Saturday will be a landmark day for the Nevada Wolf Pack, not only will it be the team’s last home game but it’s the last time several seniors will step foot onto MacKay Field as collegiate athletes.
“You know its bitter sweet we had a lot of great memories on this field, but it isn’t over. We have one more month together with each other, so we want to make it special and beat guys,” said Senior Linebacker Matthew Lyons.
After the tears and the hugs fade away, Nevada still has a football game to play, the opponent for the week is the San Jose St. Spartans they have a record of (4-5, 3-2 MW). The worst thing Nevada can do is let all the pregame emotions get to them because both teams have a lot to play for.
San Jose State has the ultimate weapon at RB in Tyler Ervin. He is the frontrunner for MW offensive player of the year. The senior is seventh in all of college football in rushing with 1,239 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also has 34 catches for 245 yards and two scores.
Basically, if you can shut Ervin down, you’ll shut down SJSU, which is 4-4 when Irvin rushes for 100 yards and 3-10 when he doesn’t. Nevada has a lot at stake and stopping Ervin will go a long way.
What’s at stake? Well if Nevada wins they become bowl eligible for the second straight year. They move up in the MW standings and with each win has an opportunity to clinch their division and earn a berth in MW Championship Game.
Outside of Ervin, the Spartans have a capable quarterback in Kenny Potter, who completes 68.4 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and four interceptions. Defensively SJSU has been great in pass defense (first in the nation by allowing just 141.1 yards per game) and poor in run defense (105th in the nation by allowing 204.3 yards per game).
If Nevada is motivated enough and understands what’s in front of them it’s a game that Nevada can certainty win. The key matchup in this game is Nevada’s defense vs. Tyler Ervin. The Wolf Pack run defense has been average all season.
Ervin will be their biggest challenge of the year. If they can stop Ervin that will be the ultimate feather in the cap of Nevada this will truly tell them if they are ready for post season play or not.
Saturday will be an important day in many ways for Nevada. The question that we must ask, will this be another fortunate chapter in the story book season of Nevada?
Or will it be the game that could have been? We’ll find out Saturday.
