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Oklahoma had just taken a 10-0 lead with just over a minute remaining in the first half on Saturday. The West Virginia defense had played well, but the deficit looked larger than the score as the Mountaineer offense had been totally incapable of putting anything together. Head Coach Neal Brown tends to be loyal to his starting quarterbacks but after six quarters of impotent offense over two Saturdays he made the change to backup Garrett Greene.
Greene added mobility that was missing with JT Daniels. The difference was immediately apparent as Greene escaped for a 33 yard run and scored a touchdown with just 33 seconds remaining in the half. Although the botched extra point attempt resulted in a two point score for the Sooners, the sudden offense at least gave Mountaineer faithful some hope leading into the second half.
And Greene did not disappoint. He finished the afternoon with 119 yards on 14 carries and led the offense to 17 second half points. After a long Oklahoma field goal attempt to take the lead banged off the upright with 6:24 to go there was a feeling that maybe this time the Mountaineers could pull off an upset over the Sooners for the first time since joining the Big 12 ten years ago. Greene then engineered a 15 play 65 yard drive resulting in a Casey Legg game winning 25 yard field goal as the clock expired.
Fourth down magic was a key to the win. Late in the third quarter trailing 20-13 West Virginia ran a fake punt for a first down. Later in the same drive the Mountaineers converted a 4th and 10 play, and on the last game winning drive also were successful on a 4th and 3 from the Oklahoma 39.
Meanwhile, the WVU defense played perhaps its best game of the year holding an Oklahoma offense that had averaged 33 points per game to just 1 for 13 on third and fourth down conversions and allowed the Sooners only 23 points. Special teams play was also a factor. Although the 3 point swing on the failed extra point attempt loomed large as the game played out, the West Virginia special teams were otherwise solid.
Punter Oliver Straw averaged 44 yards per punt with four of them ending inside the Oklahoma 20. The 42 yard kickoff return by Sam James just before the half set up the first WVU score.
Although the Mountaineers have not fared well in conference road games, WVU fans have certainly been entertained in Morgantown as all four Big 12 home games have been decided in the final seconds.
This one turned out the right way, giving some joy to West Virginia faithful who have otherwise endured a tough 2022 season.
I had to admit some pleasure in checking in on social media posts on the Oklahoma message boards. They have become spoiled by years of success. They were not taking losing to West Virginia well. I'm sure we all sympathize, don't we?
Texas and Oklahoma are soon leaving for the SEC. But they have combined for a 6-8 record in the Big 12 so far this season.
THIS SATURDAY: Kansas State comes to Morgantown for a 2 p.m. Saturday kickoff with a clear path to the Big 12 championship game. The Wildcats were dominant in crushing Baylor and are a much better team than the one the Mountaineers defeated Saturday. But as always we can expect another battle down to the wire. KANSAS STATE 27 WEST VIRGINIA 23.