West Virginia blocked two field goals within the last five minutes as they beat TCU 24-21 and earn their fourth consecutive win.
After dealing with multiple injuries, and trailing for the majority of the game, the Mountaineers battled on the road against the Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
West Virginia trailed TCU three separate times, as the Horned Frogs offense was rolling early. TCU then needed only 51 seconds to go 70 yards on four plays, including a 59-yard connection from Chandler Morris to JP Richardson.
The Mountaineers would respond with a score of their own, using back-to-back big plays. Greene found Devin Carter for a 30-yard reception, and then Greene scrambled left for 35 yards and a touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
Both teams would trade scores, until the Mountaineers tied the game at 14-14 with 1:50 to play in the first half. TCU would face a 4th and 2, but they converted on a 36-yard touchdown from Chandler Morris to Dylan Wright.
The Mountaineers had a chance to cut into that lead as Michael Hayes hit on a 53-yard field goal as the clock expired, but it was called back for a false start. Hayes would try again from 58 yards and he couldn’t knock it through as TCU took a 21-14 lead into the halftime.
West Virginia’s defense would control the third quarter, holding TCU to just one total yard in the quarter. The Mountaineers had 129 yards of total offense in the third quarter, including an 8-play touchdown drive, tying the game at 21-21.
Greene finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown rush after Greene found Hudson Clement on a key fourth-down conversion.
WVU’s defense would force two more punts on the next two possessions. The Mountaineer offense had two cracks at the end zone from the TCU one yard line, but Donaldson was stuffed both times.
West Virginia’s defense was able to get the Horned Frogs off the field, forcing them to punt and giving West Virginia good field position.
Rodney Gallagher went 16 yards to get West Virginia in field goal range, before Hayes hit a 49-yard field goal, which would ultimately be the game-winning score.
On TCU’s final two drives, they tried to tie the game at 24. The Horned Frogs would get to the WVU 28 and they faced a 4th and 1. Sonny Dykes and TCU elected to kick with Griffin Kell who missed from 53 yards earlier in the game, and it was blocked by Mike Lockhart.
Then, with three minutes to play, TCU took the ball back and had the opportunity to tie or win the game. TCU faced a 4th and 7 from fringe territory for Kell. Then as he attempted a 55-yard field goal, it was Sean Martin who got his hand on the ball, blocking the kick and sealing the win for West Virginia.
Greene ended the night passing for 142 yards on 10 for 21 passing. Greene led WVU on the ground with 12 rushes for 80 yards and two touchdowns as he returned from an ankle injury. Morris finished with 298 yards and two touchdowns through the air and then 51 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
West Virginia faced unfortunate injury news as both Aubrey Burks and Trey Lathan were carted off. Burks was dealing with an upper body or head injury while Lathan dealt with what looked to be a serious injury to his right leg.
The Mountaineers win their fourth-straight game for the first time since 2018 and improve to 4-1 and 2-0 in Big 12 play as they head to their bye week.
