LAS VEGAS - Freshman Brandon Fragger made his first collegiate start, and it was a smashing success.
Fragger started in place of the injured Robert Hubbard, and gained 146 yards and scored twice in Nevada's 31-3 rout over arch-rival UNLV Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Fragger started because Hubbard barely practiced all week because of his injured knee. Nevada coach Chris Ault hopes to have him back in time for Saturday's game at Hawai'i .
"I knew I had to step up for Hubbard," Fragger said. "The coaches told me I would be carrying the load tonight. I did feel I played pretty good. I'm just getting started.
"It was a good experience. I'm still learning. I'm still making a lot of little mistakes out there."
Fragger has established himself as the No. 2 tailback behind Hubbard, and it's not a surprise to Ault and the coaching staff, who felt he had a chance to make an immediate contribution this year.
"No question we knew he could do this," said Jim Mastro, Nevada's running backs coach. "All he needed was some game experience. He's a difference maker."
Fragger ripped off an impressive 66-yard TD run on the second play of the second half to give Nevada a 24-0 lead, and that really cemented the win.
"My legs gave out (a little bit) at the end," Fragger said. "I knew I could cut it back, and when I saw the cutback I took it."
FIGHTING TIME
With 1:49 left to go in the game, the sidelines emptied when two UNLV players piled on Nevada linebacker Kevin Porter.
Josh Mauga had intercepted a Rocky Hinds pass, and Porter delivered a block to Hinds, and then found himself at the bottom of an unfriendly pile.
Porter and UNLV's Prince Brown and Chris Bowser were all ejected. It's not certain whether the trio will miss the next game or not.
"Josh made a great play, and I hit the quarterback square; not from the side or not from the back," Porter said.
BROKEN STREAK
Senior Caleb Spencer had his streak of 27 straight games with a catch broken.
Spencer almost had a score, but his foot landed out of bounds on a 13-yard pass play.
ANOTHER BLOCK
Nevada blocked a kick for the third time in four games when Louis Aguayo's 56-yard attempt went off J.J. Milan's facemask and Matt Hines' hand. It was credited as a team block.
"They are doing a great job," Ault said. "We work real hard on that."
NEW PLAYING SURFACE
This is the second time that Nevada has played on UNLV's TurfTech, which was unveiled in 2003. The surface was developed by Challenger Industries and is made up of 2.5 inch polyethylene blades that were filled with shards of rubber over a rock and sand base.
The cost was $877,000, which included a PortaFloor cover to use for non-sporting events.
FOOTBALL LUNCHEON
The Peppermill will be the site of Nevada's weekly football luncheon at 11:30 a.m.
Ault and selected players will appear on Monday. The cost is $13.50, and tickets are available at the door.
A luncheon will be held in Carson on Oct. 23 at Stew's Lucky Spur in Carson. More information on that luncheon will be forthcoming.
NOTABLE FACTS
UNLV is 3-7 after bye weeks, including 2-1 against the Wolf Pack ... Saturday's game was the first in 28 days for the Rebels ... Nevada is 28-37-4 against current Mountain West Conference teams, while UNLV is 52-60-1 against current WAC schools, but is 8-5 against the WAC since leaving the conference after the 1998 season to join the MWC .,. Nevada won the coin toss, and as is the Pack's custom, they deferred to the second half ... The crowd of 37,179 was the third-largest in UNLV history and the fifth-largest in Sam Boyd Stadium history ... Fifth-year senior Kyle Eklund scored his first collegiate touchdown, a 2-yard run early in the fourth quarter... UNLV freshman Ben Jaekle, whose brother Brett kicks for Nevada, only got to kick off once, as Aguayo's condition improved during the week.
Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1281