San Jose State tight end Derrick Deese Jr. (87) loses his helmet after a reception on the UNLV 1-yard line during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nick Nash scored the winning touchdown on a 15-yard quarterback draw as San Jose State turned a blocked field goal into the decisive drive, beating UNLV 27-20 on Thursday night.
Nash passed for 213 yards and ran for a career-high 121 more.
The Spartans (4-4, 2-2 Mountain West) never led until there was 7:06 remaining in the game, capping a comeback 24-3 run and then holding off UNLV's final 19-play drive until time expired. The Rebels came as close as the 11-yard line.
San Jose State, the defending Mountain West champion, had fought into a 20-20 tie a series earlier after a grinding 88-yard, 11-play drive on Tyler Neven's TD from the 10 - cutting away from would-be tacklers at the 5 - less than a minute into the fourth quarter.
The Spartans then partially blocked a 39-yard field goal attempt, foiling UNLV's attempt to retake the lead. Rebels kicker Daniel Gutierrez had hit twice earlier, including a career-long 53-yarder, extending his school-record streak of made field goals to 16.
The loss extends UNLV's losing streak to 12 games, reaching through the 2020 season. Early on, UNLV (0-7, 0-3) turned two San Jose State fumbles into short touchdown drives - from the 20 and the 18 - as the Rebels built a 17-3 lead deep into the second quarter.
Cameron Friel completed 20 of 28 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown for UNLV. Charles Williams carried 24 times for 94 yards and a touchdown.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.
Sign up for the AP's college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
San Jose State quarterback Nick Nash (16) avoids a tackle by UNLV linebacker Kylan Wilborn (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
The Associated Press
San Jose State safety Jay Lenard, left, recovers a UNLV fumble as teammate Kyle Harmon (45) and UNLV Rebels offensive lineman Daviyon McDaniel (71) watch during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
The Associated Press
UNLV quarterback Cameron Friel (7) scrambles under pressure form San Jose State defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko (42) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
The Associated Press
San Jose State quarterback Nick Nash (16) runs with the ball against UNLV during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
The Associated Press
UNLV running back Charles Williams (8) tries to fend off San Jose State cornerback Nehemiah Shelton (23) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
The Associated Press
UNLV running back Charles Williams (8) makes it into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against San Jose State in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
The Associated Press