It felt like Deja Vu in the final seconds of Nevada’s 28-26 win over Troy. The Trojans marched downfield to score a TD with 21 seconds left, bringing the game to a 28-26 score. Troy lined up for the 2-point conversion, but pressure led QB Goose Crowder to escape to pocket and end in an incompletion.

Unlike Week 0, Nevada was able to prevent the complete late-quarter comeback. It was an uphill battle from the beginning for Nevada, but the Pack started a 28-3 run which led head coach Jeff Choate to his first victory with Nevada.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

3:59- Damien Taylor 25-yard TD run (Scott Taylor Renfroe PAT)

Nevada 0 – Troy 7

2nd Quarter

3:08- Gerald Green 16-yard TD run (Scott Taylor Renfroe PAT)

Nevada 0 – Troy 14

0:25- Jace Henry 17-yard TD pass from Brendon Lewis (Matthew Killam PAT no good)

Nevada 7 – Troy 14

3rd Quarter

13:55- Patrick Garwo III 1-yard TD run (Jaden Smith 2 pt conversion good)

Nevada 14 – Troy 14

7:24- Scott Taylor Renfroe 30-yard FG

Nevada 14 – Troy 17

3:20- Patrick Garwo III 22-yard TD run (Matthew Killam PAT)

Nevada 21 – Troy 17

4th Quarter

12:56- Marcus Bellon 7-yard TD run (Matthew Killam PAT)

Nevada 28 – Troy 17

6:12- Scott Taylor Renfroe 19-yard FG

Nevada 28 – Troy 20

0:21- Devonte Ross 16-yard TD pass from Goose Crowder (Crowder 2pt conversion attempt no good)

Nevada 28 – Troy 26

Final: Nevada 28, Troy 26

Offense

It was another 20+ point performance by Nevada, but it took a while for the offense to wake up. Nevada’s first three drives of the game resulted in no points. On its fourth drive, kicker Matthew Killam lined up for a 48-yard field goal. Killam missed the attempt, keeping scoreless through the second quarter.

The Wolf Pack cracked the scoreboard with 3:08 left in the first half. Brendon Lewis threw a 17-yard pass to tight end Jace Henry to cut the lead to 14-6. Killam once again missed a kick, this time it being the PAT.

Despite the missed extra point, that touchdown began a 28-3 run for Nevada’s offense. Adjustments were made at the half, and the offense came out swinging.

Nevada received the ball in the second half, and it only took three plays for Nevada to find the endzone in its opening drive of the second half. It began with running back Savion Red breaking through for a 69-yard rush, taking Nevada inside the red zone at the 6-yard line.

Nevada’s rushing attack couldn’t get it going against SMU, but Red had no issue running around Troy. He finished with 135 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 11 rush attempts.

Nevada ran two more times, leading to running back Patrick Garwo III collecting a 1-yard TD run to tie it at 14.

The Pack’s next two drives resulted in touchdowns, once on the ground and second from the air. Garwo III picked up his second rushing touchdown, followed by a 7-yard TD pass to Nevada receiver Marcus Bellon.

Lewis had himself another solid game, throwing 17-20 with 158 passing yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 34 yards on eight attempts. Lewis has now surpassed his TD total from last year, only two games into the 2024 season.

It took a while, but there was more explosiveness from Nevada’s offense. The Pack collected 17 first downs and converted seven of 12 third-down attempts. The rushing game is Nevada’s MVP, as the team collected 214 total rushing yards compared to Troy’s 193.

Nevada was once again perfect from the red zone, going 4-4.

Defense

Nevada’s defense was the highlight in the loss to SMU. This time, it took some adjustments for Nevada’s defense to shut it down. It held Troy’s first offensive possession to a three-and-out.

Troy put up two touchdowns before the first half expired. It was an early back-and-forth into the third quarter until Nevada’s offense was able to pull away. Nevada took a 28-17 lead to the 13-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

A Troy field goal made it an eight-point game with six minutes left. Crowder and the Trojans offense got the ball back with 2:17 left to go, leading to a huge march downfield to score a late TD with 21 seconds left.

Similar to Week 0, Nevada’s defense slipped up within the final minutes. Crowder and Troy’s offense lined up for the potential tying 2-point conversion, but this time, Nevada’s defense was able to close it off.

Crowder snapped the ball for the 2-point attempt, but edge rusher Kristopher Ross quickly pressured the Trojan’s QB, leading to the ball being stripped. Troy recovered the ball, but an incompletion led to the tight 28-26 lead being held.

Crowder went 20-30 with 201 passing yards and a TD pass. Troy running back Damien Taylor led Troy’s rushing attack, rushing for 103 yards on 11 attempts and a touchdown run.

Nevada linebacker Drue Watts led the team with 12 tackles, and Ross/Henry Ikahihifo combined for a sack in the game.

What’s Next

Nevada will take its 1-1 record back home to face another Sun Belt team in Georgia Southern. The Eagles fought hard against Boise State in their Week 1 matchup, losing 56-45 to the Broncos.

It’ll be another tough matchup for Nevada, especially after seeing Georgia Southern put up 45. This Wolf Pack team under Choate has shown plenty of fight in its first two games, so it should lead to an exciting and hopefully winning game against Georgia Southern.

