Nevada · Mountain WestKelley and Jones power Nevada past Western Kentucky
Dominic Kelley ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns, while Carter Jones threw two touchdown passes in Nevada’s 49-14 opener.
SEP 6, 2026
The Pate State · Editorial IllustrationNevada’s final margin over Western Kentucky
Dominic Kelley rushing yards
Western Kentucky record after the opener
01 · The NewsKelley and Jones Power Nevada Past Western Kentucky
Nevada turned Saturday night’s 2026 opener into a 49-14 rout of Western Kentucky, pairing Dominic Kelley’s breakaway running with Carter Jones’ efficient passing to start 1-0.
“The Associated Press said Carter Jones threw a pair of touchdown passes, Dominic Kelley scored two touchdowns, including a 72-yard touchdown run, and Nevada beat Western Kentucky 49-14 on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.”
Kelley broke free for the 72-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage and finished with 152 yards and two scores on 11 carries. The performance gave Nevada’s offense an immediate spark after a 3-9 finish in 2025.
Jones completed 9 of 15 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He found Donnie Cheers for a 32-yard score and DJ Asiasi for a 14-yard touchdown as Nevada stretched its lead to 35-7 late in the third quarter.
Rodney Tisdale Jr. completed 24 of 40 passes for 203 yards for the Hilltoppers. Ajay Allen rushed for 102 yards on 21 carries and scored both Western Kentucky touchdowns, including a 10-yard run with 1:18 left.
Herschel Turner and Carter Jackson also scored on runs for Nevada, which led 21-7 at halftime. Kelley’s long run and Jones’ two touchdown passes gave the Wolf Pack a fast, convincing start to a season that began with little margin for a slow one.
02 · The StakesThe Stakes
Nevada now has an early chance to build on the win when it hosts Montana State on Sept. 12. Western Kentucky, which went 9-4 last season, is 0-1 and faces Georgia on Sept. 12 with an 0-2 start at stake.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
The 35-point margin changes Nevada’s September math more than the 1-0 record. A team that won three games in 2025 can match that total by beating Montana State on Sept. 12 and winning at Middle Tennessee on Sept. 19, before Air Force visits Sept. 26. Those three games can turn the opener into a season trajectory before a two-week gap leading to the Oct. 10 trip to UTEP. Western Kentucky gets no such runway: Georgia and Indiana complete three consecutive road games through Sept. 19, with both included in Josh Pate’s preseason bracket after last season’s 9-4 finish.
“Kelley’s long run and Jones’ two touchdown passes gave the Wolf Pack a fast, convincing start to a season that began with little margin for a slow one.”
From the story04 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
How much can Ajay Allen carry Western Kentucky through its next two road games?
Allen accounted for both Hilltoppers touchdowns at Nevada, and the schedule now sends Western Kentucky to Georgia on Sept. 12 and Indiana on Sept. 19. His carries, rushing total and share of the scoring against Georgia will show whether Western Kentucky can establish more support for Rodney Tisdale Jr. after he attempted 40 passes in the opener.
05 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Can Kelley stay the engine?
His 152 rushing yards and two touchdowns gave Nevada its immediate offensive spark.
Does Western Kentucky avoid 0-2?
The Hilltoppers face Georgia on Sept. 12 with an 0-2 start at stake.