SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rashaad Penny had a San Diego State-record 429 all-purpose yards and scored four touchdowns to help San Diego State beat Nevada 42-23 on Saturday night.
Penny finished with 24 carries for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns, 201 yards and two scores on three returns (two kickoff and one punt) and added one reception for six yards.
After Ty Gangi hit Brendan O'Leary-Orange for a 48-yard touchdown to give Nevada (2-9, 2-5 Mountain West) a 10-0 lead, Penny scored on a 23-yard run.
The Wolf Pack then went three-and-out and Penny returned the ensuing punt 70 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-10 late in the first quarter. It was the first time Penny lined up as the punt returner in his career.
O'Leary-Orange's 7-yard TD catch put Nevada back in front early in the second, but Christian Chapman hit Mikah Holder for a 5-yard touchdown just before halftime and Juwan Washington's 1-yard scoring run gave San Diego State (9-2, 5-2) a 28-17 lead early in the third quarter. Gangi capped a 12-play, 89-yard drive with a 2-yard pass to O'Leary-Orange, but Penny took the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and added a 67-yard TD run in the fourth.
Gangi was 33-of-54 passing for 414 yards for the Wolfpack. O'Leary-Orange had 11 receptions for 213 yards and three touchdowns — all career highs. It was the most receiving yards by a Nevada player since Trevor Insley had 212 against Oregon in 1999.
Nevada closes out the season on Saturday against UNLV at noon at Mackay Stadium in Reno.
The Fremont Cannon goes to the winner of the annual contest.
