TUCSON, Ariz. -- To date, Arizona's last-second, can-you-believe-it win over Nevada in the 2012 New Mexico Bowl is wide receiver Austin Hill's "most favorite college memory."
It's not even close, and he's had a few.
It's clearly one of Rich Rodriguez's "craziest" moments as a coach. After all, rarely does a sequence of events go so right.
"We were (done) for all practical purposes," Rodriguez said this week, remembering the game Arizona won 49-48 in what could be described only as a miracle win. "Dead in the water."
Rodriguez, ever the coach known for quoting movies, rattled off Jim Carey's character from Dumb & Dumber after Nevada hit a field goal late in the fourth quarter to keep it just a two-possession game: "So, you're telling me there's a chance."
Given the explosiveness of the Wildcats' offense and their pace of play, two possessions would be plenty. But even Rodriguez knew it was a long shot.
"With Matt Scott being Matt Scott, we had a chance," Rodriguez said of his then-senior who had pulled games out all season. "It was as improbable a win under the situation in a game as I've ever been."
Rodriguez said it was the day Scott validated himself as being the best quarterback in the Pac-12. Rodriguez believed that all season.
Down 45-28 to start the fourth quarter, Arizona's Hill scored on a 63-yard pass from Scott to make it 45-35.
"The second touchdown I caught it and just gave it to the ref," Hill said this week. "I didn't celebrate."
Because Arizona was getting crushed and there was no need.
Arizona held Nevada to a field goal on its next possession, prompting Rodriguez's Dumb & Dumber line.
Scott said he was talking with his teammates, saying "this is not the way we want to go out (as seniors), not the way we want to end it."
Scott led a 75-yard touchdown drive less than two minutes and then -- bam! -- Arizona recovered an onside kick. Arizona was still playing ... and yes, still had a chance.
"Being down late in that game was tough," Scott said Friday in a telephone interview. "But we were able to fight and claw our way back."
Three plays later, Scott found Tyler Slavin (who was released last year before the season started) on a 2-yard play to seal the win.
People are still wondering how they pulled it off.
"I still wonder that 'til this day," Scott said with a laugh.
Scott said it speaks to the poise and presence the team had. There had been obstacles, "but it brought us to that point of overcoming that deficit."
When it was all over Scott said the experience was "amazing and almost indescribable."
Scott had 28 completions in 47 attempts, finishing with 382 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a score. He was named the game's offensive most valuable player moments after Nevada's Cody Fajardo had been voted the game MVP. But then the final two minutes happened and things changed.
"I heard that had happened," Scott said of the award being changed. "They switched them at the end of the game."
Arizona players hope this week's rematch with the Wolf Pack ends with same result but isn't nearly as close. Arizona senior Jared Tevis said his memory is "giving up 40-some points."
"We have to amend that," he said.
8 p.m. (PT), Arizona Stadium, Pac-12 Networks
WHAT TO WATCH
Anu Solomon trending? Which will it be for quarterback Anu Solomon, who had a great game in the season-opening victory over UNLV and was so-so last week against Texas-San Antonio. It makes sense to expect something in between. He's back at home and should be more confident with two games under his belt. A 300-yard passing day isn't out of reach. Three or four touchdowns, too.
Nick Wilson alert: With freshman back Nick Wilson taking over at running back (Terris Jones-Grigsby is listed as questionable), Arizona's running game seems to be in good hands. The return of DaVonte' Neal could help, too, although he's questionable with an ankle injury suffered in the opener. Wilson has run for two 100-yard games, making it 19 in a row for Arizona runners. It's the longest streak by an FBS team in 14 seasons. Nevada's defense, meanwhile, gave up just 38 yards last week to Washington State.
Nevada's offense: The Wolf Pack are led by the strong and steady Cody Fajardo, who recently became the third player in program history to reach 10,000 yards in career total offense. In eight trips to the red zone this season, they've score seven times.
WHAT TO KNOW
-- Arizona struggled in the red zone last week against UTSA. Nevada held Washington State to no scores in three red-zone trips in a 24-13 victory over the Cougars.
-- Nevada (2-0) is one of only two undefeated Mountain West Conference teams. Wyoming is the other.
-- Arizona has averaged 529.9 yards per game in 15 home games under Rich Rodriguez.
KEY PLAYERS
Austin Hill, WR, Arizona -- He seemed tentative and didn't have one of his better games last week, but expect Hill to return to form on Saturday. Those games happen, but not often to very good players. And Hill is a very good player trying to inch his way back from a serious knee injury.
Scooby Wright III, LB, Arizona -- He's second in total tackles and first in tackles for loss. He's Arizona's cornerstone on defense and still only a sophomore. Arizona needs a big game from him in what could be a crazy fast-paced game.
Charles Garrett, CB, Nevada -- He leads the nation in pass breakups with four and ranks second in passes defended with four. He has 10 tackles, one for loss. He has 123 total tackles for his career.
INJURY REPORT
Arizona --Questionable: RB Terris Jones-Grigsby (ankle), Probable: WR DaVonte' Neal (ankle)
Nevada -- None reported.
OUTLOOK
Nevada might have the "revenge factor" going from the 2012 New Mexico Bowl, but that game is long gone and many of the players have changed. It was a great game, but it shouldn't have much impact on this one. The Wolf Pack are undefeated but have yet to play on the road. Arizona played well at home in the season opener. Expect the same on Saturday.
PREDICTION
Arizona 44, Nevada 24
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