Honolulu, HI (Sports Network) - Stephon Jefferson tied the NCAA record with
seven total touchdowns as the Nevada Wolf Pack ran past the Hawaii Warriors to
earn a 69-24 victory in a Mountain West Conference matchup at Aloha Stadium.
Jefferson carried the ball 31 times for 170 yards and six scores and also had
76 receiving yards and a touchdown grab as Nevada (3-1, 1-0 MWC) rolled to a
victory in its Mountain West Conference debut. Cody Fajardo completed 14-of-20
attempts for 220 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 69 yards. The
win was the first for the Wolf Pack in Hawaii since 1948.
Sean Schroeder paced Hawaii (1-2, 0-1) by completing 22-of-40 passes for 234
yards and two touchdowns. Schroeder was guilty of two interceptions. Will
Gregory gained a team-best 92 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, but the
Warriors were outgained by nearly 200 yards.
Nevada used a big play to jump out on top early on as Fajardo completed a 55-
yard pass to Stefphon Jefferson to take a 7-0 lead at the 6:41 mark of the
first quarter.
Hawaii threatened on its ensuing possession, but the Wolf Pack held their
ground which led to a 22-yard field goal by Tyler Hadden.
Jefferson scored his second touchdown of the day, this one on a three-yard rush
with 1:17 left in the opening period, to give Nevada a 14-3 lead.
The Warriors answered on their possession as Schroeder found Ryan Hall for a
19-yard touchdown pass. Nevada then came right back with a 65-yard drive which
was capped off by a 2-yard run by Jefferson. Hardison's extra point attempt was
blocked, which kept Nevada ahead, 20-10, with 11:08 before the half.
On Hawaii's next drive, Schroeder completed his second touchdown pass of the
day as he found Jeremiah Ostrowski for a 36-yard score.
Nevada created some distance on the scoreboard before the intermission as
Jefferson rushed for two more scores in a span of less than three minutes to
give the Wolf Pack a 34-17 halftime lead.
Jefferson picked up where he left off after the break and rushed three yards
into the end zone at the 10:34 mark of the third period. Fajardo completed an
eight-yard touchdown pass to Zach Sudfeld before Jefferson scored for the
seventh time in the closing seconds of the third period, which extended
Nevada's lead to 55-17.
The Wolf Pack's defense got into the mix in the closing period. Khalid Wooten
picked off Schroeder and returned the interception 78 yards into the end zone.
Hawaii finally ended Nevada's 42-0 run with a four-yard touchdown rush by
Gregory with 6:22 left to play.
Nick Hale took over the ball carrying duties for Jefferson and broke free for a
52-yard touchdown run late in the game which finalized the score with Nevada on
top, 69-24.
The Wolf Pack gained 575 yards of total offense and was successful on 8-of-12
third down conversions. Hawaii was limited to 378 yards of total offense and
went 6-of-17 on its third down conversion attempts.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network