Nevada held on and capitalized on a close game to knock off Arkansas State 16-13 in overtime of the fourth rendition of the Nova Home Loans ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl.
Nevada tight end Jacob Drahos (80) celebrates after the Wolfpack defeated Arkansas State in overtime at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018.
The Mountain West Conference has now won three out of four Nova Home Loans ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowls. The Wolfpack are responsible for two of them while Air Force won in 2016.
Arkansas State defensive back Antonio Fletcher hauls in a throw while working out with the defense as they get ready to face Nevada in the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018.
Arkansas State has played in eight consecutive bowl games dating back to 2011. During that span, the Red Wolves have a 3-5 record. Their last bowl win came over Central Florida in the 2016 Cure Bowl. The game is significant because, well, it’s the last game UCF lost.
Arkansas State defensive ends Dajon Emory, left, and Griffin Riggs commiserate amid the crowd of celebrating Nevada players and fans after a 16-13 loss in overtime in the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018.
Saturday’s 11:15 a.m. kickoff time didn’t prevent fans from purchasing beer and wine before and during the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl.
Domestic beers like Miller Lite, Coors Light and Bud Light were available for purchase, along with an impressive array of local craft beer. Barrio Brewing Co. added three new craft beers to the selection at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium: Barrio Rojo, Barrio Citrazona and Barrio Vienna Lager, which was the official beer of the bowl game.
Nevada head coach Jay Norvell is FIRED UP about giving walk-on wide receiver Ben Putman a full-ride scholarship. Norvell even dropped an Allen Iverson reference.
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports)
Nevada walk-on wide receiver Ben Putman became Saturday’s unlikely hero when he caught a wheel-route pass down the sideline that put Nevada one yard away from a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Running back Devonte Lee scored immediately after and the Wolfpack took a 10-7 lead.
The 5-foot-9-inch, red-headed junior college transfer was given a scholarship by coach Jay Norvell during the postgame trophy celebration.
“I didn’t even know who he was three months ago,†Norvell said. “All he does is compete.â€
Putman caught four passes for a team-high 114 yards.
Nevada quarterback Ty Gangi (6) spots running back Blake Wright (33) over the middle against Arkansas State in the third quarter of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018.
Nevada quarterback Ty Gangi was named the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl offensive MVP while Arkansas State’s B.J. Edmonds took home defensive MVP honors. Gangi completed 18 of 34 passes for 200 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Edmonds recorded eight tackles intercepted one pass.
Arkansas State defensive back Brandon Byner, right, manages to strip Nevada receiver Brendan O'Leary-Orange in the fourth quarter of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018.
Number of combined turnovers in Saturday’s game, all of them interceptions.
TV commentator Tim Tebow waits on the field before the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game between Alabama and Oklahoma, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Tim Tebow: Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL quarterback, minor league baseball player, college football analyst on SEC Network, author and … filmmaker? ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium’s scoreboard aired a trailer for Tebow’s new film “Run the Race†just as fans started to arrive Saturday. The movie details a bond between two Christian brothers that play football. When one suffers a career-ending injury, the other plays in his honor. Tebow is the movie’s executive producer, along with his older brother Robby.
Salpointe Catholic running back Bijan Robinson powers through as a Scottsdale Saguaro defender grabs on his jersey during the 4A state championship football game, Nov. 30, 2018, at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium.
Salpointe Catholic football star Bijan Robinson was honored on the field during the second quarter as the 2018 Nova Home Loans ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl High School Player of the Year.
The junior running back also won the Ed Doherty Award as the top high school football player in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ after he led the Lancers to a state championship appearance and broke the program’s single-season rushing record with 2,400 yards.
Robinson is one of the top running backs in the 2019 prospect class. He currently holds scholarship offers from Alabama, LSU, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, USC, Ohio State, UCLA and Michigan.
Nevada head coach Jay Norvell hoists the trophy after his Wolf Pack dropped Arkansas State 16-13 in overtime at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018.
Attendance for the fourth ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl. How does it compare to the previous ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowls? Last year’s matchup between New Mexico State and Utah State drew 39,132, the most fans in the bowl’s brief history.
The Nevada Wolfpack are your 2018 winners!
— ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ (@ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥Star)
“This is by far my favorite victory. It’s not even close.â€
— Norvell, after winning the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Bowl. Norvell formerly coached at the Power Five level with Nebraska, Oklahoma, UCLA and in the NFL with the Raiders and Colts.Â
Sports Reporter
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