FINAL: West Virginia holds off Kansas, 29-24, for first Big 12 win

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Neal Brown earned his first Big 12 win as West Virginia went on the road to beat Kansas, 29-24.

The game came down to the last play, but the Mountaineers (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) stifled the Jayhawks’ (2-2, 0-1) attempted hook-and-lateral to win the game.

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FOURTH QUARTER

West Virginia 29, Kansas 24 (2:10)

The Jayhawks marched 70 yards in 2:49, capping the drive with Carter Stanley’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Parchment.

West Virginia 29, Kansas 17 (5:04)

Keith Washington’s acrobatic interception set up the offense in ideal position to put the game away.

The Mountaineers ran the ball 10 times on their 11-play, 51-yard drive that was capped off by a 7-yard Martell Pettaway touchdown run. It was Pettaway’s second touchdown of the game.

West Virginia 23, Kansas 17 (12:35)

An eventful drive, to say the least.

WVU rolled the dice with a pass to the end zone on fourth-and-1 from the Kansas 24 and got bailed out with a pass interference call against the Jayhawks. But the Mountaineers still ended up settling for 3 when it was over thanks to a pass breakup by safety Jeremiah McCullough at the goal line.

Evan Staley hit a 22-yard field goal to extend the lead.

THIRD QUARTER

West Virginia 20, Kansas 17 (4:08)

Carter Stanley hit Andrew Parchment for a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the possession.

West Virginia 20, Kansas 10 (4:20)

The Mountaineers took over in favorable field position after a customary gamble by The Mad Hatter.

Les Miles had his team attempt an onside kick — which was recovered by Kansas — but then negated by a 15-yard penalty for catch interference when Dante Bonamico wasn’t given an opportunity to field the kick. If a kick goes into the air rather than being bounced off the ground, the returner must be given the chance to field it.

The Mountaineers only drove 5 yards, but it was enough to set Evan Staley up for a 45-yard field goal with the wind at his back.

West Virginia 17, Kansas 10 (6:06)

West Virginia’s defense held firm after the Jayhawks moved inside the 10-yard line on an 11-play, 71-yard drive. Kansas settled for a 21-yard Liam Jones field goal.

West Virginia 17, Kansas 7 (10:31)

After last week’s benching, Martell Pettaway responded in a big way on his first touch in two weeks. With an impressive spin move, Pettaway broke free from the Kansas defense for a 21-yard touchdown run.

The Mountaineers moved 70 yards in 10 plays on an impressive drive to open the second half.

SECOND QUARTER

West Virginia 10, Kansas 7 (0:00)

Evan Staley bounced a 37-yard field goal off the right goal post to give the Mountaineers a lead going into their very cramped visitors’ locker room.

The lead had to feel like a relief after an otherwise ugly second quarter. West Virginia endured a pair of drops, two bad sacks and a missed field goal before finally getting a positive result on a nine-play, 51-yard drive in the final 48 seconds of the first half.

Kansas 7, West Virginia 7 (12:06)

Quarterback Carter Stanley connected with receiver Kwamie Lassiter for a 28-yard touchdown pass.

The score was set up by a third-down conversion on the previous play. A miscommunication between safety Sean Mahone and cornerback Keith Washington left receiver Stephon Robinson wide-open for a 13-yard gain on third-and-9.

An unlikely Stanley scramble for 19 yards was the play that seemed to fire up the Kansas offense for the first time in the game.

FIRST QUARTER

West Virginia is up by a touchdown, but the offense can’t feel good about a three-and-out to end the quarter after starting the possession near midfield.

West Virginia 7, Kansas 0 (7:37)

Kennedy McKoy ran into the end zone untouched from 3 yards out to cap off West Virginia’s opening 13-play, 71-yard drive.

WVU converted a pair of third-and-long plays to keep the drive moving. Austin Kendall hit T.J. Simmons for an 18-yard gain on third-and-11, then found McKoy for a 13-yard reception on a third-and-7. Leddie Brown also converted a short third down on the drive.

PREGAME

Offensive lineman Josh Sills did not make the trip and will miss his second-straight game with an injury. Chase Behrndt will start at right guard.

Left guard Mike Brown is back in the lineup after missing last week’s game at N.C. State with an illness. Slot receiver Tevin Bush is back in the lineup after last week’s one-game suspension.





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