West Virginia University earned a hard‑fought 24-20 road victory over Texas Christian University on Saturday, snapping a stretch of defensive struggles and giving coach Rich Rodriguez his most wins in a season since returning to Morgantown.
Late-game heroics
With just under a minute left and the Horned Frogs positioned at the Mountaineers’ 14‑yard line, TCU quarterback Jaden Craig dropped back to pass on second‑and‑10. The WVU defense swarmed him, forcing a fumble. In the ensuing scramble, linebacker Ben Cutter recovered the ball, sealing the win for the Mountaineers.
Defensive turnaround
Defensive coordinator Zac Alley and his unit had been under fire after four consecutive games in which they allowed the most points in the Big 12. This performance marked a dramatic reversal. The defense forced a season‑high three takeaways, including the game‑winning fumble recovery, and recorded a turnover on downs. WVU allowed only 20 points, the fewest against a Power‑Four opponent this season.
Overall, the Mountaineers’ defense stopped TCU on six of ten drives and limited the Horned Frogs to just two touchdowns. WVU also logged three sacks and six tackles for loss.
Offensive highlights
TCU amassed 484 total yards, with Craig throwing for 372 yards and a touchdown while also adding a rushing score. Receiver Jordan Dwyer led TCU with 10 catches for 113 yards, and Kari Ashley posted a game‑high 118 receiving yards on six grabs.
For WVU, quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. continued to be a dual‑threat, adding two rushing touchdowns to reach 16 on the season, the most in the FBS. He completed 7 of 15 passes for 79 yards and a single passing touchdown, though he also threw his second interception of the year.
Running back Cam Cook, returning to TCU after transferring, helped balance the ground game with 90 rushing yards on 18 carries and a go‑ahead receiving touchdown that put WVU ahead early in the fourth quarter.
Coach Rodriguez’s perspective
“I’m just so proud of them,” Rodriguez said after the game. “They’ve had a tough four weeks, and they won the game today. When we needed a stop, they delivered.” He added that the team will use the upcoming bye week to rest and prepare for a trip to Texas Tech.
Rodriguez also noted that the offense “sputtered a little,” but emphasized that the team answered the call when it mattered most. The win gives WVU a 5‑3 record heading into the bye, surpassing last year’s win total.
Looking ahead
The Mountaineers will travel to Lubbock for their next matchup against Texas Tech, a top‑10 opponent that recently suffered an upset loss to Cincinnati. WVU hopes to build on the defensive resurgence and continue its push for a strong finish to the season.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
