Wolf Pack falls short against Hawaii
Nevada fell just short of pulling an upset for the second time of the season, this time losing 28-26 to No. 13 Hawaii at Mackay Stadium Friday night.
Hawaii kicker Dan Kelly’s 45-yard field goal sailed through the uprights with 11 seconds remaining in the game, maintaining the Warriors undefeated record and keeping its BCS bowl hopes alive.
Kelly was forced to kick the 45-yarder twice after Nevada called timeout just before the snap to ice him. The first kick was barely good, but the second was a bomb that could’ve been good from 55 yards.
“That was one heck of a ball game,” Nevada coach Chris Ault said. “Hats off to Hawaii, they played well, both offensively and defensively.” Hawaii’s star quarterback Colt Brennan took two snaps in the game due to a concussion last week, but backup Tyler Graunke made sure his presence wasn’t missed, throwing for 358 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for one touchdown.
“That was a total team victory right there,” Graunke said. “We never won in Reno and I really wanted to step up and prove to my team and help them rally.”
In the first quarter Colin Kaepernick was sacked for a safety and Hawaii scored a touchdown on the following drive to go up 12-0.
Also, in the third quarter a replay seemed to show Paul Pratt stripped the ball from Hawaii receiver Davone Bess, but officials ruled Bess was down and Ault was not allowed to challenge the play.
“We just had a couple tough breaks,” Nevada running back Luke Lippincott said. “All around our team did a hell of job.”
Nevada was close the whole game, taking a 20-19 lead in the third quarter and later going up 26-25 in the fourth on a 5-yard run by Lippincott.
It had a chance to solidify its lead when Nevada defensive lineman Kevin Basped recovered a fumble by Graunke on the Hawaii 44-yard line with 7:58 to play, but two plays later a Nevada fumble gave the ball back to Hawaii.
“We had our chances,” Ault said. “Our offense just could not move the ball at the end when we needed it. They (Hawaii) were able to move the ball and convert.
It is the second heartbreaking loss for Nevada this year. Earlier this season it dropped a 69-67 quadruple overtime game to Boise State.
“Every game we’ve had an opportunity to win it, we need to learn how to win when we have the game in our hands,” senior Matt Hines said.
Kaepernick finished the game with 134 yards passing and one touchdown and was sacked twice.
Lippincott rushed for 140 yards and one touchdown for his fifth straight 100-yard game.
Nevada falls to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play, leaving it in a three-way tie for fourth place in the WAC with San Jose State and Louisiana Tech, both of whom it will play in the next two weeks.
It needs one more win to become bowl eligible.
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November 20th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Such Poor Clock Management… You can’t spell FAULT Without AULT!!!
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Come on Wolf Pack and win your last two games