Going to the city of Las Vegas, Nevada can be a memorable, but expensive trip for some. Those that don’t like gambling might feel left out, but there are plenty of things to do that don’t involve it.

Here are a list of activities that don’t require gambling at a casino:

A Las Vegas classic and one of the best things to see in the city that doesn’t cost any money. They’re hard to miss, but worthing taking the time out to get a good viewing in person.

The one-of-a-kind venue has plenty of different experiences from axe throwing, a flight simulator and more. The viral Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart offers ‘alternate dimension’ items for purchase that are not what they seem to be.

The classic museum full of wax figure replicas of some of the biggest celebrities of all time. It’s located at the Venetian Las Vegas Casino.

Walking the strip by itself can be one of the most fun things to do for those that love to sight see and people watch, plus it’s free. The illuminated buildings are something to behold.

Speaking of the lit-up Vegas strip, a ride on this roller coaster is one of the best ways to get an unforgettable view of the city.

One of the most famous residency shows offered, catch a show to experience the weird and wonderful.

For the thrill-seekers, a ride on one of the intense roller coasters can scare and excite. There are both traditional roller coasters and drop coasters for those that want an extra rush.

While there are bars aplenty across the city, this one is unique in that it’s completely made of ice, making it a bar that’s actually worth visiting.

The city of Vegas is known for it’s long history with the mob and this is a museum that goes through that history to educate visitors.

Technically it’s about 30 minutes outside of the city, but it’s either a quick drive or many companies offer trips to see the Dam. It’s a interesting and unqiue structure.

There are plenty of different companies that offer it, but indoor skydiving gives the thrill of the act but is much safer.

Connect with a trip to nature with a 20-minute drive outside of the city. The beautiful red sandstone peaks make it well worth the detour. Be careful with the heat but there are some wonderful hiking opportunities available.

Nevada scored back-to-back touchdowns in the second half, then held on in the closing minutes for a 28-26 victory over Troy on Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Trojans trailed 28-17 with less than seven minutes remaining, but got Scott Taylor Renfroe’s 19-yard field goal and Goose Crowder’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Devonte Ross to pull within two with 19 seconds left. That set up a 2-point attempt for the tie.

Troy quarterback Goose Crowder was hit from behind and fumbled, but running back Damien Taylor scooped up the ball and scrambled just to get off an incomplete pass. The Trojans then failed on an onside kick, and Nevada (1-1) ran out the clock.

“You tip your hat to Nevada,” first-year Troy coach Gerad Parker said. “Coach had his guys ready to go. They came out here on the road, traveled across the country and were ready to play, certainly at the end of the first half as well as going into the second half. It was just too much for us in the third quarter to overcome, so I tip the hat.”

The loss was Troy’s first in a home non-conference since a 21-13 loss to Liberty on Sept. 11, 2021. It was also just the Trojans’ second at home since that same 2021 season.

Crowder passed for 201 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort for Troy (0-1), while Taylor ran for 103 yards and a touchdown. However, Taylor was called for targeting on the late onside kick, meaning he will sit out the first half of next week’s game at Memphis.

Brendon Lewis threw two touchdown passes and Patrick Garwo ran for two for Nevada, which unlike Troy was playing its second game of the season. The Wolf Pack lost 29-24 at home to SMU last week.

Taylor’s 25-yard touchdown run and Gerald Green’s 16-yarder gave Troy a 14-0 lead late in the first half, but Nevada got on the board on Lewis’ 17-yard touchdown pass to Jace Henry with 25 seconds left in the half. The point-after failed, however, and the Trojans took a 14-6 lead to the locker room.

The Wolf Pack scored in just three plays to begin the second half, with Savion Red running 69 yards to the Troy 5 on the first snap. Two plays later, Garwo ran in from a yard out and Lewis hit Jaden Smith for 2 points and 14-14 tie with 13:55 left in the third.

Renfroe’s 30-yard field goal put Troy up 17-14 midway through the third, but Nevada scored on Garwo’s 22-yard run to take a 21-17 lead after three. After forcing a Trojans punt, the Wolf Pack drove for Lewis’ 7-yard TD pass to Marcus Bellon and 28-17 advantage with 12:56 remaining.

Troy had first-and-goal from the Nevada 5 on its next drive, but could not punch the ball in. After Green was stopped for no gain on third down from the 1, Parker elected to have Renfroe kick a short field goal with 6:12 left rather than go for it.

Nevada then got the ball to midfield, but punted with 2:17 to play. The Trojans converted two third downs on the way to Crowder’s TD pass, but could not finish off the comeback.

“I’m proud of our guys,” Parker said. “They battled to the end and played football to the last chance to tie that game up with the two-point play. We just didn’t have enough. I hold myself responsible for everything that happened. We will look at this as we always do with a critical eye to see where we are, see where our personnel is and our schemes and put ourselves in a position to go win a game next week. That’s all we can do.

“We’ve been at this for a long time. This stings. It hurts, and losing is not acceptable here, and we know that. We’ll do everything in our power to make this football team where we want it to be.”

Lewis completed 17 of 20 passes for 158 yards for Nevada, while Red ran for 135 yards on 11 carries and Garwo added 53 yards and the two scores on nine attempts. Nevada outgained Troy 393 yards to 391, but neither team turned the ball over.

Troy’s game at Memphis next Saturday kicks off at 11 a.m. on ESPNU.