Nevada Wolf Pack Topples Idaho Vandals in Record-Setting Rout

Nevada set a new record Saturday in Moscow, racking up 844 yards of total offense as the Wolf Pack routed the Idaho Vandals 63-17 in the Kibbe Dome. The stats are just astonishing. What's even more amazing is how the pundits have overlooked them despite the significance of this game vis-a-vis the upcoming game against Boise State on November 26.

In addition to setting a new Nevada record for total offense, QB Colin Kaepernick also had a career night, completing 20 of 30 passes for 320 yards and five touchdowns. The Wolf Pack added 453 yards on the ground, as a trio of running backs ran for over 100 yards.

In a bit of a surprise, Kaepernick—who is closing in on stats that will place him among the very best rushing QBs in college football history—rushed for a meager 36 yards and failed to score a single rushing touchdown.

Mired at 52, he is third on the all-time NCAA list for rushing touchdowns by a QB. Even more amazing, he is fourth all-time in the WAC in rushing touchdowns, behind Marshall Faulk, Ian Johnson and LaDanian Tomlinson. Considering he is the only QB on that list, it is even more impressive.

Relying on the "Boise defense" in which one or more defenders key in on Kaepernick to stop him on the keeper, Idaho held the speedy QB in check. It has taken nearly three years, but now just about every WAC team has adopted the strategy first used by Boise State. Hawaii had success using this strategy in recent weeks. Cal had obviously not been paying attention and had no answer for "Colin on the keeper" and got trounced by Nevada earlier this season.

It has also taken some three years for Nevada to abandon its over-reliance on Kaepernick as a rusher. Yesterday, that adaptation was more evident than ever. Stop him from running and Kaepernick can kill you with his arm. Three hundred and twenty yards and five touchdowns in three quarters proved that he is one of the best, if not the best, dual-threat QB in NCAA history.

Kaepernick has now passed for 9,066 yards and rushed for 3,713. He needs to average 72 yards rushing over the next four regular season games to be the only QB in history to pass for over 9,000 and rush for over 4,000 yards.

One final observation contained within this lopsided game was the key to how Nevada can potentially defeat Boise State. The "Boise defense" has an inherent flaw: Over-defending on Kaepernick opens up receivers.

What Nevada must do when they face the Broncos, in addition to playing really clean and solid defense, is to get the Broncos to over-commit defenders on Kaepernick, as they will be anticipating that he will be relying on the keeper.

Then, he needs to dump off some short-to-medium passes to make first downs and keep the ball out of Kellen Moore's hands. Once BSU figures out that Kaepernick is not going to run all night, they will have no choice but to abandon the "Boise defense." Then he will have opportunities to run later in the game.

The Broncos will defend well against the drop-back long pass. Nevada's wide receivers will not beat Boise's secondary. A mix of faked QB keepers with short-to-medium passes early on and a steady diet of traditional Nevada running backs pounding the line will be Nevada's best offensive strategy.

Once BSU backs off on Kaepernick, he can then pull out a run or two in the second half. The key to a win is to reconcile the "Boise defense" and get the Broncos off Kaepernick.

After the game, Idaho Coach Akey spent a long time chatting with Kaepernick, congratulating him on a great game and recognizing the fact that he is closing in on his final season, one that will see him quietly rack up stats that make him arguably the best dual-threat QB in NCAA history.