Arizona overcomes Nevada 49-48 in New Mexico Bowl

Updated 9:44 PM ET

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Matt Scott threw two touchdown passes in the final 46 seconds and college bowl season started with a wild one when Arizona rallied to beat Nevada 49-48 on Saturday in the New Mexico Bowl.

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.

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.

But after forcing Nevada to kick a field goal with 1:48 left that made it 48-35, Scott drove the Wildcats 75 yards. Arizona then recovered an onside kick and Scott moved Arizona into the end zone after three plays and 51 yards.

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL

UTAH STATE 41, TOLEDO 15

BOISE, Idaho - Kerwynn Williams ran for 235 yards and three touchdowns and No. 18 Utah State won a bowl game for the first time in nearly 20 years, beating Toledo 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 sparked a 28-point fourth quarter for Utah State when he broke through the Toledo 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.

Toledo (9-4) was able to move the ball on offense and made five trips inside the red zone. But penalties and miscues forced the Rockets to settle for Jeremiah Detmer's three field goals.