MANHATTAN, Kan. — West Virginia snapped a five-game losing streak, upsetting No. 24 Kansas State 24-20 for the biggest win of Neal Brown’s first season.
Cornerback Hakeem Bailey sealed the deal, intercepting Kansas State quarterback Skylar Thompson at the WVU 3-yard line with 28 seconds remaining.
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Fourth Quarter
West Virginia 24, Kansas State 20 (11:27)
With West Virginia facing a third-and-22, receiver Bryce Wheaton somehow slipped behind the Kansas State secondary for an improbable 50-yard touchdown reception. Wheaton was five yards past any Wildcat when he caught the ball after a prolonged scramble by Jarret Doege kept the play alive.
Kansas State 20, West Virginia 17 (14:07)
Casey Legg drilled a 51-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 3 on the first possession of the fourth quarter.
It was a very good outcome considering the Mountaineers went backwards on the drive, facing a third-and-31 after a pair of offensive line penalties.
Third Quarter
Kansas State 20, West Virginia 14 (7:56)
Any momentum that the Mountaineers might have had at halftime was dissolved by a drive that ate up nearly half of the third quarter before West Virginia touched the ball.
West Virginia seemed a sure bet to at least keep the Wildcats to a field goal before Skylar Thompson hit Dalton Schoen for a 16-yard gain on third-and-15 from the WVU 21. No one was near Schoen on the play as the Mountaineers were in a very soft zone coverage.
Running back James Gilbert took an option pitch from Thompson for a 3-yard touchdown to finish out the 13-play, 70-yard drive.
Second Quarter
West Virginia had an impressive drive to close the second quarter, moving 52 yards on five plays in just 37 seconds. Leddie Brown was the key player, gaining 34 yards on two carries.
However, Casey Legg pushed a 37-yard field goal wide left as time expired.
West Virginia 14, Kansas State 13 (0:43)
The Wildcats finally broke through in a quarter of defensive struggle on Blake Lynch’s 33-yard field goal to close out a 12-play scoring drive.
First Quarter
West Virginia 14, Kansas State (0:00)
Make that six touchdowns on 12 catches for George Campbell in 2019. Jarret Doege bought enough time with his legs on third-and-13 to find an open Campbell for a 15-yard score on the final play of the first quarter.
Kansas State 10, West Virginia 7 (4:43)
Wildcats quarterback made a pair of ridiculously pinpoint throws against tight coverage to help move his team into field goal range. The Mountaineers stiffened inside the 10 to limit the damage to a 22-yard Blake Lynch field goal.
Thompson has a 451.3 quarterback rating so far.
West Virginia 7, Kansas State 7 (11:05)
Quite an answer for Jarret Doege and the West Virginia offense. The Mountaineers marched 75 yards in just six plays, finished off on a 19-yard pass from Doege to George “Touchdown Machine” Campbell. Campbell now has five touchdown catches on 11 receptions this season.
Kansas State 7, West Virginia 0 (13:37)
Skylar Thompson hit Dalton Schoen for a 68-yard touchdown pass on K-State’s first offensive play. Thompson’s quarterback rating after the play is 1,001.2. No, really. That’s what it is.
Pregame
Quarterback Jarret Doege earned his first career start for West Virginia, replacing incumbent Austin Kendall.
The Mountaineers will also have a change at center, where Chase Behrndt was taking snaps with the No. 1 offensive line pregame.
Kicker Evan Staley is once again out with an injury. Casey Legg and Kolton McGhee warmed up on a very windy day in Manhattan.
Wide receiver TJ Simmons is out for the second straight week, but fellow wideout Sean Ryan is back in uniform for the first time since the Texas game.