BY DARRELL MOODY
Appeal Sports Writer
RENO " Nevada head football coach Chris Ault has said time and again that Luke Lippincott typifies a Wolf Pack running back.
Ault & Co. will be without Lippincott for the rest of the season after the senior tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in the second quarter of Saturday's 35-19 loss to Texas Tech at Mackay Stadium.
"Luke is devastated," Ault said. "Forget about a football player, we're talking about a great person here. He's a very special kid, and he's important to this team."
Ault said he will petition the NCAA to get Lippincott a sixth year. Lippincott missed a season with an injury, and many times when that happens, the athlete will get the year back. If the injury had happened after the third game, Nevada would have been unable to apply.
"He's a great player," Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. "He's a great leader, our captain. Losing somebody like that is hard to overcome, but this team can do it."
Lippincott's injury leaves the position to Vai Taua, Brandon Fragger and redshirt freshman Lampford Mark, who has yet to play in a college game.
Taua gained 63 yards while Fragger gained 44 rushing and another 32 on four receptions.
"I'm excited (about the bigger role)," Taua. "It will be more focusing for me. I have to be a lot more focused."
JAEKLE'S BIG NIGHT
Ault has touted Brett Jaekle as one of the best kickers in the country.
On Saturday, Jaekle tied a career best with four field goals in the Nevada loss. Jaekle converted from 27, 43, 26 and 31 yards, respectively. He missed two, each from over 40 yards.
The four field goals matched the four that he kicked against Miami at the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl in Boise.
"The two I missed, I should have made," he said. "One I didn't hit well at all and the other sailed left on me."
Ault was upset that Jaekle missed twice, but without his four successful kicks, Nevada never would have stayed in the game.
BIG HOOK-UP
When Graham Harrell tossed an 82-yard scoring pass to Michael Crabtree in the fourth quarter, it was the longest career play for both players.
Crabtree previously had a 75-yard reception against Oklahoma State last season, while Harrell had a 76-yard completion against Baylor in 2006.
NEXT WEEK
Nevada will play its second ranked team in consecutive weeks when it travels to 7th-ranked Missouri next week.
The Tigers are led by talented quarterback Chase Daniel.
"We have to feed off this loss," said Pack safety Uche Anywanu. "We're going to watch film and get better. It's all about getting better."
Nevada's pass defense was solid, allowing 297 yards. A week ago, the Red Raiders passed for more than 500 yards.
ETC...
Dominic Green started at guard in place of Brad Eskew and Josh Catapano started at center ...Bront Bird had 14 tackles for Texas Tech and Fallon's Joshua Mauga led Nevada with eight ... Tech won the toss and received ... Nevada is 20-6 at home since the 2004 season.
- Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or (775) 881-1281