The Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada defensive end Dontay Moch tackles Grambling State quarterback Greg Dillonin during Saturday’s 49-13 win over the Tigers. Moch led Nevada with two tackles. Scott Barnett /Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada defensive end Dontay Moch had a grin so big during Saturday’s post-game press conference that it became difficult to determine if the lights or his bright-white teeth were lighting up the room.

“It feels great,” Moch said. “I love playing in (opponent’s) backfields. I would say that is my second home.”

The Wolf Pack, galvanized by an upright defense that started the game with two sacks and an interception, won Saturday 49-13.

Moch, who bolstered Nevada’s staunch defense, used his explosiveness in Nevada’s new four-man front to get around the Grambling State offensive line and attack the ball. He led the Wolf Pack with eight tackles, three tackles for lost yardage and two sacks. The numbers were nothing new: Moch has been performing like this all summer in camp.

“He has terrific potential, no question about it,” Nevada coach Chris Ault said. “He’ll just get better and better.”

Grambling State’s rushing offense could only amass five rushing yards on 40 carries, while Nevada rushed for 426 yards. The Tigers were also held scoreless in four red zone opportunities. The final red zone stop came at the end of the fourth quarter when Nevada forced the Tigers to turn the ball over on downs at the one-yard line.

“They really buckled down and played some great defense,” Ault said.

Moch’s intensity carried over from final goal line stop as he went to chest bump his new defensive coordinator Nigel Burton.

“(Burton) said before the game that he was going to chest bump somebody,” Moch said. “I just went toward him a give him a little power (bump) to make sure he didn’t try to do it again.”

Burton fell flat on his back after the chest bump, but that didn’t lower the team’s intensity.

“I was joking, but everybody got hyped about it,” Moch said.

Nevada’s tough defense only allowed six points Saturday, but Ault knows that could change next week.

“(Grambling State’s) offense, it’s OK, but its nothing like what’s coming,” he said.

The Wolf Pack will be hosting Texas Tech next week at Mackay Stadium. The Red Raiders will bring the nation’s leading pass offense from five of the last six seasons. It also brings last year’s leading passer Graham Harrell and burning wide receiver Mike Crabtree.

“Our defense did really well (against Grambling State) in the red zone,” Ault said. “That is a good thing against what is coming, against the spread offenses we are going to have  to face. Those teams use the spread throughout the game, even when they reach the red zone, so what we did today is a good thing. We need to keep that intensity and make stops throughout the whole field.”

While Ault praised his defensive line Saturday, he had obvious disappointments about his defensive backfield’s performance and its chances in the future.

“That’s a major concern,” he said. “Players are getting behind us and catching us on inside sets. We’ll evaluate it and see what we can build on.”

The Wolf Pack surrendered 225 yards in the air, which was 22 yards more production than Nevada got out of its quarterbacks.

Emerson Marcus can be reached at emarcus@nevadasagebrush.com.