longest field goal of the year is 41 yards.