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Fajardo stars as Nevada beats Fresno State 45-38
Associated Press report
Cody Fajardo passed for 313 yards and a touchdown and ran for 61 yards and another score as Nevada held off Fresno State for the 45-38 win Saturday afternoon.
Fajardo's 23-yard touchdown run with 2:15 left in the game proved to be the game-winner as Nevada (4-3, 2-0 WAC) claimed sole possession of first place in the WAC. Fajardo's touchdown run gave Nevada a 45-31 lead, but Fresno State (3-5, 2-1) responded with a 2-yard pass from Carr to Rashad Evans with 1:06 to play, cutting Nevada's lead in half. On the ensuing possession, Nevada was able to run the clock out to seal the win.
Derek Carr passed for 315 yards and three touchdowns and Robbie Rouse ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns as Fresno State (3-5, 2-1) lost for the first time in conference play this season.
Nevada, which has now won 15 consecutive home games, also got 198 yards rushing and a touchdown from running back Mike Ball.
Nevada scored two touchdowns on special teams. Matthews returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown and a 10-0 Nevada lead in the first quarter, and Bubba Boudreaux fell on the ball in the end zone to put the Wolf Pack up 24-23 early in the third quarter after the Bulldogs fumbled a punt return.
Nevada took a 23-17 lead into the half on a 48-yard field goal by Allen Hardison on the final play of the second quarter. Hardison kicked three field goals in the first half. His 22-yarder gave the Wolf Pack a 3-0 lead with 10:26 to play in the first quarter. His second 22-yarder gave Nevada a 13-7 lead eight minutes later.
Rouse's 65-yard touchdown run cut Nevada's lead to 10-7 with 6:40 to play in the first quarter. The Bulldogs took a 14-13 lead on an 8-yard pass from Carr to Jalen Saunders with 11:19 to go in the second quarter.
Ball hauled in a Fajardo touchdown pass from 18 yards out for a 20-14 Wolf Pack lead with 7:32 to play in the second quarter.
Fresno State's Kevin Goessling cut Nevada's lead to 20-17 with 30 seconds to go in the half on a 22-yard field goal. Nevada, enabled by quick passes, 47 yards in five plays and 25 seconds to set up Hardison's 48-yard field goal as the half ended.
