For the third time this season, West Virginia was a no-show on the road, losing 31-14 to Iowa State on Saturday.
It looked as though the Mountaineer offense did not make the trip to Ames, Iowa, as West Virginia could not move the ball down the field all afternoon. West Virginia crossed the 50 yard line three total times in the loss on Saturday.
From the start, it was a defensive slugfest, with Iowa State and West Virginia struggling on offense early. The Mountaineers and Cyclones combined for five punts in the first quarter, until Iowa State scored on a Jace Gilbert 30-yard field goal to lead 3-0.
West Virginia’s offense would again struggle in the second quarter, punting on their first two drives of the second quarter before JT Daniels threw an interception.
Daniels would redeem himself on the next Mountaineer drive, leading West Virginia on an 68-yard drive, finding Bryce Ford-Wheaton on a 25-yard touchdown pass to trail 10-7 going into halftime.
In the second half, it was even uglier for Daniels and company. The Mountaineers would touch the ball six times, and would have a three-and-out on four of those drives.
In the fourth quarter, the Mountaineers were trailing 10-7, and Reese Smith was penalized for roughing the punter. Four plays later, Iowa State scored on a 24-yard touchdown to Xavier Hutchinson, to go ahead 17-7.
In total, Daniels would pass for 81 yards, while completing eight of his 22 pass attempts. The Mountaineers would also struggle to run the ball, with Justin Johnson Jr. rushing for 48 yards on 12 attempts.
In total, West Virginia would finish with 200 total yards of offense, with 65 of those coming on the Mountaineers’ final drive.
That final drive was on the heels of 21 consecutive points scored by Iowa State, and backup quarterback Garrett Greene would find Sam James for an 8-yard touchdown.
The Mountaineers were 2-for-12 on third down, and had 11 total first downs compared to Iowa State’s 25.
Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers went 24-for-36 passing, with 219 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Certevious Norton ran for 69 yards and two touchdowns on 18 rushes. Iowa State’s 31 points were the most they scored against a Power Five team all season.
West Virginia has three games remaining in their 2022 season, and are last in the Big 12 with a 1-5 record.
Photo by Dale Sparks, All Pro Photography
