MORGANTOWN, W.Va — The West Virginia defense did all they could against No. 7 TCU’s potent offense, but the Mountaineer offense could not capitalize when it mattered in West Virginia’s 41-31 loss to the Horned Frogs on Saturday.
TCU (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) quarterback Max Duggan threw just his second interception of the season with 3:56 to play and the Mountaineers trailing 34-31. West Virginia’s three plays would be an incompletion, a negative rush, and an incompletion forcing West Virginia (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) to punt.
Following the punt, Duggan then used his legs on a third and three to gain five yards and ice the game away.
“We get the ball after Ruffin’s pick and we didn’t even give ourselves a chance to go for it on fourth down,” West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said. “Three point game and we get the ball with a little under four minutes and we don’t take advantage and that part is disappointing.”
West Virginia’s defense which gave up 48 points in a loss to Texas Tech last week, forced TCU to a punt, an interception, recovered a muffed punt, and two second-half field goals. Off those four drives, the West Virginia offense scored only 10 points.
“We didn’t make enough plays in the second half offensively,” Brown said.
Quarterback JT Daniels opened the scoring early, driving 80 yards on eight plays, while throwing for 52 yards on West Virginia’s opening drive. Running back CJ Donaldson would get credit for the score, as he punched it in on a 1-yard rush.
TCU’s offense would take advantage of a West Virginia miscue, as Duggan hit Taye Barber for a 71-yard score, with Mountaineer linebacker Lee Kpogba being switched off into coverage, tying the game at 7-7.
The Mountaineers would take that lead 14-7, giving it to Donaldson at the goal line again, with him scoring on his second 1-yard rushing touchdown. It was aided by a Donaldson rush of 38 yards and a Bryce Ford-Wheaton catch for 15 yards.
Duggan would pick up where he left off on the last drive, finding Quentin Johnston for a 55-yard strike, to tie the game at 14-14. West Virginia’s Daniels would fumble on the ensuing possession, and TCU’s Kendre Miller would go 51 yards on the first play of TCU’s yards for another explosive touchdown, and gave TCU a 21-14 lead with 7:00 to play in the second quarter.
Miller would rush for 120 yards on just 12 rushes, fueled by the long touchdown.
Daniels would tie the game at 21-21 with 1:35 to play in the half as he found Justin Johnson Jr. on a 5-yard pass on fourth down. The West Virginia defense would surrender another touchdown, as Duggan led TCU 73 yards on seven plays in just 1:05, with Emani Bailey scoring on his only rush of the day, a 30-yard touchdown rush, sending TCU into halftime with a 28-21 lead.
Coming out of the half, West Virginia would be forced to punt and, on the punt, the Mountaineers recovered after the TCU returner got hit, but the Mountaineers then recovered the ball and no penalty was called.
“It hit one of their players blocking and that’s why they said it was our ball,” wide receiver Sam James who was on the play made.
West Virginia would not fully capitalize, having to settle for a 33-yard field goal, putting the Mountaineers down 28-24.
“That’s the drive that really bothers me,” Brown said of the drive following the field goal.
The West Virginia defense would again stop the Horned Frogs, forcing a three and out, including two incompletions from Duggan.
The Mountaineers would then drive down to the TCU four yard line, and the Mountianeers threw back-to-back incompletions to Ford-Wheaton and Kaden Prather, resulting in a turnover on downs.
“The third down should’ve been a run,” Brown said on the decision to throw to Ford-Wheaton. “Pass interference, if somebody can tell me what that is then let me know. If our kid doesn’t have a chance to make a play, that has to be pass interference.”
In the fourth, the Mountaineers forced a TCU field goal to go down by 34-24 with 9:06 to play.
Daniels would lead the Mountaineers on a drive lasting 4:54, finding Reese Smith for a 23-yard score.
West Virginia would then attempt an onside kick, with TCU recovering, before Ruffin was able to intercept Duggan.
TCU would add a score late, with Duggan finding Savion Williams for a 29-yard touchdown with 20 seconds left, as the Horned Frogs stayed undefeated.
Daniels would throw for 275 yards and two touchdowns, while Duggan threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns. The Mountaineers rushed for 155 total yards on the ground, while the Horned Frogs rushed for 153 yards.
Photo by Aaron Parker, Blue Gold Sports
