West Virginia outlasts Virginia Tech in upset
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — West Virginia’s comfortable lead evaporated, the sellout crowd’s cheers had turned to boos and possession of the Black Diamond Trophy came down to a goal-line stand.
Braxton Burmeister nearly brought No. 15 Virginia Tech back from a 20-point deficit, but his fourth-down pass fell incomplete at the goal line in the final minute, handing the Mountaineers a 27-21 victory Saturday.
West Virginia safety Alonzo Addae said there was no sense of desperation on the defense when Virginia Tech was handed a golden opportunity to win.
“At the end of the day, we want the game to be on the line and it be on us,” Addae said. “We pride ourselves on playing great defense here, so it was just another opportunity to make a stand and bring home the win.”
Jarret Doege threw two touchdown passes and Leddie Brown rushed for 106 yards and a score for the Mountaineers (2-1), who had built a 27-7-point lead midway through the third quarter before falling flat.
“Winning is hard and we talked about it before the game,” coach Neal Brown said. “I thought this was going to be a defining moment for us, for this team and where we’re at.
TEXAS TECH 54
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 21
Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 399 yards and four touchdown passes to spark a victory against Florida International at Jones AT&T Stadium.
The Red Raiders shook loose from a tight game after the first quarter with four touchdowns in the second period and racked up 264 yards along the way. They finished the night with 580 yards.
In the best offensive night this year for Texas Tech (3-0), Shough was an effective catalyst. He spread the ball around to 11 receivers and twice completed eight passes in a row going 26 of 35.
BAYLOR 45, KANSAS 7
Gerry Bohanon threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns while running for another score, and the visiting Bears had their way against the Jayhawks on the ground, piling up 307 yards rushing in a victory.
Abram Smith ran for 122 yards and a touchdown, and Trestan Ebner added 72 yards on just 12 carries, as the Bears (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) beat the Jayhawks (1-2, 0-1) for the 12th consecutive time. Baylor hasn’t lost to Kansas since the 2007 season.
Baylor finished with 576 yards total offense. Kansas managed just 166.
KANSAS ST. 38, NEVADA 17
Will Howard pushed into the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run to cap a 21-point fourth quarter, which sealed a victory for the Wildcats over the visiting Wolf Pack.
Deuce Vaughn led the rushing attack for the Wildcats with 127 yards and a touchdown en route to the win.
Howard rushed for 56 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore quarterback went 7 of 10 in the air for 123 yards and threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Imatorbhebhe on the second play of the game.