WVU Mountaineer football fans in attendance Thursday night were treated to one of the most exciting games played in our venue in recent years. Casey Legg’s field goal with 33 seconds remaining gave West Virginia a dramatic 43-40 much needed win over Baylor.
Close games are won by making big plays. While these have been mostly missing from the Mountaineer arsenal in previous outings, WVU made several to secure the win.
In the second quarter down a touchdown with the Baylor offense on a roll, a fumble was forced and picked up by Jamir Cox for a 65 yard scoop and score to tie the game.
In the second half it appeared that neither team could be stopped, as West Virginia twice tied the score on long drives only to see Baylor respond in kind. But after the Bears’ touchdown to again take the lead early in the fourth quarter the extra point attempt was blocked by Dante Stills, picked up by Jacolby Spells and returned for two points for the Mountaineers. WVU was thus down by only four points instead of a touchdown, and the three point swing on what normally is a routine play was huge as the game played out.
With leading receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton being the focus of Baylor secondary coverage, Kaden Prather stepped up with 8 catches, several while closely covered, for 109 yards and a touchdown.
The WVU defense again struggled, yielding 373 yards in the first half alone. But they did force three turnovers, all in WVU territory, including a defensive score. And they made a key stand late in the game after JT Daniels was intercepted with 3:12 remaining and WVU clinging to a three point lead. The defense then held the Bears in three plays forcing only a field goal instead of relinquishing the lead.
Fans have been quite critical of the Mountaineer defense, which has indeed been a weak point so far this season.
But stopping good college defenses is hard for everyone. Even Alabama, with its roster sprinkled with future NFL players, gave up 52 points Saturday.
For the second time this season, West Virginia has driven the length of the field in the waning minutes of a close game, this time keyed by a 37 yard Tony Mathis run to the Baylor 8 yard line. In a tie game the Mountaineers were then able to play conservatively, forcing the Bears to use all of their timeouts before kicking the game winning field goal.
THIS SATURDAY: WVU makes the long trip to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech. Recent history against the Red Raiders has not been pleasant, as the Mountaineers have lost the last three matchups. Tech has a 3-3 record, but all the losses have been on the road against quality opponents.
Playing at home, they are usually a notch above, as their overtime win over Texas attests. The Red Raiders are off a bye week and will be ready. I hope I am wrong but I see
TEXAS TECH 42
WEST VIRGINIA 37.
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