Tiger football: Improved numbers could result in improved outlook

It's been a tough past couple of seasons for the Nevada Tiger football team, having lost 19 of 20 games over the two-year stretch.

That being said, numbers are up for fourth-year head coach Wes Beachler's squad entering the season.

Nevada has averaged around 50 players on its roster the past two seasons, but enters this season with a 69-man roster thanks to a robust 26-man freshman class.

Beachler's squad enters the season inexperienced at the quarterback position from a varsity perspective. Although Beachler has not officially named a starting QB for the season-opener, the current front-runner is senior Dylan Beachler. He was able to gain some varsity experience as a signal-caller last season, but ultimately succumbed to a season-ending injury.

Filling in for Dylan Beachler last season as freshmen, Case Sanderson and Cade Beshore both received reps under center. Sanderson also concluded as Nevada's leading rusher.

"Dylan will more than likely be the starter," Beachler told the Daily Mail on Thursday. "But he needs to have a good week of practice next week."

After averaging just under eight points per-game in 2019, Beachler said he's aiming to re-establish the identity his 2017 team carved out. That team sprang a momentous season-opening upset of Kansas City Center, and also routed Raytown South in a home playoff game.

"We were a power running team," Beachler recounted.

The Tigers are expected to utilize a running back by-committee approach, with senior wing-backs Kaden Denney and Trey Moore leading the way. Coming off a monster sophomore campaign, Denney had his season cut short last year via injury, playing in only the season-opener. Even without Denney, Nevada averaged 158 rushing yards per-game last year.

Tailbacks Eli Cheaney (Jr.) and Case Sanderson (So.) will also be in the mix for touches, as will senior fullbacks Jace Lee and Wesley Balk.

"We should have a solid group of running backs," summed up Beachler. "It will be running back-by-committee, unless a few step up and display that they deserve the bulk of the carries."

Beachler is also hoping to emulate that squad's passing attack. The Tigers averaged just 27 passing yards per game a season ago.

"We also have to get back to 2017 form in the passing game," he said. "We threw for over 1,000 yards, and 14 TD’s, to provide great balance to our offense."

On the other side of the ball Nevada yielded 37 points per game, and nearly 400 yards combined on the ground and through the air last season.

"Defensively, we will look to be more consistent," Beachler said. "We surrendered too many big plays last year."

Nevada returns a pair of All-Big 8 West Honorable Mention linebackers in Balk and Lee. Juniors Logan Marquardt and Gauge Boyd add further depth to the linebacker corps.

"The linebacking unit will be very experienced, and could be the strength of our defense," Beachler noted.

Daily Mail

Anchoring their offensive and defensive lines, is 6-foot, 250 pound senior Charles Ramey-Dias, who also notched All-Big 8 West Honorable Mention accolades last season.

Adding depth to both lines is sophomore Skylur Mashek. The 6-foot, 265 pound Mashek started as a freshman last season, a rare occurrence for a Beachler-led varsity lineup.

"Last year’s young offensive line will now be an experienced offensive line," Beachler explained. "All seven starters return, along with a few that filled in admirably last year."

Nevada's secondary will be held down by mainstay senior free safety Ethan Forkner and strong safety Denney.

Other notable returners include physical senior defensive end Riley Trotter and Noah Beshore, both of whom are also deployed at tight end, and senior linemen Nick Williams and Omar Vargas.

"We were a very young and inexperienced team that improved steadily as the season wore on," Beachler said. "The downside to playing so many younger guys is the struggles you have throughout that season. The upside to being in that situation is we return quite a few young guys who now have Friday night experience."

Added Beachler: "A bevy of young players received significant playing time last year, Including five freshmen that played frequently, some even starting on the defensive side of the ball. This will equate to quite a bit of experience on (defense) for our team. We will also have some seniors who will be starting for the third straight season."

Up Next

Nevada's season-opener is slated for a week from today, as they square off on the road with Big 8 cross-division foe Logan-Rogersville. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.