Strong passes for 6 TDs, Nevada beats New Mexico St. 55-28

Updated Oct. 10, 2021 2:36 a.m. ET

Associated Press

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Carson Strong threw a career-high six touchdown passes — four in the second quarter — and Nevada cruised to a 55-28 win over New Mexico State on Saturday night.

Strong, who did not play in the fourth quarter, finished 25-of-32 passing for 377 yards with one interception.

But Strong got off to a rocky start. He threw an interception on Nevada's first offensive play from scrimmage and the Wolf Pack (4-1) went three-and-out on three of the next four drives and trailed 7-3 early in the second quarter before hitting Toa Taua, Justin Lockhart, Melquan Stovall and Cole Turner before halftime.

Nevada took the opening kick of the second half and Turner's 3-yard scoring catch capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive that made it 38-3. Strong connected with Henry Ballard for a 33-yard touchdown about four minutes later and cornerback BerDale Robins ripped the ball from New Mexico State's Jared Wyatt and raced 25 yards for a score to give Nevada a 52-3 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Jonah Johnson completed 38 of 62 passes for 425 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions for the Aggies. His 3-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt with 8:59 left in the first quarter opened the scoring.

New Mexico State (1-6), an FBS Independent, has lost three in a row.

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