Washington Nevada Preview

This Saturday, the Washington Huskies take on the Wolf Pack of Nevada. Both teams need to post wins, as Washington (3-2) was throttled by UCLA last week, while Nevada (3-2) lost a squeaker to UNLV, 16-12. Chris Tormey, who coaches Nevada, served as an assistant coach under Don James and Jim Lambright at Washington.

The Washington Huskies and Nevada Wolf Pack last met one hundred years ago, when Washington pulled off a 2-0 victory in a game played in a mud bowl at West Seattle. Straight ahead running behind linemen with interlocked arms marked the game as it was played in those days. Forward passing was disallowed, and a cigar-puffing Chief Joseph who watched the battle said, "I saw a lot of white men almost fight today."

This Saturday, in a modern-day setting, the football will fly, field turf will absorb any rain that falls, and, hopefully, tempers will remain in check at a game that will be played in Husky Stadium. All the while, Chris Tormey’s Nevada Wolf Pack (3-2) will attempt to stymie Keith Gilbertson’s high-flying West Coast Offense, which was precision-perfect in execution as it operated during the first half of the UW’s game with UCLA Saturday.

Gilby wants to put two halves of quintessential WCO together, for as strange as it may sound for a team that is 3-2 this season, there is no better implementation of the WCO in college football than Washington's. For that, the Dawgs can thank its senior quarterback Cody Pickett, along with two superb wide receivers, Reggie Williams and Charles Frederick. Pickett will mix-master his passes to a number of receivers, which include his two tight ends, Jon Lyon and Ben Bandel. Zach Tuiasosopo, a brute of a fullback used as a blocker, and TB Rich Alexis, a cannonading runner who can also run after catch, figure strongly in an attack that operates off short drops and quick releases by its quarterback.

However, as Gilbertson found out in the second half against UCLA, once his version of the WCO is knocked off course, out of its rhythm, it’s mighty hard to get it back on track. A short passing game, which attempts to stretch the field horizontally rather than vertically works just fine for a team that has the lead. Once it falls behind, it’s six yards, a cloud of dust, and plenty of incoming blitzes to pester its quarterback.

The Dawgs will key their X's and O's based on Oregon’s success against the Wolf Pack earlier this year, while the Wolf Pack want to emulate UCLA’s second-half explosion against the Udub, mimicking the play of DE Dave Ball and DT Rodney Leisle, both pyrotechnics, who started the fireworks by combing on a touchdown to start the second half.

Like UCLA, the Wolf Pack—on paper, at least—has a front four that is capable of disrupting the UW’s offense. It is led by DE Jorge Cordova (6-2 250), who accounted for 12 solo tackles, while posting 2 sacks against Oregon at Autzen Stadium, albeit in a 31-23 loss. Cordova was selected as the pre-season WAC Player-of-the-Year on defense. He is also on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player).

On the offensive side of the ball, QB Andy Heiser has completed 55 of 112 passes for 747 yards and five touchdowns. Heiser, a Junior, had one of the most productive first career starts in school history when he visited San Jose State September 18. The Santa Clara, Calif., native was 17-24-1 for 291 yards and threw for two touchdowns. He also rushed for 49 yards and scored a TD to pile up 340 yards total offense in the road win.

Quarterback Jeff Rowe separated his shoulder Saturday against UNLV and is out for the season. So it is important for Heiser to stay healthy during the game.

As a freshman in 2001, RB Chance Kretschmer led the nation in rushing with 1,732 yards, averaging 157.5 yards a game. Returning from a torn ACL that sidelined him last season, Kretchmer leads his team in rushing with 567 yards on 115 carries this season. A junior, he also leads the team in touchdowns with five.

MLB Daryl Towns, a cousin of former Husky Lester Towns, has posted 37 total tackles for the Wolf Pack this season.

The forty-eight year old Tormey (Idaho, '78; 46-50 nine years over-all; 13-27 Nevada) is in his fourth year at Nevada, while Gilby (3-2 at UW, 51-37 career, 2-2 vs. Nevada), is in his first year at the Dub.

After losing to UCLA Saturday, Grumpy Gilby (56), who is known for a short fuse, needs a win over Tormey to rekindle the smile and sense of humor that mark his biorhythms on good days. The intense, dedicated coach is a great interview when his Dawgs are playing and practicing well. He's no wallflower during an interview, as Hugh Millen says.

Washington bests Nevada in 6 of the 8 statistical categories shown below.

Shelton Sampson, Mike Mapu, and Manase Hopoi appear in the photo above.