Game 4: BYU vs. Nevada

Game 4: BYU Cougars vs. Nevada Wolf Pack

BYU will take on Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast live from LaVell Edwards Stadium on The Mtn. and KSL Radio 1160 AM and 102.7 FM.

TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE: Click here to get your tickets to see BYU take on Nevada.

BYU (1-2) vs. Nevada (3-0)

September 25, 2010

4 p.m. MT

LaVell Edwards Stadium

Provo, UT

THE BYU-NEVADA SERIES

While BYU has played MWC opponent UNLV every year since 1998, the Cougars’ contest against Nevada will be the first matchup between the two teams in eight years and only the third game since 1940. BYU crushed the Wolf Pack, 52-7, in 2001 before Nevada turned the tide the following year, claiming a 31-28 victory. It is the only game in series history in which Nevada has scored more than 14 points. In 2001, BYU claimed victory behind current quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman who led BYU throwing for 222 yards and a touchdown.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

- Playing two quarterbacks is nothing new in the BYU and Nevada series. In 2001, senior Brandon Doman and senior Charlie Peterson threw a touchdown apiece in the Cougar win. Doman threw 11-for-21 for 222 yards while Peterson went 11-for-13 for 149 yards.

In 2002, the situation was more similar to this current year, with freshman Lance Pendleton and junior Bret Engemann both seeing time in a 31-28 loss to the Wolf Pack. Pendleton completed 13-of-20 passes for 112 yards after coming in for Engemann who went 6-for-16 for 80 yards. Both quarterbacks also threw for one touchdown.

- BYU comes into the game against Nevada hoping to avoid losing three-straight games for the first time ever in the Mendenhall era. The Cougars have not lost three-consecutive games since the early part of 2004 when BYU beat Notre Dame at home before losing to Stanford, USC and Boise State in succession.

- Nevada currently ranks first in the country averaging 344.92 yards of rushing offense per game and is second in the nation in total offense with an average of 505.62 yards.

- BYU has never lost to Nevada in Provo, winning in 2001 and fighting to two 6-6 ties in 1940 and 1930.

BYU VS. THE WAC

In the last 20 years, the Cougars have posted a 23-7 record against current WAC schools. BYU is 72-59-3 (.549) all-time against current members of the WAC and 29-26 (.527) against WAC teams excepting Utah State. Since head coach Bronco Mendenhall took over at BYU, the Cougars are 3-0 against the Western Athletic Conference with all three wins coming against Utah State. BYU has won each of those three games by an average of 25 points. BYU has not lost to a WAC team at home since 2003 when Boise State defeated the Cougars, 50-12 for the only home loss to a WAC team since BYU broke from the WAC in 1999.

IN THE ZONE

BYU is 7-for-7 in the blue zone, good for first in the Mountain West Conference and tied for first in the nation. The Cougars have scored four touchdowns and converted three field goals to stay perfect inside the 20 yardline.

FIRST IN THE NATION

BYU’s kickoff return defense has been ranked first in the nation all three weeks of the 2010 football season. The Cougars allow just 8.3 yards per kickoff return, almost five yards better than second-best Rutgers’ average of 13.4 yards per return. BYU allowed just 20 yards on three kicks against Washington, 12 yards on one kick at Air Force and two returns for 18 yards versus Florida State.

MIGHTY HUNTER

Linebacker Shane Hunter has come up with BYU’s only two turnovers on the season. Against Florida State, Hunter recovered a fumble in the first half. Last week against Air Force, Hunter intercepted a Tim Jefferson pass in the middle of the third quarter for the first interception of his career.

HEAVY HITTER

Junior outside linebacker Jordan Pendleton had a career-high 12 tackles, including a career-best nine solo tackles against Florida State. Pendleton shared team-high honors with 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss (10 yards) while forcing one fumble and recording one pass breakup.

For complete game notes, download the PDF linked above.