LANDOVER, Md. — Skyler Howard set a personal-best with 31 completions. Shelton Gibson topped the 100-yard receiving mark for a second straight game. Rushel Shell powered for two scores and Rasul Douglas even gave West Virginia its first defensive touchdown of the season.
And yet, the Mountaineers’ climb to 3-0 wasn’t secure until the final minute, when BYU nearly erased a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Transfer Maurice Fleming intercepted a tipped pass at the goal line to finalize West Virginia’s 35-32 victory Saturday, a nonconference matchup that featured all the high-wire trappings of a Big 12 game.
“Never, ever, ever take one for granted,“ said coach Dana Holgorsen, whose Mountaineers led 35-19 with under 10 minutes to play. “We figured out a way to win.”
BYU (1-3) must be wondering what it takes to win after three losses by a combined seven points against Power Five opponents.
“We’ve got to find ways to pull out these close games,” said Cougars coach Kalani Sitake, whose offense came alive and outgained West Virginia’s 521-481.
Taysom Hill threw for 241 yards and ran for 101 to complement running back Jamaal Wiliams, who compiled 169 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. But Hill tossed three interceptions — including a careless pass that Douglas seized for a 54-yard interception return — and Williams lost a third-quarter fumble with BYU driving to take the lead.
The Mountaineers assembled first-half touchdown drives of 86 and 88 yards, both culminating in runs by Shell. Howard capped a 99-yarder by throwing a short pass to Daikiel Shorts, which made for a 16-point cushion with with 11:27 left.
“I told everybody to stay ready, but we probably relaxed a little,” Holgorsen said.
During the ensuing 6 minutes, BYU rallied behind touchdowns by Williams and Hill’s 18-yard strike to Moroni Laulu-Pututau.
Hill closed the day 23-of-35 passing trying to keep pace with Howard, who completed 31-of-40 for 332 yards. West Virginia’s quarterback suffered a first-half interception himself and contributed to a late-game fumble when he wasn’t expecting Tyler Orlosky’s shotgun snap. That unforced turnover at the BYU 4-yard line made the ending far more dramatic than the modest crowd of 38,207 expected.
Hill connected with Nick Kurtz for 29 and 23 yards as BYU drove to West Virginia’s 28, nearing range for the tying field goal. But Hill tried a deep pass for Aleva Hifo that was deflected by nickel back Nana Kyeremeh and into the mitts of Fleming, the graduate transfer from Iowa.
“I’m going to tell Nana thank you,” Fleming said.
The tipped interception became a buzzkill for BYU, which felt suddenly empowered after averaging only 17 points in three previous games.
“We had no doubt in our minds that we could go down there and score, and win it,” Williams said. “I feel like we just beat ourselves. We’ve got to stop beating ourselves with the tipped balls and the errors.”
Gibson made four catches for 144 yards, highlighted by a 51-yarder on the play after Williams’ third-quarter fumble. That set up a 5-yard scramble by Howard that put West Virginia head 28-19.
BYU drew within 21-13 on Almond’s 25-yard field goal to end the half, a final snap granted after replay officials ruled Hill spiked the ball with one second left.
Even after the win Holgorsen disputed the booth’s decision to give BYU a chance to kick. That frustration — along with his defense’s inability to stop and his offense’s late-game malaise — didn’t take away from the outcome though.
“The good news,” he said, “is we can address this stuff while we’re sitting here at 3-0.”