The Nevada Sagebrush

For many of Nevada’s seniors who redshirted their first season, this Saturday’s game against UNLV will mark the fifth time they have seen their team face the Rebels and the fourth time they have played in the Battle for the Fremont Cannon.

Throughout those years, they have watched the rivalry change from one of total dominance by UNLV to one that is more in their favor.

Nevada’s 48-13 blowout loss to UNLV in 2004 marked the height of UNLV’s dominance, giving the Rebels a five-game winning streak over the Wolf Pack.

But in 2005 and 2006 Nevada took the Fremont Cannon back, getting a close 22-14 win over UNLV in Reno and then destroying the Rebels 31-3 in Las Vegas last season.

“My first year playing we went down there and got beat pretty bad, but then the tide started to turn,”senior defensive lineman Matt Hines said.

Hines said the blowout loss in 2004 especially hurt and spurred the young players, many of whom are now seniors, to improve their game.

“When we lost that game, we realized that one of the worst feelings you can have in college football is to lose to your rivals and we didn’t want to have that feeling again,”Hines said.

“We started developing and realizing how much the game means.”

Times certainly have changed.

In the last two games against UNLV, Nevada’s offense has out-gained the Rebels 707-490 yards, and outscored it 53-17.

Last season, Nevada’s defense held UNLV scoreless at its own stadium until 4:49 left in the game, when UNLV managed to get on the scoreboard with a field goal. It would have been the series’ first shutout.

Senior cornerback Paul Pratt said the team’s recent success has been a product of hard work.

“There was no trick to beating Vegas,”Pratt said. “We go out and just play. That’s all we had to do is execute.”

This season the seniors said the game has even more importance. With the series tied at 2-2 over their careers at Nevada, a win Saturday would send them out on top.

“It’s been back and forth,”Pratt said. “This is the tiebreaker right now for us.”

Hines agreed.

“For all the seniors, this is our last time we get to play them (UNLV) and we definitely don’t want to go out losing the cannon,”senior Matt Hines said.

For senior linebacker Jeremy Engstrom, the game has come to carry the same importance as a playoff or bowl game.

“It’s our state championship, to defend the Fremont Cannon,”Engstrom said. “It’s the game where we get out and play for Northern Nevada.”

Pratt agreed that the rivalry’s importance has grown beyond just the players’ pride.

“It’s for the team, the school and everyone’s family,”Pratt said. “I’m a senior now and I want to go out on a good note.”

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