Box Score Final Stats (PDF) | Post-Game Notes (PDF) | Photo Gallery

RENO, Nev. – Utah State scored the first nine points of the game, but it was all Nevada after that as the Wolf Pack beat the Aggies 34-9 on Thursday night at Mackay Stadium.
 
Sophomore inside linebacker AJ Vongphachanh got Utah State (0-3, 0-3 Mountain West) on the board with 11:12 left in the first quarter when he sacked Nevada quarterback Carson Strong in the end zone for a safety.
 
Six minutes later, the Aggies made it 9-0 on a 4-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jason Shelley to sophomore wide receiver Justin McGriff.
 
Shelley finished the night 15-of-27 passing for 96 yards and the one touchdown. Junior wide receiver Deven Thompkins led Utah State with a career-high-tying six catches for 30 yards, while McGriff finished with two receptions for 24 yards.
 
Strong was 36-of-52 for 411 yards and three touchdowns for the Wolf Pack (3-0, 3-0 MW). His favorite target on the night was Romeo Doubs, who hauled in seven catches for 137 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Nevada rolled up 542 yards of total offense, while holding Utah State to just 210.
 
Senior safety Shaq Bond also recorded double-digit tackles for the Aggies as he had 10 stops, including a team-best 2.0 tackles for loss. Junior cornerback Zahodri Jackson, sophomore cornerback Cam Lampkin and junior safety Jared Reed all recorded career highs in tackles with seven, six and five, respectively.
 
The Aggies recorded season highs in tackles for loss (10.0) and sacks (4.0).
 
Utah State had three players make their first-career start against Nevada in Vongphachanh, senior wide receiver Derek Wright and freshman offensive lineman Falepule Alo. Three more Aggies played in their first-career game for USU on Thursday in freshmen defensive lineman Izzy Vaifo'ou and Poukesi Vakauta, and freshman inside linebacker Kina Maile, the nephew of co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Frank Maile.
 
Freshman punter Stephen Kotsanlee punted a career-high 10 times for an average of 42.5 yards. He had a long of 52 and five downed inside the 20-yard line.
 
For the fifth-straight game dating back to last season, Utah State has had five or fewer penalties. Against Nevada, the Aggies were whistled five times for 52 yards.
 
The Wolf Pack improved to 19-7 all-time against the Aggies, including 10-2 at home.
 
Utah State will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 14, when the Aggies return home to take on Fresno State on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. The game, which will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 2, is slated to kick off at 12:30 p.m.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
 
-USU-