Nevada drops A-State in overtime Arizona Bowl thriller

Nevada drops A-State in overtime Arizona Bowl thriller

Red Wolves finish 2018 campaign 8-5 overall

From Arizona Bowl Media

www.arizonabowl .com TUCSON, Ariz. – Four quarters weren’t enough to decide Saturday’s 2018 Arizona Bowl, following a late Nevada touchdown drive that gave the Pack a 10-7 lead and a last-minute drive from the Red Wolves that ended with a field goal as the clock expired.

The Wolf Pack won the game for the second time in four years Saturday — although this one was anything but a certainty — with a dramatic 16-13 win over Arkansas State in overtime.

Nevada is clearly right at home in the Arizona Bowl. Nevada’s last two bowl wins have come in Tucson, including a win over Mountain West rival Colorado State in the first Arizona Bowl.

The Wolf Pack finished the season at 8-5, becoming the first Nevada team in the Mountain West era to win eight games. Arkansas State, of the Sun Belt Conference, also wound up 8-5.

Arkansas State scored on its first (and only) overtime possession, on a short field goal from Blake Grupe for a 13-10 lead.

But Nevada answered on its overtime possession, which was capped by an 11-yard pass from Ty Gangi to Reagan Roberson.

Roberson, a Douglas High product, entered the game with one catch on the season. He had two in the Arizona Bowl, for 19 yards.

“It’s trust; you’ve got to give players a chance to make plays,” Nevada coach Jay Norvell said of going to Roberson on what turned out to be the game’s final play. “Boy, (the Pack players) worked their tails off … and he’s another kid that was a walk-on and earned a scholarship.

We’re so proud of his performance today.”

The first 56 minutes of playing time were mostly a tale of Nevada struggling on offense while making big plays on defense.

The Wolf Pack gained just 98 yards through three quarters, while punting seven times and giving up two interceptions. But the defense kept making stops, keeping the Arkansas State lead at 7-3 for most of the game and setting the stage for the dramatic final moments.

Overall, four Arkansas State drives ended inside the Nevada 10-yard line, including three in a row in a span before and after halftime.

Nevada running back Devonte Lee (2) celebrates with Cole Turner after scoring with 1:06 left in the game Saturday. It was the Wolf Pack’s only touchdown in regulation.

Nevada running back Devonte Lee (2) celebrates with Cole Turner after scoring with 1:06 left in the game Saturday. It was the Wolf Pack’s only touchdown in regulation.

(Photo: Rick Scuteri/AP) “The fourth-down stops were incredible, and the turnovers with J.B. (Justin Brent); they just would not be denied,” Norvell said.

“We talked today about playing four quarters — and we played five today, I guess — and just fighting and believing and continuing to stay with the plan.

And having faith; we had faith today.”

In addition to Roberson, Nevada got pivotal contributions from a number of unheralded sources, including: Receiver Ben Putman, who led the team with four catches for 114 yards, including a 44-yarder. He had not previously caught a pass for Nevada.

Receivers Dominic Christian and Crishaun Lappin combined for five catches.

Defensive back Brent, who recorded his first career interception in the first quarter, then added another pick in the second.

With its win Saturday, Nevada improved to 6-10 all-time in bowl games.

Norvell improved to 11-14 over his two seasons at Nevada, with the Wolf Pack posting a five-win improvement in 2018.