West Virginia survived heat, injuries, and a fourth-quarter comeback in Tucson on Saturday night, and despite some struggles, head coach Neal Brown was proud of the outcome postgame.
“We came out here without three of our four captains,” Brown said. “But we came to just fight.”
“I was really pleased with how we played. I thought we left maybe a touchdown out there,” Brown said.
Marked by several unique plays, the Mountaineers’ fight was well documented during the night. None of that uniqueness came from a point of surprise for Brown, though, starting off with Nicco Marchiol, who started at quarterback for the first time this season.
“(Marchiol’s) so much better a player than the last time he started a game,” Brown said. “He’s matured, he’s been patient, and he’s gotten better, and I’ve said that a lot… and he showed that today.”
Redshirt freshman Johnny Williams IV also got his first start of the season, which was in turn his first start of his career, on Saturday as Milum’s replacement. Brown gave Williams his flowers postgame as well.
“I thought (Williams) prepared really well, and he came ready for the moment tonight,” Brown said.
Accompanying Marchiol’s and Williams’ surprising success were Leighton Bechtel, the field goal placeholder that ran for a touchdown in the first quarter, and Jaylen Anderson, who entered in the fourth quarter to make a crucial first down catch.
“Leighton Bechtel, I call him the Swiss army. He can do it all,” Brown said.
“To me it’s like the next man up,” Brown said. “I was happy for Jaylen. He’s been a great teammate… it’s a positive when those guys are rewarded.”
With constant surprises and depth, the Mountaineers found themselves controlling the pace of the game for its majority, which Brown took advantage of.
“Offensively, I thought we really controlled the game,” Brown said.
“We never really took our foot off the gas.”
Giving credit to Arizona, though, Brown did mention superstar receiver Tetairoa McMillan postgame, calling him the best player he has played against in a while. Even so, Brown said he wished the Mountaineers did more against him on Saturday night.
“We didn’t do a great job against (McMillan), but I don’t want to discredit him because I think he’s special,” Brown said. “Best I’ve seen in a long time.”
Brown will preview WVU’s upcoming bye week and remainder of the season in Monday’s press conference, but he did acknowledge the importance of what was coming in his postgame remarks, if only very briefly.
“That November stretch is going to be critical,” Brown said.
West Virginia will enter its bye week 4-4 and 3-2 in Big 12 play. The Mountaineers will be back on the road the following week to play Cincinnati on Nov. 9.
