Robinson shines for Pack

RENO - It's been a tough two weeks for freshman running back Drew Robinson. He didn't carry the ball against Tulsa and then the Wolf Pack had a bye last week.

He was itching for a chance to play, and he made the most of it Saturday night.

Robinson rushed for 71 yards and two scores in Nevada's 42-24 Western Athletic Conference win over San Jose State Saturday night at Mackay Stadium.

"BJ (Mitchell) and Chance (Kretschmer) have been running so well," Robinson said. "It's not like I can say I should be in there. I'm the third-string guy and I'm not going to play unless they're injured or winded."

Robinson had scoring runs of 1 and 12 yards. The first score gave the Wolf Pack a 35-10 lead late in the third quarter, and his 12-yard run off the left side made it 42-17 with 5:36 left in the game.

Head coach Chris Ault said there really wasn't a reason why Robinson hasn't played.

"We just decided to play him more," Ault said. "He's the young pup of the group and he probably should be playing more."

FLOWERS SHINES

Nichiren Flowers caught nine balls for a career-best 117 yards. It was his block on Caleb Spencer's 10-yard TD catch and run that opened some eyes.

How did he feel about his performance?

That's a mystery, because for the second straight week, Flowers refused to come to the interview room.

"I thought Nichiren Flowers played very, very well," Ault said. "He's come a long way. He's learning how to be a Nevada receiver, and that you have to block as well as catch the ball."

OLD HOME WEEK

The Wolf Pack have several players with San Jose-area ties - Jarred Belser (Bellarmine Prep), Shannon Sevor (Bellarmine Prep), Donald Gupton (Oak Grove), Jamaal Jackson (Oak Grove) and Luke Lippincott (Palma of Salinas) - that bypassed the Spartans to come to Nevada.

HARD-HITTING DRIVE

After Nevada went ahead 28-10 late in the third quarter, the Wolf Pack defense came up with an impressive drive, getting three bone-crunching hits in a span of four plays.

The first was by diminutive cornerback Paul Pratt, who pounded Rufus Skillern for no game at the San Jose State 45. Two plays later safety Roderick Stallings crunched Lamar Ferguson for no gain. And not to be outdone, Jeremy Engstrom blitzed on the next play and sacked Dale Rogers for a seven-yard loss.

FACTS, FIGURES

Jeff Carr tied a San Jose State record with his 36th straight extra point... This was the third time this year that San Jose State was hit with at least eight penalties in a game ... At halftime, football greats Greg Rea, Chris Vargas and Bryan Reaves, and track standout Enoch Borozinski were inducted into the Nevada Hall of Fame... Charles Wilson made his first start of the year at defensive tackle and responded with two sacks... Stallings started at strong safety in front of Nick Hawthrone because he had a better week of practice, according to Ault... Nevada finished with six sacks and held San Jose State to 305 yards total offense.