Arkansas State out gained the Wolf Pack by a count of 499 to 285, gained more first downs than Nevada (25 to Nevada’s 15) and the Red Wolves committed few penalties than Nevada (Arkansas State four to Nevada’s six)

Despite the Red Wolves being better than the Wolf Pack in these and many other stats, the Wolf Pack overcame those deficiencies by riding a strong defense and the offense making plays at the right time late to defeat Arkansas State in overtime 16-13 to win their second Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl Championship. Nevada’s bowl victory over Arkansas State on Saturday puts the Mountain West conference bowl record at 3-2 for the 2018 bowl season.

The Wolf Pack offense was abysmal for three-plus quarters but in the end, the Wolf Pack made the plays they needed to on offense to put the game into overtime and eventually winning their eighth game of the season.

The Wolf Pack defense kept Nevada in this game by picking off Arkansas State quarterback Justice Hansen three times and limiting a very prolific Arkansas State offense to just ten points. The defense alone was enough to give the Wolf Pack offense the opportunity to finally break through and make big plays at the right time.

With the score, 7-3 late in regulation, the Wolf Pack offense finally got on track as they went on a ten-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Devonte Lee out of the Wildcat formation to give the Wolf Pack a 10-7 lead late in the fourth quarter.

Arkansas State got the ball back and marched the ball down into Nevada territory to set up Blake Groupe to attempt a field goal to send the game into overtime. Groupe’s 32-yard field goal was good and the game went into overtime tied up at 10-10.

In the overtime period, the Red Wolves went first on offense and moved the ball into the red zone where the Wolf Pack stopped the Red Wolves on third down and forced Arkansas State to kick a field goal. Groupe did nail a 24-yard field goal to put Arkansas State up 13-10 in the first overtime.