Coming Home

By: Juan López

Monday, September 21, 2009 - 6:13 PM

After two road losses, the Wolf Pack football team will play its first home game of the season on Friday against No. 21 Missouri. -Photo by Emily Stott/The Nevada Sagebrush

A 0-2 start has left the Nevada football team reeling.

The Wolf Pack offense has turned the ball over eight times while its defense has not forced any turnovers.

Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick came into the season with high expectations mounted on his shoulders, but he’s disappointed with four interceptions and just one touchdown.

The Wolf Pack defense has allowed 178.5 rushing yards per game this year after giving up just 88.6 per game last season.

But brighter days are on the horizon.

The Wolf Pack will play five of its next six games in the friendly confines of Mackay Stadium. Since football head coach Chris Ault took over the team in 2004, Nevada has gone 22-8 at home.

The Wolf Pack will come home to play against No. 21 Missouri on Friday.

The Tigers put a whooping on Nevada last year, winning 69-17. Missouri scored on its first 10 offensive possessions. Wolf Pack players will definitely have revenge on their mind after last year’s lopsided loss.

After the Tigers crawl into Mackay, Nevada will welcome its cross-state rival, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on Oct. 3.

The Wolf Pack has beat UNLV four straight years by a combined score of 129-64, but with the Rebels holding a 2-1 record, the fight for the Fremont Cannon will once again be highly contested. Afte

that, the Wolf Pack will welcome in Louisiana Tech (2-1), a Western Athletic Conference foe, into Mackay Stadium.

The start to the year has been a tumultuous one for Nevada players and coaches, but not having to travel to different time zones to play will be good for the team. Whether or not that translates into wins is still a question.

Juan López can be reached at jlopez@nevadasagebrush.com.