WACO, Texas — Upset-minded West Virginia came close to stunning No. 12 Baylor, the final unbeaten in the Big 12, in front of a national audience on ESPN. Unfortunately, an incredible time-management gaffe by Mountaineers coach Neal Brown sealed the fate of a 17-14 West Virginia loss.
Fourth Quarter
In a mind-boggling, inexcusable scenario, the Mountaineers were called for a delay of game prior to Casey Legg’s potential game-tying 43-yard field goal attempt with just over 3 minutes remaining. Pushed back 5 yards, Legg’s kick was blocked.
Baylor 17, West Virginia 14 (10:19)
John Mayers’ 36-yard field goal put Baylor back in front.
The Bears were helped on the drive by a phantom personal foul on Jake Long as quarterback Charlie Brewer was sliding. The flag negated a holding call that would have set Baylor’s offense up with a first-and-20 scenario on its own side of the field.
Third Quarter
West Virginia 14, Baylor 14 (4:22)
The Mountaineers responded to getting punched in the mouth with Winston Wright’s 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was the first career touchdown for the true freshman, and the first West Virginia kick return for a touchdown since Shelton Gibson went 100 yards at Baylor in 2015.
Baylor 14, West Virginia 7 (4:34)
The Bears responded to getting punched in the mouth with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that was topped off with Charlie Brewer’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Denzel Mims.
West Virginia 7, Baylor 7 (6:42)
Austin Kendall and George Campbell silenced a stunned home crowd with an 83-yard touchdown connection to get the Mountaineers on the board with their first third-quarter touchdown since beating Kansas on Sept. 21. Casey Legg, filling in for the injured Evan Staley, made his first career extra point to tie the game.
The touchdown was the longest completion for the Mountaineers since Geno Smith connected with Stedman Bailey for an 87-yard touchdown in a 70-63 game on Sept. 29, 2012.
Second Quarter
A gutsy goal-line stand defined West Virginia’s second quarter.
Baylor had three straight cracks at the end zone from the 1-yard line, but was stuffed every time. Reuben Jones and Dylan Tonkery stopped John Lovett on second down, then Darius Stills stopped quarterback Charlie Brewer on back-to-back sneaks to keep the Mountaineers within one touchdown of the Bears.
Unfortunately, West Virginia’s offense has come nowhere close to matching the defense’s execution or intensity. The Mountaineers finished the first half with a miserable 64 yards. Austin Kendall is 9 of 21 for 48 yards — an average of 5.3 yards per completion.
West Virginia’s only foray into Baylor territory ended in disaster, with a Briason Mays snap traveling 21 yards behind the line of scrimmage after it flew over the head of running back Kennedy McKoy on a designed wildcat play. The snap moved West Virginia from the Baylor 29 to midfield.
First Quarter
Baylor 7, West Virginia 0 (0:06)
Baylor’s offense finally broke through as Charlie Brewer found R.J. Sneed in the corner of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown.
The crucial play of the drive was a targeting penalty on WVU safety Josh Norwood, who was ejected for the second time this season. Until Norwood’s penalty, the Bears had not crossed midfield in the first quarter.
Pregame
Redshirt freshman Casey Legg will start at kicker in place of the injured Evan Staley. Staley did not kick during warmups. Legg showed range up to 50 yards.
Legg’s only career action is a kickoff against Baylor last season on which he also recorded a tackle. He is a Charleston native who attend Cross Lanes Christian.
Casey Legg and Kolton McGhee are the lone kickers warming up. Evan Staley dressed out but not doing anything.
Good news is Legg’s name is no lie – he hit one from 50. pic.twitter.com/M5pux9i121
— Alex Hickey (@bigahickey) October 31, 2019
Zach Sandwisch is starting in place of the injured Quondarius Qualls at bandit. Dylan Tonkery is starting at Mike linebacker in place of the injured Josh Chandler.