FORT WORTH, Texas — West Virginia won’t play in a bowl game for the first time since 2013, but the Mountaineers still ended Neal Brown’s first season on a positive note with a 20-17 win over TCU.
The win allowed the Mountaineers (5-7, 3-6 Big 12) to play spoliers to the Horned Frogs (5-7, 3-6), who needed a win to get into the postseason.
FINAL: West Virginia 20, TCU 17 pic.twitter.com/uQtkgnhudW
— Alex Hickey (@bigahickey) November 30, 2019
Fourth Quarter
West Virginia 20, TCU 17 (2:10)
Jarret Doege hit Isaiah Esdale for a 35-yard touchdown to give the Mountaineers a late lead. TCU committed a fourth-down pass interference and third-down roughing the passer to keep the drive alive for West Virginia, which capitalized on those mistakes.
Third Quarter
TCU 17, West Virginia 13 (1:25)
Kennedy McKoy’s 36-yard run — the longest of the season for West Virginia — put the Mountaineers in scoring range. Evan Staley hit a 24-yard field goal to finish the drive.
TCU 17, West Virginia 10 (10:32)
Jalen Reagor returned a Josh Growden punt 70 yards for a touchdown, putting TCU in front. West Virginia was 10th in the country in fewest punt return yardage allowed before Reagor’s score. He came into the game ranked second in the country in punt return average. This was Reagor’s second punt return for a score this season.
Second Quarter
West Virginia 10, TCU 10 (5:18)
West Virginia got moving with back-to-back swing passes to Leddie Brown to gain 37 yards. The drive bogged down once the Mountaineers reached the TCU 25, and they settled for a 40-yard Evan Staley field goal.
TCU 10, West Virginia 7 (9:49)
Kerry Martin Jr. broke up a would-be touchdown pass in the end zone, forcing the Horned Frogs to settled for a 30-yard Jonathan Song field goal.
First Quarter
The Mountaineers finished the quarter with only 25 yards, 14 of which came on their touchdown drive.
West Virginia 7, TCU 7 (5:12)
Taye Barber’s 64-yard run put the Horned Frogs deep inside West Virginia territory. Sewo Olonilua finished the drive off with a 2-yard touchdown out of the wildcat formation.
West Virginia 7, TCU 0 (10:40)
Tykee Smith set the Mountaineers up with a 14-yard field on a 39-yard interception return on a pass broken up by a massive hit from fellow safety Sean Mahone.
Jarret Doege swung it out to a wide-open Leddie Brown for a 3-yard touchdown on third-and-goal.
Pregame
West Virginia wide receiver Bryce Wheaton will not suit up for the game due to a foot injury.
Meanwhile, several Mountaineers who have not played this season made it onto the travel roster for the first time.
A few new faces on the travel roster for WVU today. Freshman OL Parker Moorer, freshman WR Graeson Malasevich, freshman DE Tavis Lee, sophomore OL Eric Sjostedt all traveled. First time I recall seeing them on the road.
— Alex Hickey (@bigahickey) November 29, 2019