MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Following an impromptu appearance against Texas wrought with timing issues, two strip-sack fumbles and a jarring helmet-to-helmet hit, Chris Chugunov will have a week to prepare for West Virginia’s next opponent.
Will Grier is scheduled to undergo surgery on his throwing hand Sunday, a source told MetroNews, leaving Chugunov as the starter against Oklahoma.
The redshirt sophomore with 21 career pass attempts threw 26 on Saturday, completing 14 for 189 yards. His fourth-quarter touchdown to Ka’Raun White momentarily made it a one-score game though Texas eventually prevailed 28-14.
“I thought Chugs battled,” offensive coordinator Jake Spavital said after the loss knocked West Virginia out of Big 12 title contention. “There’s a couple throws he probably wishes he had back, but I was pleased with how the kid came into an unexpected situation.
“He wants to watch the tape with me right now. He wants to get to work and try to make those plays next week.”
Chugunov, in his first playing time aside from mop-up situations, was pressured by linebacker Gary Johnson into sailing a potential touchdown pass over the head of Gary Jennings. And again it was Johnson whose sack forced a fumble that Texas recovered at West Virginia’s 6-yard line.
“They for sure heated it up,” Chugunov said.
Longhorns defensive end Breckyn Hager was ejected for targeting when he and a fellow blitzer drilled Chugunov’s chin. That hit had the West Virginia coaches considering Plan C, which involved using receiver David Sills as the emergency quarterback.
“That was a good smack, but I’m all good,” Chugunov said.
The lightly recruited quarterback from Skillman, N.J., has trained in the shadow of Grier all season, taking about 25 percent of the practice reps. Next week he’ll occupy the primary role during the runup to opposing Heisman frontrunner Baker Mayfield.
“With the way that kid played we should be able to move the ball more effectively, and we should be able to score some points,” Spavital said. “We’ve got to get other things cleaned up. We’ve got to get the run game popping, and we’ve got to get the protection cleaned up.”