RENO, Nev. (AP) - When Nevada quarterback Carson Strong and kicker Brandon Talton attended high school in Vacaville, Calif., neither paid too close attention to each other. 

They were a year apart and both attended rival high schools. 

But last year, when they met up in Vacaville at a football game, Strong pitched Nevada to Talton. 

A year later on Friday, Strong got his first start at Nevada, and he would not have won without Talton kicking a 56-yard field as time expired, booting the Wolf Pack to a 34-31 victory over Purdue and capping a 17-point comeback for the second win in program history against a Big Ten school. 

Talton, a walk-on playing his first collegiate game Friday, said his previous long in a game was 47 yards. 

"(Nevada coach Jay Norvell) told me at 11 a.m. today (that I was getting the start)," said Talton, who was awarded with a scholarship after the game. "We (me and Spencer Pettiet) were battling all week (for the starting spot). . coach told me after morning stretches."

Strong got the nod as starter about two weeks ago and became the first freshman quarterback to start a season opener for Nevada since 1998. 

Strong hadn't started a football game since 2017. He sat out his senior year at Wood High in Vacaville and again last year as a redshirt. He completed 30 of 51 passes for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

"The first quarter was moving a little bit fast," Strong said. "I wasn't seeing my reads as well as I needed to, but as the game went on. . it was basically moving in slow motion."

Nevada went into the break trailing 24-7, and trailed 31-17 at the start of the fourth quarter. The 17-point Nevada comeback tied the second largest comeback for the program since 1996. 

With the game tied and 32 seconds remaining, Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar threw an interception to defensive back Daniel Brown. Nevada tied the game with 52 seconds left on Strong's 20-yard pass to Elijah Cooks.

"It was a pretty amazing game," Norvell said. "One of the best I have ever been a part of... Could not have been prouder of how we fought and held on there until the end of the game."

Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar recorded a career high 423 passing yards four touchdowns, but the Boilermakers lost the turnover battle, 5-0, and two of those turnovers were Sindelar interceptions.

"It's more than disappointing," Purdue coach Jeff Brohm said. "I didn't like it. I got to do some things to get everything fixed."

Rondale Moore displayed his big play capability in his first half, but was contained for most of the second half. He finished with 11 catches for 124 yards and one touchdown.

"We just want to show that we can play with anybody in the country," Nevada defensive back Daniel Brown said. "I know they say, 'Power 5 this,' but the Mountain West plays some pretty good football."

TALTON'S MIGHTY BOOT

Brandon Talton's 56-yard field goal as time expired was the third longest in Nevada program history. The other two: Damon Fine (58 yards in 2001) and Tony Zendejas (58 in 1983). 

TUNROVER MARGIN 

When Nevada played Purdue in 2016—the only other time the two programs met—the Boilermakers committed four turnovers and Nevada committed zero, but Purdue still won 24-14. In two games against Nevada, Purdue has a turnover differential of 9-0. 

THE TAKEAWAY

Purdue: Purdue's five turnovers and it's inability to score in the second half (seven points) opened the door for a dramatic Nevada comeback.

Nevada: Carson Strong, the first Nevada freshman to start a season opener at quarterback, tied Nevada's second-largest comeback since 1996 and grabbed the program's second victory against a Big Ten team.

UP NEXT

Purdue: The Boilermakers return to West Lafayette for their home opener Saturday against Vanderbilt.

Nevada: The Wolf Pack hits the road for a tough test Saturday at No. 11 Oregon.

Postgame notes – Purdue
-Nevada's 34-31 victory over Purdue marks just its second win over a Big Ten program. The other came on Sept. 22, 2006 when it beat Northwestern 31-21 at Mackay.
-Nevada trailed Purdue 31-14 at the 6:19 mark of the third quarter, tying its second-largest comeback since 1996. The Wolf Pack also overcame a 17-point deficit against Boise State in 2010.
-The win is the second in the Jay Norvell era, and second in a row, when trailing after the third quarter. The other was the 2018 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl where Nevada trailed 7-3 after three quarters and won 16-13 in overtime.
-True freshman PK Brandon Talton hit a 56-yard field goal with three seconds on the clock to win it for Nevada. It marks the third-longest FG hit in program history and the longest since 2001. The longest is 58 yards, done twice.
-Brandon Talton finished the game 2-for-2 on field goal attempts, also hitting a 34-yard FG in the third quarter.
-Senior DB Daniel Brown recorded two interceptions in the game for the first time in his career. His second pick of the game came with under a minute to play in the fourth quarter, setting Nevada up for its game-winning FG attempt.
-Redshirt freshman QB Carson Strong became the first freshman QB to start a season opener for Nevada since 1998. He completed his first collegiate pass on his second attempt to senior Kaleb Fossum on Nevada's first drive of the game.
-On 4^th-and-7 with 4:43 left in the second quarter, Carson Strong found senior WR Dominic Christian for the Pack's first TD of 2019, a 38-yard reception. It was Strong's first career TD pass and Christian's first career TD reception.
-Carson Strong finished his first career start 30-of-51 for 295 yards and three touchdown passes.
-Junior WR Elijah Cooks hauled in two touchdown receptions, tying his single-game career high. He finished the game with a career-high seven receptions for 60 yards.
-Sophomore DT Dom Peterson recorded Nevada's first sack of 2019 in the first quarter, the fourth of his career.
-Senior DB EJ Muhammad recorded a forced fumble and fumble recovery on the same play in the second quarter, his second career force and first career recovery.
-Sophomore RB Toa Taua notched his seventh career rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, a 7-yard run. He also led the team with a career-high eight receptions for 64 yards.
-Senior P Quinton Conaway punted six times and averaged nearly 50 yards per punt at 48.5 yards per punt. He booted a long punt of 67 yards and had two downed inside the 20-yard line.
-Senior LB Maliek Broady, junior DE Kameron Toomer and redshirt freshman DB Emany Johnson earned their first collegiate starts on the defensive side of the ball.
-Senior C Nathan Edwards and redshirt freshman QB Carson Strong earned their first collegiate starts on the offensive side of the ball.
-Nevada forced five turnovers in the game and did not commit a turnover.
-Purdue outgained Nevada in total yards, 519-404.
-Nevada held Purdue scoreless for the last 23:41 of the game.
-The attendance of 20,144 is the ninth-largest crowd at Mackay Stadium in the last five years.
-The all-time series between Nevada and Purdue is now tied 1-1.