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.

Public health and harm reduction experts came together in Las Vegas Saturday to mark the global day of spreading overdose awareness and advocating for prevention.

The Southern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance hosted its 8th Annual International Overdose Awareness Day event, which took place at The Center, a Las Vegas nonprofit organization focused on serving the LGBTQ+ community.

The event marked International Overdose Awareness Day, which is observed yearly on Aug. 31, and was intended to honor those who have been lost to overdose, said Chris Reynolds, president of the Southern Nevada Health Consortium.

Robert Schomer hosted a training session on how to use naloxone, a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Schomer is the employment program coordinator for Foundation for Recovery, an addiction treatment center in Las Vegas.

“Naloxone is an effective antagonist against any type of opioid,” said Schomer. Naloxone typically comes in the form of a nasal spray that can be administered to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Harm reduction

With naloxone training, the goal is to reduce harm, said Schomer. A strategy that prioritizes harm reduction helps addicts take small steps towards recovery, Schomer explained.

“There’s a difference between quitting cold turkey and harm reduction,” said Schomer, “Harm reduction is acknowledging that you are willing to take steps to mitigate consequences.”

For example, moving from injecting drugs to smoking instead is one of those steps, Schomer said. With injecting, there’s a higher likelihood of overdosing compared to other methods.

Schomer recalled a time where he was running a meeting and one of the attendees overdosed in front of him.

“We never know when we might unintentionally be the first responder in an overdose situation,” Schomer reflected, “Even though I do this training, its still a scary situation to be in.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 79,770 drug overdose deaths in 2022, which is more than the seating capacity of Allegiant Stadium, said Schomer.

“We have trainings every year and there’s always people who’ve been through the trainings that have saved lives because of it,” Reynolds said.

‘Meet them where they’re at’

Reynolds urges people to always carry naloxone because they never know when someone may overdose.

Another aspect of harm reduction is making sure people can use safe needles, said Michele Jorge, the HIV outreach and linkage coordinator for Trac B Exchange.

Trac B Exchange, based in Las Vegas, exchanges dirty needles for clean ones and links people with housing and addiction resources when they’re ready for care.

“It’s all about keeping clients safe and healthy until they’re ready for change. We have to meet them where they’re at,” Jorge elaborated.

Another organization present at the event was the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, where the aim is to normalize the conversation around suicide, said volunteer Dani Eicher.

“The more the conversation is normalized, the more we prevention we can have,” Eicher explained.

“This gives them the opportunity and the space to work through their emotions,” said Eicher. “Sometimes, there’s guilt and shame associated with it, but we have to remind people that they’re not alone.”

If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a loved one or friend, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting the Lifeline network at 988. Live chat is available at 988lifeline.org.

Contact Annie Vong at avong@reviewjournal.com.

The SMU Mustangs started their season by beating Nevada 29- 23. This win showcased the team’s determination to be recognized on the ACC level for college football and continued their 11-3 record from the 2023 season.

“I think they feel like we can be a good team,” Lashee said after Tuesday’s practice. “We’ve got to go prove that we can consistently do it for four quarters.”

The beginning seemed to be a struggle for SMU, who picked up 11 penalties just in the first quarter. Coach Lashlee was not too thrilled with the start of the game.

“There was never any rhythm,” Lashlee said. “We do something; we go one step forward, two steps back.”
Preston Stone, SMU’s starting quarterback, was the right person for the job. The coach plans on playing both QBs, Kevin Jennings and Stone.

“We followed our plan going to the game,” said coach Lashlee. “Preston was going to start go the first two drives; Kevin knew he was going to play the third and fourth series, so that was how we went into the game.”

Stone, who started in 12 games for the 2023 season, threw 3,197 yards passing, giving him the 26th-ranked spot in the NCAA and the fourth-most in the ACC.

Coach Rhett Lashlee trusts Stone to be the starting QB for the Nevada game. He clarified that Stone earned his chance at camp to be the starter for the game against Nevada.

Preston and the team look forward to winning their first at-home game against their next opponents the Houston Christian Huskies on August 31.