West Virginia Stunned in Stillwater

Matchup
1st Downs	25	35
3rd down efficiency	5-18	6-14
4th down efficiency	2-3	0-0
Total Yards	553	604
Passing	364	338
Comp-Att	27-48	30-46
Yards per pass	7.6	7.3
Interceptions thrown	0	2
Rushing	189	266
Rushing Attempts	43	43
Yards per rush	4.4	6.2
Penalties	5-24	3-35
Turnovers	1	4
Fumbles lost	1	2
Interceptions thrown	0	2
Possession	29:45	30:15

Rushing

The No. 9 West Virginia Mountaineers (8-2, 6-2) let a victory slip out of their grasps in Stillwater Saturday evening. The Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-5, 3-5) took their first lead in the final minute to pull off the upset over the Mountaineers.

Oklahoma State won the toss and deferred to the second half. West Virginia elected to receive.

On the opening series, the Mountaineers ran behind Kennedy McKoy for 57 yards and a touchdown, completing a 10 play 75-yard drive.

As both teams jockeyed for field position, West Virginia was forced to punt deep in their own territory and OSU would take over at midfield. Oklahoma State took advantage and tied the game up at seven on arm of Taylor Cornelius and a spectacular catch by Tylan Wallace. Cornelius was 4-5 on the drive for 42 yards, two completions to Wallace for 21 yards and the touchdown.

West Virginia responded immediately on the following possession. Will Grier completed four-straight passes for 65 yards, highlighted with a pass out in the flat to Martell Pettaway for 34 yards and a 12-yard toss and catch to Gary Jennings crossing over the middle and getting into the endzone.

On the Cowboys next offensive series, Cornelius hit Wallace for 14 yards; however, safety Kenny Robinson forced the fumble and David Long recovered it at the OSU 40-yard line.

Will Grier and the Mountaineers made quick work of situation and put up six more points on a 22-yard touchdown pass to David Sills to five the Mountaineers a 14-point lead, 21-7.

On the kickoff, Chuba Hubbard fielded it at the four-yard line and returned it 36 yards giving the Cowboys a short field to work with and it paid off. Oklahoma State scored a touchdown in just under two minutes as they gashed the WVU defense. A well-balanced attack 28 yards on the ground and 32 through the air as Cornelius hit tight end Logan Carter over the middle as he rumbled his way into the endzone cutting into the West Virginia lead 21-14.

West Virginia safety Toyous Avery picked off Cornelius near midfield. West Virginia went for it on fourth and one at the OSU five but a QB sneak by Grier came up short and the Mountaineers didn’t take advantage of the turnover.

The Mountaineers kept the Cowboys pinned down inside their own territory after a couple of series and it paid off. With 2:10 left in the first half, three straight runs from Kennedy McKoy for 51 yards and a touchdown to put the Mountaineers back up two touchdowns 28-14.

Oklahoma State was in a hurry up offense trying to find some points before the end of the half. Defensive back Keith Washington sat underneath Tylan Wallace for an interception.

West Virginia wanted more. Will Grier went 2-3 for 27 yards and an 11-yard run by McKoy set Evan Staley to knock it through from 43 yards out. The Mountaineers went into halftime with a 31-14 lead.

Kennedy McKoy had a big first half with 139 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns. Will Grier was 16-26 for 159 yards and a couple of touchdowns. The offense racked up 329 yards of total offense, while the defense force three turnovers and held the Cowboys to 208 yards of offense.

Oklahoma State got the ball to start the second half and they made quick work of the West Virginia defense. Taylor Cornelius was 4-4 for 32 yards and a TD. Chuba Hubbard had 3 carries for 26 yards and a one-yard touchdown reception. The Cowboys cut the WVU lead to 10 in under three minutes of the first half.

The Mountaineers took their first possession of the second half down inside the OSU 10. On third and short Will Grier kept the ball on the read option, not only did he come up short, but fumbled the ball over to the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State put together a 14-play 80-yard drive that stalled at the WVU three-yard line. The West Virginia defense held the Cowboys to a field goal; however, they were within one possession, 31-24.

The West Virginia offense was stagnant and could only muster up a field goal after a couple of drives, and Oklahoma State was gaining momentum. The Cowboys were winning the field position battle and would start a drive at their own 43-yard line. On third and 20, Cornelius found Tyron Johnson along the sidelines for 38 yards. A few plays later, Cornelius and Johnson would hook up again for a six-yard touchdown to get within three, 34-31.

West Virginia would strike back. Grier found tight end Trevon Wesco down the middle of the field for 43 yards. WVU had a fourth and five and a pass interference in the endzone kept the drive alive. Then on fourth and goal Grier ran in on a QB draw from six yards out to put WVU up 10.

Oklahoma State responded on the ensuing possession. They went down the field with ease as Cornelius was gashing the defense with his legs and his arm for 73 total yards getting his team back within three points.

The Mountaineer offense stalled at midfield and after the Billy Kinney punt Oklahoma started their drive from their own 25-yard line. With 2:38 left to play in the game, OSU went 75 yards in 7 plays for the touchdown and the lead behind Chuba Hubbard’s 35 yards on the ground and highlighted by Cornelius to Tyron Johnson 11-yard toss and catch.

West Virginia was trailing 45-41 with 42 seconds left in the game. Back to back completions to Gary Jennings for 44 yards and a 14-yard reception by David Sills got the Mountaineers down to the OSU 14-yard line. They had time for one play, and a pass to the endzone for David Sill was batted away by AJ Green to end the game.