Nevada downs Northwestern

RENO, Nev. – Joe Garcia returned his second interception of the game 24 yards for a touchdown with 2:14 left to help Nevada hold off Northwestern 31-21 on Friday night for its first football victory over a Big Ten school.

Jeff Rowe completed 17 of 22 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Robert Hubbard ran for 156 yards and two scores for the Wolf Pack (2-2), who are 12-2 at home since coach Chris Ault took over in 2004.

Mike Kafka ran for 111 yards on 12 carries, but completed only 9 of 21 passes for 122 yards and threw three interceptions for Northwestern (2-2).

It marked the first time a Big Ten school had played at Nevada, which forced five Wildcats turnovers and blocked a field-goal attempt.

The only other time the Wolf Pack faced a Big Ten team was a 35-17 loss at Wisconsin in 1993.

Rowe completed 13 of his first 16 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns before the half and Northwestern turned the ball over three times in a 7-minute span in the first quarter as Nevada opened a 24-14 halftime lead.

Kafka led the Wildcats 55 yards on 10 consecutive running plays to get to Nevada’s 15 on his opening drive of the second half, but nose tackle Matt Hines blocked Joel Howells’ 32-yard field-goal attempt with 5:55 left in the third quarter.