MANHATTAN, Kan. — The highs and lows from West Virginia’s 35-12 loss at Kansas State on Saturday:
Worst fourth-down call: Typically, this weekly superlative belongs to Dana Holgorsen. But WVU’s failed fake on a field-goal try apparently was based on a misread by holder Michael Molinari, who ran for just 4 yards on fourth-and-7.
Best compliment for a quarterback: K-State receiver Curry Sexton said Jake Waters in the second half “started spinning the ball in spots where we really had no choice but to catch it.”
Worst feeling for a quarterback: Spending the final eight minutes on the sideline, as Clint Trickett did when he was replaced by Paul Millard.
Best “home improvement” project: Kansas State’s $90 million renovation of Bill Snyder Family Stadium looked sharp, creating an atmosphere that’s as fan-friendly as it is donor-friendly.
Most GPS-impaired slide: Trickett hit the turf a yard shy of the first-down marker on West Virginia’s second series.
Worst third-down defense: WVU allowed K-State to make good on 8-of-13 conversions, which means the Mountaineers last three opponents are now 28-of-43.
Worst red-zone offense: West Virginia had first downs inside the K-State 10 on back-to-back series before the half and netted a mere three points.
Best leg: Josh Lambert powered a 50-yard field goal into the end zone bleachers to give WVU a 12-7 third-quarter lead. (Those were the Mountaineers’ final points.)
Scariest hit (pregame): In a staged event that nearly turned tragic, Willie the Wildcat made a crunching tackle on a guy posing in a West Virginia T-shirt. The “victim” laid flat-backed for several seconds before weakly signaling for doctors, who rushed to his side. Moments later, trainers assisted him into an ambulance and he reportedly was examined at a nearby hospital.
Scariest hit (in-game): K-State defensive end Ryan Mueller jolted Dreamius Smith after an 8-yard run in the third quarter.
Best proof misery loves company: Big 12 newbies TCU and West Virginia will sport identical overall records of 3-5 (and 1-4 in the league) when they hook up in Ft. Worth next week.