RENO, Nev. — As the University of Nevada's top receiver, Caleb Spencer is used to his teammates looking to him for big plays.

But yesterday was a little different. He figured he also owed them something extra.

"I asked a lot of guys for (their) tickets, so I had to come through," Spencer said.

And the Kamehameha Schools graduate did, catching two touchdown passes and throwing a key block to help spring running back B.J. Mitchell on a 30-yard touchdown run as the Wolf Pack beat Hawai'i, 38-28.

Overall, he had five catches for 68 yards, including a one-handed grab for a 14-yard score in the third quarter.

"I had about 40 people here to see me, so I had to get some of the other guys to give me their tickets," Spencer said. "I asked some of the guys to help me out with tickets and they did."

"He always plays hard but he put a little something extra into this game," said teammate Nichiren Flowers. "It was a big one for him, being from Hawai'i and all. I guess he wanted to show everybody he made the right move coming here."

Spencer said he was talked to by UH coming out of Palomar (Calif.) College. "But they asked me to walk on and I couldn't put my parents in that situation (financially), so when Nevada offered me a scholarship, it worked out."

Nevada coach Chris Ault said, "We've had some great receivers but that (14-yard) catch was as good a catch as I've seen. That was not a good throw by (QB) Jeff (Rowe) but Caleb got the job done in the end zone."

When Spencer came out of junior college having made the conversion to wide receiver, "we kind of took a chance on him," Ault said. "We had a good contact there and we heard good things about Caleb. I'm sure if Hawai'i had had a scholarship available they would have given him one. Thankfully, we did."

INJURY REPORT

Defensive tackle Ikaika Alama-Francis suffered a bruised lower back; defensive back Ryan Keomaka a sprained right ankle; nose tackle Michael Lafaele a bruised left knee and linebacker Adam Leonard a stinger in his right shoulder, UH officials said.

All are listed as probable for UH's game with Utah State on Saturday at Aloha Stadium.

NO OFFENSE

Ault said he was more amused than upset at June Jones' characterization of his new "pistol" offense as a modified single wing.

"I used to be a tailback, so I know single-wing football," Ault said. "And we don't have guys, athletes, as good as me doing that. But it is a special offense and you saw what it could do."

BIG GAME FOR BESS

Slotback Davone Bess had a career-high 171 yards and a touchdown on 12 catches, his fourth straight 100-yard-plus game

"He's pretty amazing; just a great football player and a clutch guy to throw the ball to," quarterback Colt Brennan said. "He makes your life a lot easier."

GRAUNKE TIME PLANNED

Jones said his insertion of backup quarterback Tyler Graunke in the midst of a second-quarter drive was by design.

Jones said before the game he planned to get Graunke some work. "We were going to play him in the game — four, five, six, seven snaps, whatever it was — and that was my intention," Jones said.

Brennan said Graunke's two appearances, one of which came on a scoring drive and one that resulted in a punt, "didn't mess up anything for us."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.