Nov. 19, 2011
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
RENO - Just when it looked like Nevada's stranglehold on Louisiana Tech would continue, the Bulldogs woke up.
Colby Cameron's eight-yard touchdown pass to Taulib Ikharo with 51 seconds to play completed an amazing fourth quarter come-from-behind victory as Louisiana Tech snapped a six-game losing streak against the Wolf Pack with a 24-20 win at Mackay Stadium Saturday afternoon.
"It was a big win for us," said Tech head coach Sonny Dykes. "The way it unfolded and how we got down and hung in there, it was not easy. It happened because our guys worked hard, invested and believed in each other. This was a heck of a comeback. We had opportunities early but we couldn't make plays. Once we started rolling and starting making plays, we got the momentum. Our players wanted to win so badly. I'm so proud of them for what they did today."
Stefphon Jefferson's four-yard touchdown run with 13:01 to play in the fourth quarter gave Nevada what appeared to be an insurmountable 20-3 advantage.
However, that's when the Bulldogs offense shifted gears. Cameron, who finished the game 25-of-45 for 355 yards and three touchdowns, orchestrated an 11-play, 69-yard drive that was capped by a nine-yard strike to Quinton Patton. Matt Nelson's extra point made it 20-10 with 9:11 to play.
After the Tech defense forced a three-and-out, the Bulldogs took over and marched 89 yards down the field in six plays as Cameron found Myles White for a 14-yard touchdown pass as the Bulldogs pulled to within 20-17 with 5:56 to play in the game. The drive was highlighted by a number of big plays including a 24-yard strike to Patton and a 27-yard run by Cameron.
"We were trying to get some sort of score quickly," Dykes said. "The faster, the better. For us to be able to score that fast meant we didn't have to onside kick. That was big. Our defense came out and made some big stops. We got the ball back with plenty of time and we made some big plays."
It was time for the LA Tech defense - which has made big play after big play this season - to make another one with an opportunity to win the WAC title on the line.
After surrendering one first down, Tech forced another Wolf Pack punt as the Bulldogs offense was pinned down on their own seven-yard line with 2:26 to play in the game.
Tech was faced with a third down and 12 from its own five-yard line when Cameron found Hunter Lee for a 23-yard pickup and a first down. Cameron then found Patton for 35 yards and Jaccari Jackson for 25 yards as the Bulldogs had first and 10 on the Wolf Pack 11-yard line.
After a three-yard pickup by Lee on first down, Cameron found Taulib Ikharo on a fade route for an eight-yard touchdown pass as the Bulldogs took their first lead of the game.
"To drive 93 yards for the game winner ... that was awesome," Dykes said.
Nevada had one last opportunity starting on its own 21-yard line with 47 seconds to play. However, Adrien Cole - who ended the night with 17 tackles - sacked Cody Fajardo on the last play of the game to secure the win.
The victory was improbable after the Bulldogs managed only 161 yards of offense through the first three quarter of action while Nevada recorded 425 of its 465 total yards.
"We never got into a flow in the first half," Dykes said. "We are an offense where when we make a first down, the second one is easier and then the third one is easier. In the first half we never made one. We misfired on everything. Once we got the momentum and made some plays, good things started happening.
"I talked (to the defense) the day before about not looking at the scoreboard. Just hang in there and expect something good to happen. And that's what happened. We will enjoy this (victory) until tomorrow and then all of our focus will be on New Mexico State. The more games you win, the bigger they become at the end of the day. Next week will be big."
Tech returns to action Saturday when it hosts New Mexico State at 3 p.m. at Joe Aillet Stadium with a share of the Western Athletic Conference title on the line.
