Mountaineers Come Up Short Against Sooners

Matchup
1st Downs	25	33
3rd down efficiency	4-9	12-18
4th down efficiency	2-2	2-3
Total Yards	668	704
Passing	364	539
Comp-Att	20-27	32-49
Yards per pass	13.5	11.0
Interceptions thrown	1	0
Rushing	304	165
Rushing Attempts	38	41
Yards per rush	8.0	4.0
Penalties	6-60	5-60
Turnovers	2	2
Fumbles lost	1	2
Interceptions thrown	1	0
Possession	28:07	31:53

The No. 13 West Virginia Mountaineers (8-3, 6-3) came up short against the No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners (11-1, 9-1). In a game that was back and forth, two sack fumbles, then scoop and scores by the Sooner defense was the difference in the game.

West Virginia wont the toss and elected to receive.

The Mountaineers took the opening series of game and methodically went down the field for a touchdown. They went 75 yards on nine plays and held on to the ball for nearly five minutes. Quarterback Will Grier was 3-3 on the drive for 51 yards including a 41 yard strike to David Sills for the score.

Oklahoma responded quickly on their opening drive. It was a big dose of quarterback Kyler Murray accounting for 77 of the 81 yards on the scoring drive; 66 yards on the ground as well as a 51-yard run for the touchdown to tie the game up at seven.

West Virginia answered right back. Grier hit tight end Trevon Wesco twice over the middle for 29 yards, but Martell Pettaway carried the load with six rushes for 31 yards and the touchdown.

The Sooners came right back with a running game of their own. Kennedy Brooks had four carries for 34 yards and Murry hit Marquise Brown twice for 38 yards including a 25-yard dart to the back of the endzone to tie the game up 14-14.

After West Virginia failed a fourth and goal from the six, the Sooners came out looking to take their first lead of the game early in the second quarter. Oklahoma was moving the ball down the field with ease, until linebacker David Long popped the ball loose from Kyler Murray and Mountaineer safety Kenny Robinson recovered the fumble at the WVU 38-yard line.

The Mountaineers were held to a three and out and the Sooners took advantage quickly, scoring on two plays highlighted by a Murray pass deep on a crossing route to Brown for 65 yards and running back Trey Sermon punched it in from the one to give the Sooners the 21-14 lead midway through the second quarter.

West Virginia responded with another scoring drive. Grier hit Jovani Haskins on an out for 17 yards, then three straight carries by Pettaway for 12 yards before Grier went 3-4 for 31 yards concluding the drive with a touchdown pass to the sideline to David sills from 11 yards out tying the game up at 21.

It didn’t take long for the Sooners to reclaim the lead. Two rushes from Kennedy Brooks for 75 yards took all of 44 seconds to find the endzone.

On the ensuing possession, Grier was sacked on the second play of the series fumbling the ball and Sooners linebacker Caleb Kelly scooped it up for the score giving Oklahoma a 14-point advantage 35-21.

Will Grier was not going quietly into the night. He led his offense down the field throwing for 77 yards including a remarkable 30-yard grab by Dominque Maiden along the sideline at the OU two-yard line as he wrestled the ball away from defensive back Tre Norwood. Kennedy McKoy punched it in from the one-yard line out of the wild cat formation with 18 seconds to go in the half.

Oklahoma went into halftime leading 35-28.

The Sooners Tre Brown took the opening kickoff of the second half 43 yards down to the WVU 35-yard line putting Oklahoma in great field position. Kennedy Brooks got the Sooners down to the 13-yard line until Kyler Murray forced a pass into the endzone and was picked off by safety Kenny Robinson.

West Virginia would take advantage of the early second half turnover. Grier and receiver Gary Jennings made quick work of the Sooner defense going deep over the middle for a 57-yard touchdown pass and the game was tied at 35.

Oklahoma would get on the board on the following possession. Kyler Murray guided his offense down to the WVU 15-yard line, setting up a fourth and short; however, a false start pushed Oklahoma back to the 20 and they settled for a field goal and took a three-point lead.

On the following possession, the Mountaineer offense was struggling to find their way, and on a third and 18, Grier again hit Jennings deep over the middle for a 52-yard touchdown. The Mountaineers retook the lead 42-38.

The Sooners again would strike quickly. Murray hit Brown on two big pass plays combined for 75 yards and the touchdown to take the lead back 45-42.

Will Grier and the Mountaineers answered just three plays later. On third and 10, Grier hit Gary Jennings over the middle again, this time for a 75-yard touchdown pass and West Virginia was back on top 49-45.

Oklahoma put another scoring drive together on the ensuing possession. Brooks carried the ball 4 times for 26 yards and Kyler Murray was 3-3 for 35 yards. The West Virginia defense held the Sooners to a fourth and goal, but tight end Grant Calcaterra slid open in the back of the end zone for the touchdown reception. The Sooners was holding on to a three-point lead 52-49.

West Virginia was putting together what looked to be another scoring drive until Will Grier was sacked by defensive end Kenneth Mann and fumbled the ball Curtis Bolton scooped it up and scored, giving them a 10-point lead.

After forcing the Sooners to punt, the Mountaineers got back in striking distance with a 17-yard touchdown from Martell Pettaway.

Following the touchdown, the Mountaineers attempted an onside kick giving the Sooners a short field. The Mountaineer defense fell short, giving the Sooners enough yardage to seal the win.

The Sooners win 59-56 and will take on Texas in the Big 12 Championship.