PROVO — In BYU’s 28-23 victory last year at Nevada, quarterback Taysom Hill rushed for 154 yards and running back Jamaal Williams gained a career-high 219 yards on the ground.
Neither one played Saturday night against the Wolf Pack due to injuries.
While Hill suffered a season-ending leg injury against Utah State, Williams has been out with an ankle injury the past couple of weeks.
It's been one of those seasons for the Cougars, whose injury list continues to grow.
In addition to Hill, BYU has lost cornerback Jordan Johnson (arm) and wide receiver Nick Kurtz (foot) to season-ending injuries. And a large number of players have dealt with a variety of maladies.
The most common injury?
Going into Saturday’s game, BYU had sustained 23 ankle injuries, including wide receiver/punt returner Devon Blackmon, who injured his ankle in Tuesday’s practice. Running back Algernon Brown sprained his ankle in the first half Saturday night to add to the ever-expanding list.
Besides Williams, other Cougars who did not play Saturday against Nevada were Alani Fua (ankle), Craig Bills (concussion), running back/kick returner Adam Hine (ankle) and offensive lineman Brayden Kearsley (ankle).
Safety Dallin Leavitt (ankle) and wide receiver Terenn Houk (neck), who missed the previous game at Central Florida, were available in backup roles Saturday.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: Nevada coach Brian Polian’s roots in football run deep.
Polian is the son of Bill Polian, currently an NFL analyst for ESPN and former vice chairman of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
Bill Polian began his career as a high school history teacher and coach. Later, he became a position coach in college.
“His dream was to be a head college coach,” said Brian Polian. “I’m very lucky that I’m able to live his dream. Fortunately, it’s my dream as well. We get to share this time together, and it’s a blessing.”
While the Polians talk frequently, the elder Polian doesn’t offer advice to his son.
“He never has,” Brian said. “He’ll only answer if I ask. To be honest with you, because he’s not with us every day, and doesn’t know the intricacies specifically of what we’re doing, what we talk about isn’t very specific to a play-call or a player. It’s more general, program-management, leadership, communication, things like that.”
Brian said his dad has shaped his career in football.
“He’s incredibly influential. I’m very lucky in the sense that I have a dad that is incredibly loving and supporting and was a wonderful father. You combine that with the fact that he’s an expert in what I do.”
FIRST TIME: Earlier this week, Brian Polian said he was looking forward to his first visit to Provo.
“I’ve never been to Provo and I’ve never had the chance to see LaVell Edwards Stadium,” he said. “I think it’s going to be an exciting weekend. As a college football fan my whole life, I know coach (LaVell) Edwards and the history of the program. It will be a pretty cool thing to experience that.”
WE MEET AGAIN: BYU safety Kai Nacua played against Nevada wide receiver Hasaan Henderson in high school.
Nacua played at Liberty High in Las Vegas while Henderson prepped at Las Vegas High. Both Nacua and Henderson played quarterback in high school.
“He’s a big dude,” Nacua said this week of the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Henderson.
“Hasaan Henderson is a converted quarterback who didn’t play receiver until halfway through last year,” Polian said. “He’ll continue to improve because he spent all of his life playing quarterback and he’s only been a receiver for a year-and-a-half. He has played well in spots. He creates a difficult matchup because of his size.”