PHOENIX — With West Virginia raising its Air Raid flag higher than it has ever flown in a bowl game, a third-and-22 running play proved pivotal.
Wendell Smallwood gashed Arizona State for 24 yards and two plays later Cactus Bowl offensive MVP Skyler Howard threw the go-ahead touchdown to freshman David Sills, carrying the Mountaineers to a late-night 43-42 victory.
“The kind of game you dream about,” said Howard, whose 532 passing yards surpassed Marc Bulger’s postseason record and were the second-most by a West Virginia quarterback. His fifth touchdown toss tied the game with 2:19 left before Josh Lambert’s extra point—no gimme on this bizarre night—provided the slim margin of victory.
West Virginia (8-5) posted its highest win total in four Big 12 seasons and gave the league’s reputation a late boost on the heels of TCU’s comeback Oregon..
“We watched the TV this afternoon when Kansas State lost,” coach Dana Holgorsen said. “There was a lot of commentary about the Big 12 not doing very well. Then TCU came back and won down 31 points against a Pac-12 team. Then we go out there and win against a Pac-12 team. We wanted to represent the Big 12. We did.”
With the passing game going full-throttle, Smallwood didn’t have his customary night, but his 72 yards on 13 carries were enough to claim the Big 12 rushing title. And his biggest run of the night, a third-and-forever from the Arizona State 39 extended the decisive 75-yard drive.
“We finally caught (the Sun Devils’ defense) playing off, and then Wendell made a great cut,” Holgorsen said. “He’s a great player. He’s going to make that play when we have the numbers.”
West Virginia’s numbers were stunning: 676 yards (third-most in school history), including 143 receiving by Shelton Gibson and another 116 by Ka’Raun White, whose NFL big brother Kevin texted congratulations after the game. Daikiel Shorts missed by only 3 yards becoming the third member of the 100-yard club and caught two contested touchdowns on fade routes.
Gary Jennings made a 64-yard scoring catch and fellow true freshman Sills delivered in the clutch, though Arizona State (6-7) still had its chance to answer. Instead Mike Bercovici’s 418-yard, four-touchdown passing night ended at midfield on a fourth-down incompletion that was tipped by linebacker Jared Barber, and the Sun Devils lost for the fifth time this season when leading in the final quarter.
“We couldn’t contain the vertical pass,” said Arizona State coach Todd Graham. “Them throwing over the top, throwing touchdowns on us, that was the biggest thing. A lot of our pressures we would normally run were not very effective. We blew a couple of coverages.”
Though Howard suffered two interceptions and missed several open throws deep, he completed 28-of-51 passes and broke the Cactus Bowl yardage record that had stood since 1992 when Washington State’s Drew Bledsoe compiled 476.
“Skyler, he had a day,” said West Virginia safety K.J. Dillon. “The defense had picked them up earlier this year and this time the offense picked us up.”
