Pack keys: Nevada (353 yards) runs past Oregon State

A look back at the key moments, players and plays from the Nevada Wolf Pack's 42-37 victory over the Oregon State Beavers at Mackay Stadium on Saturday:

KEY PLAY

The Wolf Pack led just 28-24 with roughly 11 minutes to go but the Beavers were on the move again, facing a second-and-10 from their 47-yard line. Oregon State quarterback Gevani McCoy took the snap from center and immediately focused on wide receiver Jeremiah Noga, who lined up in the slot on the left side. McCoy looked, looked and looked some more at Noga, apparently waiting for the perfect moment to release the ball. He ended up waiting a second too long as Nevada safety Kitan Crawford, who had Noga (and, it seemed, McCoy's eyes) in his sights the entire play, broke perfectly on the ball. Crawford stepped in front of Noga at the Nevada 48, hauled in the interception and was in the end zone a few seconds and 52 yards later, waving his left index finger in the air the last 15 or so yards. The Pack doesn't beat the Beavers without Crawford's play.

KEY MOMENT

The moment when the skies opened up to a perfect silver and blue glow, when all things good and pure looked possible again for the Wolf Pack after two-plus frustrating seasons, took place with four minutes to play. The Wolf Pack, up 35-30, were at their own 33-yard line. The Pack offense, in action for the first time since they had to stand on the sideline and watch Oregon State's offense on the field for a weird three-possession stretch (because of a Nevada defensive touchdown and the Beavers recovering an onside kick) looked rusty, stale and out of Chubba Purdy trick plays. But then, like Wolf Pack magic on a day when the university was celebrating its sesquicentennial, 150 years of Wolf Pack greatness took over Brendon Lewis' body. The Pack quarterback made like Marion Motley, Colin Kaepernick, Frank Hawkins, Rabbit Bradshaw and Tommy Kalmanir all rolled into one, and shredded the Beavers for a brilliant, explosive and majestic 67-yard touchdown run nearly straight down the middle of the field. It came out of nowhere and at just the right time. Even the great ghosts of Wolf Pack past had to stand and give a respectful bow to Lewis.

KEY COACHING DECISION

Raise your arm if you thought the Wolf Pack could win a shootout against Oregon State by throwing a mere 13 passes for 69 yards on just six completions, two of which went to quarterbacks (Lewis and Purdy)? OK, put your hand down, Mr. Marion Motley and Mr. Rabbit Bradshaw. We know you guys likely did that quite often. But it wasn't the 1920s or 1940s on Saturday at Mackay Stadium. But don't tell that to the Pack coaching staff. The Pack had enough courage to stick to its run-heavy gameplan the entire game on Saturday, even after falling behind 24-14 in the third quarter. The Pack just kept punching the Beavers in their buck teeth and reminded us that explosive plays in 2024 aren't necessarily confined to the passing game. The Pack ran for 353 yards and five touchdowns, thanks mainly to Lewis (151 yards and one score), Savion Red (137 and four) and an underrated offensive line and battered the Beavers.

KEY HIDDEN PLAYS

There were two hidden plays that played a huge role in this Pack win that just might have been forgotten when the game was over. Both plays involved the Oregon State offense in the first half when the Beavers were sniffing the Pack end zone and had a chance to bury the Pack. The first one came with 2:28 to play in the first quarter in a 7-7 tie. The Beavers, facing a fourth-and-goal at the Pack 3-yard line, showed their disrespect for all things Nevada by electing to go for the touchdown, a bold move in a tie game in the first quarter. Wolf Pack defensive back Tori Daffin then promptly stepped in front of an ill-advised McCoy pass in the end zone and returned it 22 yards, keeping the game tied. The second forgotten play took place at the Pack 4-yard line, again on fourth down, in the second quarter. This time the gun-shy Beavers decided to go for the field goal, down 14-7 with 5:53 to go before halftime (which they got to cut the deficit to 14-10). Those two fourth-down plays near the Pack end zone produced just three Oregon State points, a fact that wasn't lost on the Pack when it found itself down 24-14 in the third quarter.

KEY PEEK INTO THE FUTURE

We saw a glimpse of it the previous week when backup quarterback Chubba Purdy made his Pack debut by completing a pass on the first drive of the game against San Jose State. That, however, was just a soft opening to the Purdy party. The Pack gave us a full and complete sneak peek against Oregon State of the Swiss Army Knife that is Chubba Purdy. Purdy completed his lone pass against Oregon State for 18 yards (to Lewis, no less) and Lewis returned the favor by tossing an 11-yard pass to Purdy. Purdy also had an 18-yard run. All three plays (perfectly spaced late in the first, third and fourth quarters) led to Wolf Pack touchdowns and leads of 14-7, 28-24 and 42-30. The Purdy Party possibilities are seemingly endless.

KEY HISTORIC NOTES

Savion Red's four rushing touchdowns against Oregon State are the most for a Wolf Pack running back since Mike Ball had five against UNLV in 2009 … The Pack has scored 122 points in its last three games combined, its most prolific three-game stretch since it scored 130 in 41-31 (Boise State), 55-28 (New Mexico State) and 34-17 (Hawaii) wins in October 2021 … The Wolf Pack gave up 37 points to Oregon State, the most points it has surrendered in a victory since it beat San Jose State, 41-38, on Oct. 12, 2019 … The last time the Wolf Pack had two players each rush for more than 135 yards in a game (Lewis with 151 and Red with 137) was in the 2012 New Mexico Bowl against Arizona (Stefphon Jefferson at 180 and Cody Fajardo at 140) …  Since rushing for just 58 yards on 31 carries against Minnesota, the Pack has run for 320 yards on 45 carries (vs. Eastern Washington), 190 yards on 36 carries (San Jose State) and 353 yards on 42 carries (Oregon State) … Oregon State's 562 yards of offense and 33:37 time of possession are the most the Pack has allowed all season. The Beavers' 85 plays on offense are also the most by a Pack opponent since Air Force had 88 in 2021.

KEY HIDDEN STAT

Where have all the punts gone? The Wolf Pack (two) and Oregon State (one) combined for just three punts in Saturday's game. It is the fewest punts in a Wolf Pack game since the Pack punted three times and Air Force went punt-less in a 48-31 Air Force win on Oct. 26, 2012 in Colorado.

The last time the Pack forced an opponent to punt just once in a game was in the fifth game of the season last year (Fresno State). The Wolf Pack offense has also punted just six times over the last three games, while the opposition has punted just seven times over the same three games.

It is the fewest amount of Pack punts over a three-game span since 2011 when the Pack punted just five times against UNLV (two), New Mexico (none) and Fresno State (three) combined. The Pack punted four times over a four-game stretch early in the 2010 season. The 2010 team punted just 10 times over its first six games.

KEY PACK CONCERN

If it wasn't for the four interceptions, the Pack defense might have never gotten off the field on Saturday. Oregon State was a disturbing 12-of-16 on third down and piled up an eye-opening 35 first downs. It is the most first downs for a Pack opponent since Air Force had 36 in 2017. Oregon State's 75 percent success rate on third down is the highest for a Wolf Pack opponent with 15 or more third-down plays this century.

UP NEXT

Fresno State comes to Mackay Stadium this Friday night (7:30 p.m.) for Nevada's Homecoming. Fresno State is 3-3 overall and 1-1 in Mountain West play after losing to Washington State (25-17) on Saturday at home. The Wolf Pack (3-4, 0-1) has lost three in a row to Fresno State.