2018 Arizona Bowl

The 2018 Arizona Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 29, 2018.^[6] It was the fourth edition of the Arizona Bowl, and one of the 2018–19 bowl games concluding the 2018 FBS football season. Sponsored by the Nova Home Loans mortgage broker company, the game was officially known as the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl.

2018 Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
4th Arizona Bowl
Arkansas State Red Wolves Nevada Wolf Pack (8–4) (7–5) Sun Belt Mountain West 13 16 Head coach:  Blake Anderson Head coach:  Jay Norvell
1 2 3 4 OT Total Arkansas State 0 7 0 3 3 13 Nevada 0 3 0 7 6 16
Date	December 29, 2018
Season	2018
Stadium	Arizona Stadium
Location	Tucson, Arizona
MVP	Ty Gangi (QB, Nevada)[1] & B. J. Edmonds (S, Arkansas State)[2]
Favorite	Arkansas State by 1.5[3]
Referee	Tom Stapleton (MAC)
Attendance	32,368[4]
Payout	US$413,000 [5]
United States TV coverage
Network	CBSSN
Announcers	Rich Waltz, Aaron Murray and John Schriffen
Arizona Bowl  < 2017  2019 >

Teams

The game was played between Arkansas State from the Sun Belt Conference and Nevada from the Mountain West Conference.^[7] In prior games between the two programs, Nevada held a 3–2 lead in the series.^[8]

Arkansas State Red Wolves

Main article: 2018 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team

On November 27, bowl organizers announced that Arkansas State would represent the Sun Belt Conference in the Arizona Bowl.^[9] The Red Wolves compiled an 8–4 record during the regular season, and were co-champion of the Sun Belt West Division along with the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, both of whom had 5–3 conference records.

Nevada Wolf Pack

Main article: 2018 Nevada Wolf Pack football team

Nevada received and accepted a bid to the Arizona Bowl on November 29.^[7] The Wolf Pack entered the bowl with a 7–5 record (5–3 in conference).

Game summary

Scoring summary

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP ARST NEV 2 5:09 10 43 5:07 NEV 36-yard field goal by Ramiz Ahmed 0 3 2 3:08 6 75 2:01 ARST Marcel Murray 2-yard touchdown run, Blake Grupe kick good 7 3 4 1:06 10 74 2:39 NEV Devonte Lee 1-yard touchdown run, Ramiz Ahmed kick good 7 10 4 0:00 8 61 1:06 ARST 32-yard field goal by Blake Grupe 10 10 OT 6 18 ARST 24-yard field goal by Blake Grupe 13 10 OT 5 25 NEV Reagan Roberson 11-yard touchdown reception from Ty Gangi 13 16 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 13 16

Statistics

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Red Wolves	0	7	0	3	3	13
Wolf Pack	0	3	0	7	6	16

Statistics	ARST	NEV
First downs	25	15
Plays–yards	93–499	74–285
Rushes–yards	47–224	40–85
Passing yards	275	200
Passing: comp–att–int	26–46–3	18–34–2
Time of possession	29:31	30:29

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Arkansas State	Passing	Justice Hansen	26/46, 275 yds, 3 INT
	Rushing	Warren Wand	16 car, 140 yds
	Receiving	Omar Bayless	7 rec, 129 yds
Nevada	Passing	Ty Gangi	18/34, 200 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Toa Taua	22 car, 56 yds
	Receiving	Ben Putman	4 rec, 114 yds