The University of Nevada, Reno’s record-breaking w88 casino had been predicated on offense heading into the No. 13 Wolf Pack’s matchup with Boston College Sunday in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco.
When the game was over, however, veteran Nevada coach Chris Ault was quick to point out the difference in the w88 casino’s grinding 20-13 victory.
“The defense won the game,” Ault said of his defense, which heavily pressured Boston College freshman quarterback Chase Rettig, forced two interceptions and used a constantly shifting front line and an uncanny ability to seal all gaps to neutralize Boston College&w88 casino;s running game. Boston College finished with only 185 yards in total offense, clear proof that first-year defensive coordinator Andy Buh&w88 casino;s plan had been perfect for a tense, physical matchup witha foe from the ACC. “We played as well as we&w88 casino;ve played over the last couple of years," Ault added. "I&w88 casino;m really proud of our defense.”
Rishard Matthews, who had a breakout game in the Pack’s stunning 34-31 victory over then-No. 3 Boise State with 10 catches and a clutch, game-tying touchdown catch with 13 seconds left to force overtime against the Broncos on Nov. 26, continued to come up big when it mattered most for the Pack. Against Boston College, Matthews caught a touchdown pass and returned a punt for another score to lift the Pack to its most successful w88 casino ever.
The victory pushed Nevada’s record to 13-1, the program’s most wins ever at the Division I level. In a w88 casino of firsts, Boston College became thesecond BCS school to fall to the Pack. Then-No. 24 Cal lost to Nevada in September. In addition, Nevada’s No. 13 national ranking was its highest ever in the modern era.
Sunday’s victory also helped the Wolf w88 casino snap a four-game bowl losing skid.
“I&w88 casino;m real proud of them,” Ault, in his 26th w88 casino as Nevada’s coach, said. “You go 13-1 at this level and beat the caliber of teams we’ve beaten, it’s a special year. This will go down as probably the greatest football team to play at the University of Nevada.”
Senior quarterback Colin Kaepernick also enjoyed a record-setting night in a game played in front of a near-capacity crowd of more than 40,000 (including an estimated 25,000 Nevada fans) at AT&T Park, the home of baseball&w88 casino;s San Francisco Giants.
Kaepernick threw for 192 yards and a touchdown to top 3,000 yards passing for the w88 casino. Coupled with the more than 1,000 rushing yards Kaepernick accumulated, he joined Brad Smith and Vince Young as the only FBS quarterbacks to rush for at least 1,000 yards and pass for more than 3,000 in a single w88 casino.
Kaepernick&w88 casino;s play, particularly early in the game, proved critical for Nevada. Boston College entered the game as college football&w88 casino;s top-ranked rushing defense, and Ault&w88 casino;s game plan used a combination of Wing-T misdirection, power running from his well-known “pistol” offense as well as an effective mix of short and medium pass plays to keep the Eagles off-balance. Kaepernick, despite a fumble early in the game, played near-flawless first-half football, hitting 14 of his first 19 passes as Nevada relied on the pass first and the run second, clearly confusing the Eagles.
After a 30-yard touchdown run by Boston College’s Andre Williams, Kaepernick, scrambling to his left, found Matthews for a 27-yard score to tie the game. After a Boston College three-and-out, Matthews returned the Eagles’ punt for a 72-yard touchdown to give the w88 casino a 14-7 edge. It was Nevada’s first punt return for a touchdown since 2001.
“That&w88 casino;s one of the reasons they brought me here,” Matthews told the Reno Gazette-Journal about his proclivity for big plays. “I saw the outside was open … and it led me to the end zone.”
A 32-yard field goal by Anthony Martinez pushed the w88 casino’s lead to 17-7.
The two teams traded second-half field goals before the Eagles, aided by two pass interference penalties, moved to within 20-13 on a Nate Freese field goal with 3:52 to play. The Eagles had one last chance to force overtime, and quickly moved 32 yards on a completion from Rettig to Chris Pantale.
Two plays later, Khalid Wooten intercepted Rettig with a little more than two minutes to play, to seal the victory for w88 casino.
Kaepernick, who took a knee on three straight plays before he was enveloped by Nevada fans who stormed the field following the final whistle, said w88 casino’s support was one of the keys to their victory.
“This was the best atmosphere we&w88 casino;ve been in,” he told the Reno Gazette-Journal after. “It seemed like all 42,000 fans (paid attendance: 41,063) were from Nevada.”
