Thomas Ranson/Nevada Appeal News Service
RENO - Life just keeps getting greener on the other side of the football field.
Virgil Green, a senior tight end for the Nevada Wolf Pack, kicked off his final season in record-setting fashion as he helped complement a run-powered offense.
Green ended the night with 144 yards on seven receptions. The second-team all-WAC selection from last season broke personal records in receiving yards, catches and touchdown receptions as Nevada opened the 2010 campaign with a 49-24 win over Eastern Washington Thursday night at Mackay Stadium.
"That's one of the things I wanted to get better with the season, catching more deep balls. Last year I proved I can catch the short balls," said Green, who tallied two 40-yard-plus touchdown receptions. "I just cannot stand being tackled by one person. I give everything I can to avoid tacklers and get loose somehow."
Green, though, didn't even need the whole game to achieve personal bests in receiving.
It took only the second quarter for Green to catch six of his seven tosses from Colin Kaepernick for 104 yards and one touchdown. Green's first touchdown concluded a successful two-minute offense drill when Kaepernick found the tight end down the middle of the field for 48 yards. Green added another touchdown to start the third quarter on a wide-open 40-yard route.
"After you've been with someone for five years, you have no choice but to have good chemistry," Kaepernick said about connecting with his tight end. "He did a good job out there."
Green almost had his first touchdown midway in the second quarter before fumbling the ball on Nevada's 21 yard line. It was that turnover, though, that prompted Green to step up with his big game.
"I just left the ball out ... I was real angry with myself after that and I told the guys I would make up for it somehow, some way," Green said of his turnover.
Green's previous high with catches was five against Colorado State and receiving yards at 44 each against Utah State and Idaho last season. Green's a candidate for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the country's best tight end
"Virgil did a nice job," Nevada coach Chris Ault said. "We have to see how he blocked. That's a big part of our offense. Virgil had a pretty good game."