SAN DIEGO (AP) — Wide receiver Elijah Cooks threw a 50-yard pass on a trick play to set up Devonte Lee's go-ahead, 1-yard run with 10:31 to go that lifted Nevada to a 17-13 victory against No. 24 San Diego State on Saturday night.
The Wolf Pack surprised the Aztecs with a reverse, with running back Toa Taua flipping the ball to Cooks, who stopped and threw a strike to Brendan O'Leary-Orange at the SDSU 5. Three plays later, Lee burst into the end zone for a 17-10 lead.
The Wolf Pack (6-4, 3-3 Mountain West) became bowl eligible and defeated the Aztecs for the second straight season. SDSU (7-2, 4-2) struggled in its first action since jumping into The Associated Press Top 25 two weeks ago. The Aztecs, whose four-game winning streak was snapped, still lead the West Division.
The Wolf Pack's go-ahead score came after SDSU converted on a daring fourth-down play that was nullified by a holding call. Coach Rocky Long went for it on fourth-and-1 from his 17 and Chase Jasmin converted, but Jacob Capra was called for holding, forcing the Aztecs to punt.
SDSU's Matt Araiza kicked a 44-yard field goal with 3:46 to go. The Aztecs got the ball back but the drive fizzled near midfield and they turned it over on downs with 1:25 to go.
Cooks also caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from redshirt freshman Carson Strong to give the Wolf Pack a 10-3 lead midway through the third quarter.
Strong, making his third straight start and seventh overall, led an impressive drive to open the second half. The drive was kept alive when Lee ran the wildcat for two yards on fourth-and-1 from the SDSU 10. After a false start, Strong found Cooks open in the end zone for the score. After a brief end zone celebration, the two ran off the field together.
The Aztecs countered with a long drive of their own to tie it on Chance Bell's 3-yard run.
The teams played to a 3-3 halftime tie, with Brandon Talton kicking a 34-yard field goal for Nevada in the first quarter and SDSU's Araiza kicking a 21-yarder early in the second quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Nevada: Strong looked impressive at a position where there's been upheaval this season. He started the first three games before coach Jay Norvell tried Malik Henry and Cristian Solano before going back to Strong. Strong was coming off a 305-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 21-10 win against New Mexico.
San Diego State: The Aztecs continued to struggle to score points with their new spread offense. The Aztecs were driving inside the Nevada 15 late in the first half after Chase Jasmin leaped over the pile on fourth-and-1 for the first down. But Ryan Agnew threw an incompletion in the end zone and then was intercepted by Daniel Brown, who leaped for the pick at the 1 and returned it 22 yards.
Postgame notes – San Diego State
-Nevada's 17-13 win at No. 24 San Diego State tonight marked its first ranked road win in school history and only the second win against the Aztecs on the road in program history.
-This is the second time in program history that Nevada has defeated the Aztecs in consecutive meetings. The Wolf Pack won 17-13 tonight and 28-24 on Oct. 27, 2018, and won 44-6 and 26-0 in 1945-46.
-This is Nevada's first ranked win since defeating No. 3 Boise State in the Miracle at Mackay on Nov. 26, 2010. It is the Pack's fifth win against a ranked opponent in school history.
-San Diego State is now 50-2 in the Rocky Long era when holding its opponents to 17 points or less.
-In the fourth quarter, Nevada put together a trick play where Elijah Cooks completed his first-career pass for 50-yards to Brenden O'Leary-Orange after a reverse from Toa Taua. It was O'Leary Orange's first catch of the season.
-Devonte Lee scored his third touchdown of the season in the fourth quarter to put the Pack ahead 17-10. It proved to be the game-winning touchdown.
-Linebacker Kyle Adams made his fourth-consecutive start for the Wolf Pack tonight.
-Through its first two offensive drives, SDSU was held to just 17 rushing yards and zero pass yards by the Nevada defense.
- With 3:22 left in the third quarter, Brandon Talton drilled a 34-yard field goal for the first points of the game. He is now 15-of-17 on the year and has made a field goal in 9-of-10 games in his career.
- San Diego State was held scoreless in the first quarter, the second time this year Nevada has accomplished that feat. The other occurrence was against Weber State.
-Senior WR Kaleb Fossum caught a 30-yard pass in the second quarter, increasing his streak to 24 consecutive games with a reception. He has caught at least one pass in every game he's played at Nevada.
-Fossum's 30-yard reception was a season-long for him.
-Tight end Reagan Roberson caught a pass in the second quarter, his second of the season and first since Nevada played at Oregon.
-Defensive end Sam Hammond set a career-high with six tackles, all coming before halftime. He finished with nine, which tied a team-high on the night. He also recorded a sack.
-Gabriel Sewell's nine tackles tonight were a season high.
-Cornerback Daniel Brown recorded his fourth interception of the season in the second quarter. That is the most on the team and a career-high for Brown.
-Nevada's three points are the fewest it has allowed to an opponent in the first half of a game this year. The previous low was seven to New Mexico last week.
-Dominic Christian recorded a six-yard reception in the third quarter. He now has a reception in every game this season.
-Nevada did not pick up its first penalty until the 11:15 mark in the third quarter.
-The Pack opened the second half with a 16-play, 7:48 minute drive that was capped off with a 13-yard touchdown reception by Elijah Cooks.
-Cooks has now matched his season-high with six touchdown receptions. He had six last year as a sophomore.
-Wide receiver Ben Putman matched a career-high with four receptions. He accumulated 24 yards on the night.
-The all-time series between Nevada and San Diego State is now 7-5 in favor of the Aztecs.