The Reporter (Vacaville)

Nevada invited to bowl game

Wood grad Strong, Vacaville grad Talton having solid seasons

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RENO, NEV. >> Will C. Wood grad Carson Strong and Vacaville High grad Brandon Talton will have one more chance to shine in 2020.

The Nevada football team accepted an invitation from the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and will take on Tulane in the Dec. 22 game on at Albertson’s Stadium in Boise, Idaho.

This is Nevada’s third-straight bowl berth and the Wolf Pack has won two of its last three bowl game appearance­s. Nevada fell to Ohio earlier this calendar year at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl but the Pack won its two previous bowl games — toppling Arkansas State 16-13 in overtime at the 2018 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, and beating Colorado State 28-23 in the first Arizona Bowl in 2015.

“We are excited for this opportunit­y to play one more game this season and to return to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl,” said Nevada’s fourth-year head coach Jay Norvell. “Tulane is a wellcoache­d team and had a good season, and we are looking forward to the challenge of playing them.”

Kickoff for the game on Tuesday, Dec. 22 is 12:30 p.m. PT and it will be televised on ESPN. There will not be fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Nevada (6-2 overall, third in MW) had a strong regular season end in disappoint­ing fashion Friday night, falling to San Jose State 30-20.

Tulane went 6-5 overall and finished 3- 5 in the American Conference slate. The Green Wave features a strong rushing attack (217.7 yards per game, second in its conference) and overall scoring offense at 35 points per game.

Nevada and Tulane have met only one previous time — a 1992 game at the Superdome in New Orleans with the Pack dropping a 34-17 decision.

Born in 1997, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl debuted as the Humanitari­an Bowl. Nevada has previously competed in the game three times, falling to Miami in 2006, to Maryland in the 2008 edition of the game, and losing to Ohio in the 2019 edition, which was played Jan. 3 earlier this year.

This is Nevada’s sixth bowl appearance since joining the Mountain West in

2012. In addition to the 2015 and 2018 Arizona Bowls, Nevada also played in the 2014 New Orleans Bowl and the 2012 New Mexico Bowl.

The Wolf Pack has played in 12 bowl games since 2005 and 15 bowl games overall since it moved to Division I-A/FBS in 1991. Nevada also played in the Salad Bowl in 1948 and the Harbor Bowl in 1949. The Pack’s overall record in bowl games is 6-11.

Strong was 33 of 48 with a touchdown and no intercepti­ons in the regular season finale against San Jose State. The sophomore quar

terback finished the regular season with 2,587 yards, 22 touchdowns and just four intercepti­ons.

Talton connected on two field goals against the Spartans, from 42 and 43 yards in the first half. He was 15 of 17 on field goals during the regular season. Talton moved up to ninth all-time at Nevada in career kick scoring with 161 points and remains seventh in career field goals made with 36.

More informatio­n on the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl can be found here: www.famousidah­opotatobow­l.com. Print Friendly Version

 ?? JOHN LOCHER —THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Nevada quarterbac­k Carson Strong, the Wood grad, carries past San Jose State defensive end Viliami Fehoko (42) during the first half Friday in Las Vegas. Nevada will play in a bowl game.
JOHN LOCHER —THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Nevada quarterbac­k Carson Strong, the Wood grad, carries past San Jose State defensive end Viliami Fehoko (42) during the first half Friday in Las Vegas. Nevada will play in a bowl game.

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