Nevada scored back-to-back touchdowns in the second half and held on in the final minutes to beat Troy 28-26 on Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Trojans trailed 28-17 with less than seven minutes left, but got Scott Taylor Renfroe’s 19-yard field goal and Goose Crowder’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Devonte Ross to pull within two with 19 seconds left. That set up a 2-point attempt for the tying goal.

Troy quarterback Goose Crowder was hit from behind and fumbled, but running back Damien Taylor scooped up the ball and ran to catch an incomplete pass. The Trojans then failed on an onside kick, and Nevada (1-1) ran out the clock.

The loss — which came in Gerad Parker’s debut as head coach — was Troy’s first in a non-conference home game since a 21-13 loss to Liberty on Sept. 11, 2021. It was also just the Trojans’ second home game since that same season in 2021.

Crowder passed for 201 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort for Troy (0-1), while Taylor ran for 103 yards and a touchdown. However, Taylor was penalized for targeting the late onside kick, meaning he will miss the first half of next week’s game at Memphis.

Brendon Lewis threw two touchdown passes and Patrick Garwo ran for two for Nevada, which unlike Troy, was playing its second game of the season. The Wolf Pack lost 29-24 at home to SMU last week.

Taylor’s 25-yard touchdown run and Gerald Green’s 16-yarder gave Troy a 14-0 lead late in the first half, but Nevada got on the board on Lewis’ 17-yard touchdown pass to Jace Henry with 25 seconds left in the half. The point-after failed, however, and the Trojans went into the locker room with a 14-6 lead.

The Wolf Pack scored on just three plays to start the second half, with Savion Red running 69 yards to the Troy 5 on the first snap. Two plays later, Garwo ran for a yard and Lewis hit Jaden Smith for 2 points and a 14-14 tie with 13:55 left in the third.

Renfroe’s 30-yard field goal put Troy up 17-14 midway through the third period, but Nevada scored on Garwo’s 22-yard run to take a 21-17 lead after three. After forcing a Trojan punt, the Wolf Pack drove for Lewis’ 7-yard TD pass to Marcus Bellon to take a 28-17 lead with 12:56 left.

Troy had a first-and-goal from the Nevada 5 on its next drive, but couldn’t get the ball in. After Green was stopped for no gain on third down from the 1, Parker elected to let Renfroe kick a short field goal with 6:12 left instead of going for it.

Nevada then got the ball to midfield, but punted with 2:17 to play. The Trojans converted two third downs en route to Crowder’s TD pass, but could not complete the comeback.

Lewis completed 17 of 20 passes for 158 yards for Nevada, while Red ran for 135 yards on 11 carries and Garwo added 53 yards and the two scores on nine attempts. Nevada outgained Troy 393 yards to 391, but neither team gave the ball up.

Troy’s game against Memphis next Saturday starts at 11 a.m. on ESPNU.