Arizona completes improbable rally

| December 16, 2012 8:00 PM

* NEW MEXICO BOWL

Matt Scott threw two short touchdown passes in the final 46 seconds and college football's postseason started with a wild one when Arizona rallied past Nevada 49-48 on Saturday in the New Mexico Bowl at Albuquerque, N.M.

Overcoming a slow start and three big turnovers, Arizona (8-5) recovered an onside kick in the last minute, setting up Scott's 2-yard toss to Tyler Slavin with 19 seconds left for the winning score.

Arizona trailed 21-0 in the first quarter and was down 45-28 entering the final period. Scott threw for 382 yards and marched his team back into the game despite two earlier interceptions.

The nation's rushing leader, Ka'Deem Carey, gained 172 yards for the Wildcats and but fell short of becoming only the 16th running back in NCAA history to reach 2,000 yards in a season.

The teams combined for 1,237 total yards, the second most of any bowl game.

Cody Fajardo threw for three touchdowns and ran for another score to lead the Wolf Pack (7-6). He had 256 yards passing and 140 yards rushing and controlled most of the game, completing 22 of 32 throws.

Stefphon Jefferson, the nation's second-leading rusher, ran for 180 yards for Nevada and also seemed unstoppable as the Wolf Pack took a big lead and held on to it for most of the game.

* FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL

No. 18 Utah State 41, Toledo 15: At Boise, Kerwynn Williams ran for 235 yards and three touchdowns and Utah State won a bowl game for the first time in nearly 20 years by beating Toledo (9-4) in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

The victory capped the best season in Utah State history. The Aggies finished 11-2, won the Western Athletic Conference title outright and had their first bowl victory since 1993.

Chuckie Keeton scored on a 62-yard run to put Utah State up 7-3, and Williams, the game's MVP, sparked a 28-point fourth quarter for Utah State when he broke through the defense and raced 63 yards for a touchdown to put the Aggies up 20-9. Williams, who had 18 carries, followed that with TD runs of 5 and 25 yards. Keeton ran for 92 yards and was 21 of 31 passing for 229 yards.