Last-minute score lifts San José State over Nevada football on Saturday

(This story was updated with more statistics.)

A tightly-contested, back-and-forth football game came down to the final minute, but San José State emerged victorious.

The Spartans scored with 50 seconds left to beat Nevada 35-31 in the Mountain West Conference opener for the Wolf Pack on Saturday.

San José State receiver Nick Nash, who used to play quarterback, lofted a 16-yard pass to Jabari Bates in the end zone for the winning score in front of 17,099 fans.

Nevada had a chance in the final seconds, but a Brendon Lewis pass to the end zone was intercepted with two seconds left.

Close games

The game was tied four times and each team had three leads.

Nevada coach Jeff Choate said the Wolf Pack has to learn from the loss.

"I told them we're going to play a lot of close games this season. That's just kind of who we are right now," Choate said. "As we continue to build our culture, we're going to have that breakthrough."

He said getting takeaways is one key to winning the close games.

Three of Nevada's four losses have come down to the final minute, the exception being on the road at Minnesota (27-0).

Stats

Nevada quarterback Lewis was 22-of-30 passing for 213 yards and two touchdowns, He also ran for two touchdowns on 13 carries for 90 yards.

"Brendon Lewis played one heck of a football game and he certainly gave us a chance to win it, so that's a positive, when a quarterback does something like that," Choate said. "He used his legs when he needed to. He was a plus-one threat for us on designed quarterback runs. He put the ball in some tight spots and gave our receivers a chance to make plays and took care of the football. I don't think you can ask much more of a quarterback."

Nevada back Savion Red had nine carries for 62 yards.

Wide receiver Jaden Smith caught two touchdowns Saturday, his first two-score game with Nevada, and the third of his career (one at Nevada, two at Tarleton State in 2022).

Smith finished the game with six catches for a team-high 89 yards.

Backup quarterback Chubba Purdy got in the game and completed a pass for 13 yards.

Nevada had 190 rushing yards. San José State threw for 326 yards as a team and rushed for 114.

Nevada had the ball for 35:03 while the Spartans had it for 24:57.

Each team was called for seven penalties for 75 yards.

Nevada leads the all-time series against San José State, 23-12-2, and is 9-9 in games in San Jose.

Nevada is 6-7 in Mountain West openers.

Up next

Nevada hosts Oregon State at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Mackay Stadium.

The Beavers (1-0, 4-1) beat Colorado State, 39-31 in double overtime Saturday night.

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Last-minute score lifts San José State over Nevada football on Saturday