Lambert’s leg delivers another dose of last-minute magic

West Virginia kicker Josh Lambert (86) boots the game-winning 55-yard field goal to beat Texas Tech 37-34 on Saturday.

 

LUBBOCK, Texas — Josh Lambert has rapidly earned a reputation as West Virginia’s closer. And he doesn’t need to be close.

The sophomore clubbed a 55-yard field goal to stun Texas Tech on the final play Saturday, repeating the clutch heroics he showed last month on a 47-yard game-ender at Maryland.

“I just had to concentrate on doing my job and try to hit a good ball,” said Lambert, after his kick beat the Red Raiders 37-34 and matched the longest in West Virginia history.

Lambert attended high school six hours away in Dallas, and his aunt, uncle and two cousins were in attendance to see his latest game-winner. That makes three walk-off kicks in West Virginia’s last five wins, dating back to the TCU overtime game last November.

The strong-legged silent type, Lambert has made field goals from 50-plus in three consecutive games, yet favors brevity in postgame interviews.

Asked how he rebounded from Saturday’s 47-yard miss earlier in the fourth quarter? “You either have it or you don’t.”

Asked about Texas Tech’s attempt to ice him with a late timeout? “I don’t care—my job’s the same either way.”

Head coach Dana Holgorsen famously joked about being so hands-off with specialists that he hadn’t talked to Lambert since the kid enrolled.

“I don’t need to say anything to him, because Josh is not rattled by any situation,” said Holgorsen, who understands Lambert is now 5-for-5 this season on kicks following misses. “So I knew when he missed that one in the fourth quarter that we were in great shape.”

Great shape, indeed. All West Virginia required was two touchdowns to erase a 34-20 deficit in the final six minutes, and moving 42 yards in the final 52 seconds to let Lambert do his business.

He took care of business with another booming kick, dead-solid-perfect toward the double-T logo in the berm behind the north end zone. Still, the field goal wasn’t his favorite moment.

“The best part for me is walking into the locker rooms and seeing everybody’s reactions and how happy they are.”





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