RENO, Nev. (AP) JC French threw two touchdown passes and Georgia Southern's defense stood up in the fourth quarter to edge Nevada 20-17 on Saturday.

With Nevada (1-2) trailing 20-17 and driving deep into the red zone, Savion Red had the ball pulled loose at the 5 and Georgia Southern (1-1) recovered in the end zone for a touchback with 9 1/2 minutes left to end a six-minute, 11-play drive that began at the Wolf Pack 9. The turnover was the first for Nevada this season.

Nevada got the ball back on its 25 and drove to the Eagles 41 before being stopped on fourth-and-1 with 2:35 left. The final Wolf Pack drive started at its 3-yard line with a minute to go. A Hail Mary on the final play of the game from the Nevada 33 was caught by Jaden Smith at the 6 where he was brought down.

Just before the end of the first half, French hit Dalen Cobb for a 24-yard score and a 17-14 lead. Gavin Stewart's 48-yard field goal made it 20-14 in the third.

Nevada outgained Georgia Southern 493-285 and held the Eagles to 42 yards on the ground.

French completed 23 of 37 passes or 243 yards.

Brendon Lewis was 23-of-35 passing for 266 yards and a score for the Wolf Pack. Cortez Braham Jr. had nine catches for 110 yards and a score, and Smith made four grabs for 103 yards.

--- Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.