Garrett Greene rescued the West Virginia offense, and then Casey Legg finished Oklahoma off with a 25-yard field goal as time expired, in West Virginia’s 23-20 win over Oklahoma on Saturday.
“Huge win,” West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said.
Since joining the Big 12 in 2012, West Virginia had not beaten the Sooners, a trend that looked to continue with 1:06 to play in the first half.
“There have been several good football teams and a lot of great players to play here, and we’re the first team to get it done,” Brown said.
Oklahoma had just scored a touchdown to lead 10-0, and West Virginia’s offense was stagnant. The Mountaineers would turn to backup quarterback Garrett Greene, who took the Mountaineers 53 yards down the field on just three plays, setting up a touchdown.
“I’m just thankful to get on the field, whether it’s for a play, or a series, or for the second half like it was today,” Greene said.
Oklahoma would return a muffed snap for two points of their own, putting the Sooners ahead 12-6 heading into the half.
“I thought the drive before half really, he made a couple plays on that, a couple broken plays,” Brown said.
Greene replaced starter JT Daniels whose struggles continued in the first half. Daniels passed for 65 yards on 7/12 passing, while also throwing an interception. Greene’s athleticism and ability to rush kept him in for the remainder of the game.
In the second half, West Virginia would punt on their first drive, before Greene once again injected life into the Mountaineer offense.
Greene would use his legs to pick up a key third down. Two plays later, Greene would be sacked, but Oklahoma’s Mason Thomas would be flagged for a facemask penalty, giving the Mountaineers a first down inside Oklahoma territory.
West Virginia would use a trio of Jaylen Anderson, Tony Mathis, along with Greene to rush on each of the next five plays, putting the Mountaineers at the Oklahoma two yard line.
The Mountaineers would be called for a delay of game, before Greene would find Bryce Ford-Wheaton on an 8-yard touchdown to his back shoulder in the left corner of the end zone, giving West Virginia a 13-12 lead.
On the ensuing possession, Oklahoma would give the ball to running back Eric Gray, who the Mountaineer defense struggled to stop all afternoon. Gray rushed for 41 of his 211 yards on the afternoon, including a 3-yard touchdown rush. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel would rush for the two-point conversion, putting the Sooners back in front, 20-13.
“They ran the ball more effectively than I would have liked. And some of that is they’re good,” Brown said.
Again led by Greene, West Virginia would answer yet again. It looked as if the Mountaineers would be forced to punt after three plays, but a fake punt to Sam James gave the Mountaineers a first down. Greene would again find James down the field, hitting him for a 35-yard strike, setting West Virginia up at the Oklahoma 31 yard line.
“We’re down seven points, fake punt we execute it, Sam James gets the first down just barely and that extended the drive,” Brown said.
James would finish the day with three catches for 90 yards, in addition to the five-yard rush.
Greene would then use his arm to connect with Kaden Prather on a 4th-and-10, before rushing for an 11-yard score, tying the game at 20-20, with 11:20 to play.
With less than seven minutes to play, Oklahoma kicker Zach Schmit would have a chance to give Oklahoma the lead, but his 46-yard field goal went off the right upright.
“It wasn’t bad today,” Legg said of his nerves. “
Greene and company would take over, not relinquishing control of the ball. Greene would face a fourth down at the Oklahoma 39, and Greene would find Ford-Wheaton for a five-yard completion. Greene would pick up another first down with his legs, and then would do it again three plays later, allowing Legg to take the field with four seconds to play.
Legg would make the field goal with ease, giving the Mountaineers their first win over the Sooners since 2008.
“It’s really sweet and super thankful to be a part of the team that did that,” Legg said of being the team to knock off Oklahoma. “I’ve lost to them four times… so to be a part of that, I’m super thankful.”
Photo by Aaron Parker, Blue Gold Sports
