Tonight’s Aztec Opponent Hard to Figure

The Aztec series with the Nevada Wolfpack began 58 years ago, but there have not been many games played – just five, with the Aztecs winning the last three.

Nevada won the first game in Reno, 44-6, in 1945, the year before I began my stretch. The next year, in Balboa Stadium, I saw us lose, 26-0. There was not much after that: two Aztec wins, in 1995 and 2004.

Then came last year’s fantastic Aztec victory. Road game. Underdogs. Lost our QB in first quarter. Adam Dingwell, with almost no experience, calmly took over. We came from two scores down late in the game. Chance Marden tied the game at 31 at end of regulation. Down 38-31 in OT, Gavin Escobar barreled through two defenders and over a third for six points. Without hesitation, Rocky called for two-point conversion, and Dingwell hit Adam Roberts to win the game, 39-38.

While the Aztec bench celebrates Chance Marden's FG at the end of regulation, Rocky Long plots his overtime strategy (Photo by Ernie Anderson)

Tonight’s game is a puzzler. Betting lines say Aztecs by 4 or 5. But Nevada has powerful offense, led by veteran QB Cody Fajardo, They are 3-2, having lost to UCLA and Florida State, and they already have two conference wins. They average about 28 points a game. However, their defense has been suspect. They have given up an average of about 36 points a game.

Question is: Which Aztec team will show up. Let’s hope it’s the one that played the first 3+ quarters of the Oregon State game and the one that played the final 3 quarters of the NM Sate game. And they play all four quarters. 

Be there to find out! Kick-off is at 6 tonight.

The Aztecs celebrate with fans who made the trip to Reno last year (Photo by Ernie Anderson)