Nevada Wolf Pack vs Arizona Wildcats Box Score on Dec 15, 2012

Arizona 49, Nevada 48: Matt Scott threw for two touchdowns in the final 42 seconds – including the go-ahead score with 19 seconds left – as the Wildcats overcame a huge fourth-quarter deficit to rally past the Wolf Pack in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.

Scott passed for 369 yards and three touchdowns and added another score on the ground while Ka'Deem Carey – the country’s top per-game rusher – ran for a game-high 171 yards and three TDs for Arizona (8-5), which overcame deficits of 21 points in the first half and 17 to start the fourth quarter to end its two-game bowl losing streak.

After Allen Hardison converted a short field goal with 1:48 remaining to give Nevada (7-6) a 48-35 lead, Scott needed just six plays and 66 seconds to lead his team 75 yards and cut the Wildcats’ deficit to six on a two-yard slant pass to Austin Hill.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Wolf Pack’s Duke Williams was unable to handle the onside kick by Arizona and Kylan Butler recovered the loose ball. With no timeouts left, Scott needed just three plays and 23 seconds to march the Wildcats 51 yards and give Arizona its only lead of the game.

Marquis Flowers intercepted Cody Fajardo’s pass on Nevada’s next offensive play, sealing an improbable win for the Wildcats.

Fajardo accounted for four touchdowns – three passing – while Stefphon Jefferson, the second-leading per-game rusher in the nation, ran for 164 yards and two scores for the Wolf Pack.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Nevada coach Chris Ault was denied his 235th career win, leaving him in a second-place tie with Texas’ Mack Brown among active coaches behind only Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer. … The teams combined for 70 first downs and 1,234 yards for the game, including 721 yards on 102 plays in the first half alone. … Frustration boiled over on the Arizona sideline in between the first and second quarters as teammates NT Tevin Hood and LB Cody Ippolito threw punches at each other on the sideline after the Wildcats fell behind by 21 points.