The Pack is back in the air

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Sept. 30, 2004 | 10:04 a.m.

Class: Sophomore. Height: 6-foot-5. Weight: 218. Hometown: Reno. High school: McQueen.

* -- played three games, granted medical redshirt for injury

It's pretty safe to say that few players on the Nevada-Reno football team were happier than quarterback Jeff Rowe to hear the news in November that Chris Ault was returning for his third head coaching stint at the school.

Rowe, a strong-armed 6-foot-5, 218-pounder from McQueen High School, grew up attending Wolf Pack football games and was well aware of Ault's "Air Wolf" passing attack.

"I knew there was going to be a chance that we were going to throw the ball a lot," Rowe said. "I think coach (Chris) Tormey liked to run the ball to set up the pass. But now we throw the ball more."

Nevada-Reno (2-2), which faces UNLV (0-4) on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium in the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon, ranked just 62nd nationally a year ago in passing offense with an average of 215.7 yards per game. But the Wolf Pack is ranked 24th this year, averaging 258.8 yards per game.

Rowe, who suffered a season-ending shoulder separation near the end of UNLV's 16-12 win against the Wolf Pack last year, is one of the major reasons why. He has completed 73 of 132 passes for 853 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.

"He looks a lot more polished than he was a year ago," UNLV defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson said. "He's putting the ball where he wants to put it. He's a big, strong-armed kid who actually moves pretty well. They roll him out on the edge and run some naked bootlegs. He's a talented kid."

Ault said: "He's progressing real well. I'm pleased with him. Each week he has progressed with the offense. He has a real strong arm and can make the hard throw. He's also a real student of the game."

Rowe said he hasn't had much trouble learning Ault's one-back offense.

"Actually, things are a little more clear than they were before," he said. "It's less complicated and the reads are easier to make. It's a little crisper than last year."

The Wolf Pack have two of the most talented receivers in the WAC in 6-foot-3 junior Nichiren Flowers (29 catches, 412 yards, 2 touchdowns), a former prep teammate of Rebels running back Dominique Dorsey, and 6-foot-1 sophomore Caleb Spencer (25 catches, 228 yards, 2 touchdowns).

"Flowers catches the heck out of it," Bradeson said. "But they're just winging it all around. That's coach Ault's system."

Rowe is hoping this year's Fremont Cannon game is a lot less painful than last year's loss.

"I separated my (throwing) shoulder on the third to the last play of the game," he said. "It was on a quarterback draw up the middle and I just landed on it wrong. It was a third-degree separation and it was two or three months before I could even throw again. But I haven't had any problems since.

"I'm definitely looking forward to this year's game. It's a big game for both teams. And it's always fun to play against your rival."