RENO, Nev. – Saturday’s annual Homecoming game when the Nevada football team plays host to rival Boise State will feature a bit of historical significance.
The 300th game in stadium history will played in front of a sellout crowd as the 3-1 Wolf Pack (1-0 in the Mountain West) takes on the Broncos (3-2, 1-1 MW) for a national televised game that kicks off at 7:34 p.m. on Saturday.
The current Mackay Stadium opened in 1966 and Nevada boasts one of the top homefield advantages in the nation at the facility. In 299 games at Mackay, the Wolf Pack is 216-81-2 and its winning percentage of .726 ranks 23rd in the nation among current FBS teams. Nevada is 6-2 at Mackay Stadium under second-year coach Brian Polian, including a pair of wins already this season.
Saturday’s game against Boise State is the highlight of an action-packed week on campus.
This week’s Homecoming festivities officially begin on Wednesday and are highlighted by Thursday’s Homecoming Gala and Friday’s March From the Arch, which begins downtown and is capped by a pep rally on the Quad. The Nevada Alumni Association also produces the official Tailgate Party two hours before every game at Legacy Hall. For more information on Homecoming, please visit http://alumni.unr.edu/homecoming.aspx.
The Wolf Pack’s home athletics events begin on Friday as the Nevada women’s soccer team looks to get back on track when it plays host to San Jose State on Friday at Mackay Stadium at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Nevada’s rifle team will take on UTEP and the Wolf Pack swimming and diving team begins its season with the Silver and Blue Alumni meet.
At noon on Saturday, second-year baseball coach Jay Johnson will conduct an intrasquad scrimmage with his team at Peccole Park that is open to the public and free of charge. Soccer caps the weekend when it takes on Fresno State at Mackay at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The Nevada football team won the first game at Mackay Stadium when quarterback Chris Ault guided the Pack to a 17-13 victory over UC Santa Barbara on Oct. 1, 1966. Prior to that, the original Mackay Stadium was a small field location in the bowl that currently houses the Reynolds School of Journalism.
The 100th game in Mackay Stadium history was against another team from the Gem State as Nevada topped Idaho 25-16 on Nov. 20, 1982. Game No. 150 was another win as Nevada beat UNLV on Nov. 11, 1989 by a score of 45-7 to win the Battle for the Fremont Cannon game.
The 175th game at Mackay was a win over Boise State on Sept. 11, 1993 as the Pack won 38-10. Nevada’s first win at home over a current “Power 5” school came in the 250th game at Mackay when the Wolf Pack topped Northwestern, 31-21 on Sept. 22, 2006.
Mackay Stadium Superlatives
Overall record at Mackay (since 1966): 216-81-2
Most points in a game (by Nevada): 70 vs. Idaho (10-24-09)
Most points in a game (both teams combined) 115 (70-45) vs. Idaho (10-24-09)
Number of shutouts: 15
Largest margin of victory: vs. Western Washington, 66-0 (10-7-78)
Number of undefeated home seasons: Seven (Last: 2010)
Most wins at home in a season: Nine, twice (1986, 1990)
Longest win streak: 22, (9-23-89 – 12-7-91)
