Monday Morning Quarterback: WVU endures marathon in 32-28 win over Kansas
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It seems that home football games have become an endurance test for WVU football fans. For the second time in three weeks a two-hour weather delay turned a game starting at noon into an early evening conclusion
As the storm rolled in early in the fourth quarter the mood of WVU supporters was as gloomy as the clouds overhead. Kansas had come out in the second half and physically dominated the Mountaineers to overcome a seven-point halftime deficit. After play resumed, the Jayhawks struck quickly for another score to take a 28-17 lead with just 5:39 remaining. The sun had come out over the stadium but the clouds hovering over the state of the West Virginia football program were becoming darker. I am told that comments in the fan forums on social media were already clamoring for changes.
But quarterback Garrett Greene, as he had done so many times last season, quieted the naysayers for now with two scoring drives of 75 and 67 yards to take a 32-28 lead with just 26 seconds remaining. Kansas managed to get to the WVU 39 in the waning seconds but were thwarted by a forced fumble and recovery by Tyrin Bradley, who also had an interception earlier in the game. The late collapse by the Jayhawks mirrored almost exactly what had happened to the Mountaineers a week earlier at Pittsburgh.
West Virginia struggled to consistently move the ball on the ground, but Greene had an outstanding game through the air, connecting with receiver Hudson Clement seven times for 150 yards, and finishing with 295 passing yards overall. He also added 87 yards rushing yards, mostly on scrambles out of the pocket on called pass plays.
The West Virginia defense had previously been maligned for its ineffective pass defense, but this time was pushed around by the Kansas running attack. One will find few winning outings when an opponent rushes for 248 yards, but that is what occurred Saturday. The Mountaineers did thwart the Jayhawks with their only three and out series sandwiched between the final two WVU scoring drives.
While the overall box score statistics in the game were virtually even, it was the hidden yardage of special teams play that made a huge difference in the outcome. Four of six WVU kickoffs were touchbacks, and the other two were returned just to the 20. Two Oliver Straw punts were downed inside the Kansas 10-yard line, and a WVU touchdown just before the half was set up by a 16-yard Rodney Gallagher punt return.
The dramatic comeback helps the mood of Mountaineer fans but we all know this can quickly disappear as the upcoming conference schedule will be challenging. WVU has a week off Saturday, which is timely considering several key players will be recovering from injuries.
West Virginia resumes play Sept. 28 at Oklahoma State.