Wolf Pack scores 72 points ... but the key play came on defense

Nevada coach Jay Norvell was pleased with the way his team dominated play Friday night in a 72-19 win over Portland State. Duke Ritenhouse, dritenhouse@rgj.com

Buy PhotoNevada’s scoreboard-busting performance on offense Friday night against Portland State is sure to get most of the headlines this week.

But it was a defensive play that was the key to Friday’s blowout win.

With a strangely subdued Nevada team trailing 9-0 to a team that had lost 13 straight games, Wolf Pack cornerback Daniel Brown picked off Portland State’s Daniel Alexander and returned the ball, untouched, for an 42-yard touchdown.

Brown’s play, in addition to getting Nevada on the scoreboard for the first time in 2018, ignited…