Mackovic a Winner in Arizona Debut

John Mackovic got a wild win in his debut as the Arizona Wildcats’ coach.

Safety Brandon Nash returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown and Andrae Thurman blocked a punt for a safety as the Wildcats rallied from an awful start to defeat San Diego State, 23-10, on Thursday night at San Diego in the season opener for both teams.

Junior quarterback Jason Johnson made his first career start and threw a touchdown pass, a four-yarder to Brandon Marshall in the third quarter.

San Diego State, 3-8 last year, lost its 10th consecutive game to a Pacific 10 opponent, including four in a row to the Wildcats dating to 1997.

Nash’s fumble return gave the Wildcats the lead for good at 16-10 with 2:56 left before halftime.

*

In other games: Jason Gesser threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns and Dave Minnich rushed for a touchdown as Washington State defeated Idaho, 36-7, at Pullman, Wash. ... Ryan Sorahan completed two fourth-down passes and then hooked up with Richard Smith on a 23-yard play that set up Cedric Cobbs’ touchdown with 18 seconds left as Arkansas slipped by Nevada Las Vegas, 14-10, at Little Rock, Ark. Rebel quarterback Jason Thomas was four for 16 with three interceptions, including one that Lawrence Richardson returned 45 yards for Arkansas’ first score. ... Chester Taylor rushed for 186 yards and scored four touchdowns as Toledo defeated Minnesota, 38-7, the Rockets’ second consecutive season-opening victory over a Big Ten team. The Rockets stunned Penn State, 24-6, last year on the road. ... Ashley Martin became the first woman to play and score in a Division I football game, kicking three extra points in three tries for Jacksonville State against Cumberland in a 72-10 victory at Jacksonville, Ala.

*

Charles Frederick finally showed up for the Washington football team, three days after walking out of practice following an argument with another player. The highly touted freshman receiver apologized to his teammates and made a good impression in the Huskies’ final scrimmage. ... The NCAA has suspended 14 Marshall athletes for improperly receiving extra work benefits, the school said. The announcement, which involves 12 football players and two men’s basketball players, was made Thursday by the school, two days before the Herd opens the season at No. 1 Florida.