2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Nevada 20, Boston College 13

January 9, 2011 Kraft Bowl: Nevada beats Boston College, 20-13 Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — Rishard Matthews caught a touchdown pass and returned a punt for another score, and No. 13/15 Nevada used a strong defensive effort to cap its most successful season ever at college football’s highest level by beating Boston College, 20-13, in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on Sunday night. Colin Kaepernick threw for 192 yards and a touchdown for the Wolf Pack (13-1), which snapped a four-game bowl losing streak by tying a school record for wins in a season set when it played in what used to be Division I-AA. This game matched BC’s top-ranked rushing defense against Nevada’s high-powered Pistol attack that was third in the nation in rushing. The Eagles (7-6) did a good job controlling the Wolf Pack on the ground, holding them to a season-low 114 yards — more than 190 below their season average. Kaepernick was held to 22 yards on nine carries, but managed to top 3,000 yards passing for the season. That allowed him to join Brad Smith and Vince Young as the only FBS quarterbacks to rush for at least 1,000 yards and throw for 3,000 in the same season. With an efficient passing day by Kaepernick, the big plays from Matthews and a stout defense, the Wolf Pack was able to snap Boston College’s five-game winning streak. The Eagles were held to 185 yards. Freshman Chase Rettig completed 14-of-34 passes for 121 yards with two interceptions. Boston College played without leading rusher Montel Harris, who was listed as the starter but did not play after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in late November. The teams traded field goals in the third quarter, giving Nevada a 20-10 lead heading into the fourth. Boston College was unable to capitalize on an interception that Luke Kuechly returned to the Wolf Pack 6. But two runs netted just a yard and Rettig threw an incompletion on third down, forcing the kick. After Nevada’s field goal late in the third, Rettig was intercepted by Marlon Johnson on a deflected ball that gave Nevada the ball at the BC 41. Vai Taua fumbled the ball right back but once again the Eagles were unable to take advantage. Helped by a pair of pass interference penalties, BC got a 32-yard field goal from Nate Freese with 3:52 to play to make it 20-13. The Eagles got the ball back at their 10 with 3:06 to go and got a 32-yard pass from Rettig to Chris Pantale on their first play. Two plays later, Khalid Wooten intercepted a pass to seal the win and send the some 38,000 Nevada fans who drove a about 2.5 hours from Reno home happy. The Wolf Pack sold about 15,500 tickets, surpassing California and Navy for the most sold in the nine-year history of this game. The attendance of 41,063 was the second-largest for the bowl. It included one streaker, who ran on the field in the fourth quarter, causing a brief delay. After an early fumble by Kaepernick led to a 30-yard touchdown run by Andre Williams, Matthews provided the Nevada fans plenty to cheer about in the first half. First, Matthews got behind the defense as Kaepernick scrambled to his left. Kaepernick then flicked a pass toward the end zone for an easy 27-yard score that tied the game for Nevada. The Wolf Pack then held the Eagles to a three-and-out on the next possession and Matthews returned the punt 72 yards to make it 14-7. That was Nevada’s first punt return for a score since Oct. 13, 2001. Nevada added a late 32-yard field goal by Anthony Martinez to take a 10-point lead at the half. The game was sponsored by Kraft, which is using the bowl to promote its efforts to fight hunger in the United States. Instead of a coin for the opening toss, officials tossed an Oreo cookie that was chocolate on one side and vanilla on the other. First quarter After winning the coin toss and electing to receive, the Wolf Pack quickly moved into BC territory before a Kaleb Ramsey sack of Colin Kaepernick killed the drive and forced a punt. On the Pack’s next possession, Kaepernick fumbled on a third-down play and it was recovered by BC’s Donnie Fletcher. Eagles running back Andre Williams scampered 30 yard around the left end on the next play to put BC up 7-0. Nevada answered on its next possession after Kaepernick extended the drive with two completions on third downs and then hit Rishard Matthews on a 27-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-7. After a BC three-and-out, Matthews returned the ensuing punt 72 yards for a touchdown to put Nevada up 14-7. Second quarter Nevada was forced to punt shortly after the quarter began. BC’s next drive was extended when Kaelin Burnett was whistled for a personal foul for roughing the quarterback on an incomplete pass on third down, but the Pack held strong after that and forced another punt. Taking over at its own 20, Nevada drove into the redzone but was forced to settle for a 32-yard field goal by Anthony Martinez that put the Pack up 17-7. Nevada forced another three-and-out – its fourth of the first half – the Pack offense crossed midfield before its drive stalled and punted. Deep in its own territory, BC melted the clock and Nevada led 17-7 at halftime. Third quarter After forcing a quick BC punt, the Pack took over at its own 25. Luke Kuechly then picked off Kaepernick two plays later and the BC linebacker returned the ball to the Nevada 6. The Pack defense held firm from there, forcing the Eagles to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Nate Freese that pulled BC within 17-10. After a pair of punts, a 25-yard pass from Kaepernick to Virgil Green on a big third down set up a 27-yard field goal by Martinez to make it 20-10. On BC’s next play from scrimmage, Marlon Johnson picked off a Chase Rettig pass to give Nevada good field position heading into the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter The Pack drove into BC territory before Vai Taua fumbled and Steele Divitto pounced on the ball for the Eagles. BC took possession on the Pack 25, but couldn’t muster much and was forced into its eighth punt of the night. After three more consecutive punts, BC drove into Nevada territory thanks to a couple of nice plays by Rettig and pass interference calls on Duke Williams and Doyle Miller. Freese nailed a 32-yard field goal to pull BC within 20-13 with 3:52 remaining. The Eagles opted for an onside kick, which was snared by the Pack’s Brandon Wimberly. After Nevada went three-and-out, BC had one finally shot to drive the length of the field and tie the game but Khalid Wooten picked off Rettig with 2:07 remaining to seal the win.