Chris Murray | Reno Gazette-Journal

Chris Murray/RGJ

BOISE, Idaho – News and notes from Nevada’s 41-14 loss to Boise State on Saturday.

Brian Losness/USA TODAY Sports

* Wolf Pack strong safety Asauni Rufus, arguably the team’s best defensive player, broke his leg in the middle of the third quarter and will miss the remainder of the season, coach Jay Norvell said.

On the play, Boise State running back Robert Mahone was tackled around the line of scrimmage as Broncos receiver A.J. Richardson came flying in around seven yards away from the play in a blocking attempt. He went through the air before clipping Rufus’ left leg, which broke upon impact. Norvell said Rufus will have surgery Sunday.

“He’s a real leader on our team, our kids really look up to him and appreciate him,” Norvell said. “It will be a big loss. We’ll have to have some younger guys step up in his place.”

Rufus still finished with a team-high seven tackles and finishes the year with 75 tackles, including 5.5 for loss. He also had three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 1.5 sacks this season.

“Asauni is just a great kid,” offensive tackle Austin Corbett said. “He’s not a big vocal guy. He comes in, puts his nose down and just does everything right to make sure he’s flying around with the team. You get that and it hurts, but you saw how the team rallied around him. He’s a great kid and I’m just praying for him and keeping our thoughts up to make sure he’s all right.”

Rufus is a third-year starter for Nevada and plays basically every down. He has 275 tackles in his career, the 11th most in school history, and is one of the Wolf Pack’s most reliable players. As he was carted off the field following the injury, the Wolf Pack players surrounded him and offered condolences.

Surgery will reveal the extent of the damage but it is expected that Rufus will be able to return for the start of the 2018 season, which will mark his senior campaign.

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“We’ve been together for four years and it was tough to see him go down,” said defensive end Malik Reed, Rufus’ roommate. “When he did, I said a little prayer for him and told him I loved him and wished him a fast recovery. He’s pretty upbeat about it, better than other people take injuries. He has the mindset to overcome it.”

* Junior QB Ty Gangi’s streak of 86 consecutive pass attempts without an interception came to an end in the first quarter. He was intercepted three times, tying a career high set against San Diego State last season and equaled at Fresno State earlier this month. Two of Gangi’s interceptions came on throws across the middle where he didn’t see the defender. The third came on a 50-50 ball against man coverage.

“I just have to make better decisions,” said Gangi, who completed 24-of-37 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. “Obviously can’t turn it over three times. I’ll go in the film room and learn from it and move on.”

The Wolf Pack was unable to create a turnover and lost the takeaway battle, 3-0.

“Ty wasn’t as sharp tonight,” Norvell said. “He had a couple mistakes, and we weren’t able to make any turnovers and get the ball away from them and put any pressure on their quarterback, and that’s not a great combination for the team.”

* Sophomore RB Kelton Moore became the first player to rush for 100 yards against Boise State this season. The Broncos were one of five FBS teams to keep all of its opponents from a 100-yard rushing game prior to Saturday’s matchup. Moore gained 106 yards on 17 carries, his third 100-yard performance of the season. He also rushed for his third touchdown.

“Kelton did a good job,” Norvell said. “Kelton really played hard in the game. He responded the way that we need a guy to respond in this type of game.”

* After taking a 14-10 lead early in the second quarter, the Wolf Pack attempted an onside kick by Ramiz Ahmed that it did not recover. The ball was loose for a second but Kyle Adams was unable to corral it.

“I just felt like in the course of the game we’d need to (try and steal a possession) and in the long run we needed a lot more than that,” Norvell said. “That was something we felt like we had to try. We felt like it was a good time for it and really had a good shot to get it and really just fell short.”

* Senior WR Wyatt Demps extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 21 games. He had six receptions for 61 yards. Sophomore WR Brendan O’Leary-Orange established a career high with six receptions for 46 yards. Freshman McLane Mannix was limited to three catches for 30 yards. It was just his third game this season without a touchdown.

* The Wolf Pack was penalized only two times for 25 yards; Boise State was flagged six times for 60 yards.

* Nevada was shutout in the second half for the first time this season.

* The announced attendance for the game was 30,858. The Wolf Pack’s previous game at Boise State (in 2013) drew 35,843. The game before that (in 2011) drew 34,098.

* The Wolf Pack’s captains were Gangi, Corbett, Reed and K Spencer Pettit.

* Nevada fell to 13-29 all-time against Boise State, 1-15 in the last 16 meetings and 2-18 in Boise.

* Nevada won the coin toss and opted to receive the ball. It was the second time this season the Wolf Pack has done that, also receiving against Washington State. Nevada scored a touchdown on that first drive.