West Virginia’s defense was able to stop Texas Tech’s final effort as the Mountaineers beat the Red Raiders 20-13 on Saturday.
Through three games for Texas Tech, they had scored at least 30 points and registered at least a total of 400 yards per offense. West Virginia held them to 321 total yards, including the final four plays of the game where WVU forced four consecutive incompletions.
“Our defense played well. I trust those guys. Took a lot of heat in the offseason, they did, we did, but I knew we had a plan,” West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said. “Our players really fought and competed.”
Early on it looked as both teams were not going to be able to move the ball. With temperatures dropping and there being on and off rain at Milan Puskar Stadium, there was the feel of a slugfest compared to a traditional Big 12 offensive circus.
The Mountaineers turned to Nicco Marchiol to make his first start, as their starting quarterback with Garrett Greene still nursing an ankle injury he suffered last week. Marchiol would get positive momentum on his first drive, but after his defense forced a three and out, Marchiol threw an interception, with Tech returning the ball to the WVU 35 yard line.
Texas Tech would capitalize on the mistake, making a 39-yard field goal and going in front 3-0.
The Mountaineer defense held their own for the majority of the game as Texas Tech had 137 total yards through the first three quarters. In the fourth though, the Tech offense came alive. They scored 10 points and finishing with 184 yards of offense over the final 15 minutes.
West Virginia conceded a 15-yard gain on fourth down in the fourth quarter, and then Texas Tech would later score on a 6-yard pass from Behren Morton to Jerand Bradley, as the Mountaineers lead dwindled to three.
“Sean Martin comes off the field after they scored that touchdown and got after me a little bit and fired me up a little bit,” Marchiol said.
Martin’s words to Marchiol worked, as he led the Mountaineers on a seven play, 79-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a 9-yard pass to Kole Taylor for the score.
“I’m just happy things went our way, guys came open, made some amazing catches on that winning drive and like I said last week, it’s hard to miss a 6-foot-7 tight end,” Marchiol said.
The West Virginia defense would have a 10-point lead, but would be hurt by the Tech offense once again. Texas Tech got inside WVU territory, but they then forced three incompletions to force another field goal from the Red Raiders. The Mountaineers had another chance to put the game away on offense, but they were forced to punt after missing a deep shot to EJ Horton as well as having an incompletion on third down.
“My frustration on offense is we had missed opportunities,” Brown said.
Texas Tech got the ball back with 3:45 to play, trailing by seven, needing a touchdown to tie the game.
Texas Tech would get to the WVU 15 yard line, and faced a fourth and two. They converted it with a run from Tahj Brooks for four yards. They then went incompletion on first and second down. On third, Morton had an open receiver, but it was dropped off the fingertips of Jayden York.
Then on fourth down, Morton would be pressured, throwing the ball into the turf, sealing the victory for West Virginia.
“Still a lot to prove. I don’t think we should be happy. Obviously a win’s a win,” safety Aubrey Burks said. “There’s a lot more games to be played, a lot more for us to prove.”
Morton came in the game for starting Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough who was carted off late in the first quarter. Morton finished the day throwing for 158 yards and a touchdown, completing just 13 of his 37 pass attempts. Brooks added 149 rush yards on 25 carries as well.
Marchiol passed for 78 yards on 12 for 21 passing with a touchdown. He rushed for 72 yards on 15 attempts, while WVU rushed for a total of 157 yards and a touchdown from CJ Donaldson.
The win for West Virginia was the first win over Texas Tech under Brown as well as WVU’s first three-game winning streak during Brown’s tenure.
“This was a team that had had our number,” Brown said. “People are going to say it wasn’t pretty, last week wasn’t pretty. Win, win”
