Rivalry is a family affair

RENO - It will be a family affair for the Jaekles when Nevada visits arch-rival UNLV Saturday night (7 p.m.) at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Nevada's sophomore kicker Brett Jaekle will get an opportunity to kick against his freshman brother, Ben, who is now UNLV's starting kicker after Sergio Aguayo was injured during the Idaho State game.

"We talk three or four times a week," said Brett Jaekle. "He always asks what's going on and how things are going with me. Growing up I was a UNLV fan, but that changed quickly once I got here."

"I'm one of his biggest fans," Ben Jaekle said. "Just watching him kick is fun. Playing against him is going to be even more fun."

There isn't really much of a rivalry between the brothers growing up, though Ben Jaekle admits that their backyard basketball games can get interesting.

"We really got into that," the younger Jaekle. "We'd bang each other around and sometimes get in fights."

While Brett Jaekle has been the Wolf Pack's only kicker for the last 17 games, Ben Jaekle, a walk-on, will be making just his third appearance. He had expected to sit out this season.

When Aguayo went down with an injury, coach Mike Sanford had someone on the sidelines get a hold of Ben Jaekle, who was sitting in the stands eating a hot dog.

"They got him on the phone, and I told him he needed to come down and get dressed," recalled coach Mike Stanford.

"I thought it was a joke," Ben Jaekle said. "I don't ever remember something like that happening."

The younger Jaekle booted a 59-yard kickoff, and went on to kick three extra points and one field goal. He is 2 for 4 on field goals and 5 for 6 on PATs this far.

Who has the strongest leg in the family?

"Brett does," the younger Jaekle said. "He's stronger (6-4 and 215 compared to 6-1 and 155) and more experienced."

The elder Jaekle has been booming kickoffs on a regular basis, regularly forcing teams to start from their own 20-yard line. He's become a lethal weapon for the Pack.

"I've been kicking pretty good," Brett Jaekle said. "I still feel I can do better. I'm getting used to kicking; getting back into the swing of things."

Brett has recently changed to a nine-step approach on kickoffs, which has enabled him to get more distance on his kickoffs.

Through four games, Brett Jaekle had kicked off 19 times, nine going for touchbacks and just one went out of bounds. Teams are averaging only 16 yards a return.

While the brothers are excited, just think what their parents, George and Lorry, are going to be going through.

"They never expected this," Ben Jaekle said. "I'm sure my mom will be distraught; too hard for her to enjoy.

"My aunt made shirts that are half blue and half red. They are going to switch sides at halftime."

FAMILY TIES PART II

The Jaekles aren't the only family with kids at both schools.

Andy McIntosh, reserve receiver and special teams standout, has a sister who is attending law school at UNLV. He assured this reporter that the family will be rooting for the Wolf Pack.

McIntosh has caught one pass for nine yards in limited duty.

NO REZNICK

Starting guard Barrett Reznick will be out of action for at least two weeks, according to Nevada coach Chris Ault.

Kyle Robertson, who is the primary back-up at center and strong-side guard, is expected to take Reznick's spot.

ROWE IS FINE

Senior quarterback Jeff Rowe returned to practice Sunday after getting kneed in the helmet Friday night in the 31-21 win over Northwestern.

It wasn't determined whether Rowe had suffered a concussion or not. Knowing Rowe, it would have taken much more than a concussion to keep him out of this game.

Rowe is 1-1 as a starter against UNLV, but has never beaten the Rebels in Las Vegas.