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Lightning again comes to frenzied WVU, with win over Kansas

By Bob Madison - For the Chronicle | Sep 27, 2024

The Mountaineer sideline erupts in joy when Ty Bradley strips the ball from Kansas quarterback Daniels and recovers it to seal the WVU final seconds win over the Big 12 opponent in Morgantown on Saturday. David Pennock

MORGANTOWN — Mercurial West Virginia University football was on display again in the frenzied finish of the Mountaineers’ 32-28 conference win over stunned University of Kansas last Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium.

The mountain top-or-rock-strewn-bottom Mountaineers somehow survived a two-hour lightning delay and a late-game 11-point deficit to literally pull out a 32-28 win over the disbelieving Jayhawks.

The long-ago first half must have seemed like it had taken place maybe even a day ago, when the trailing Mountaineers and their legion of followers looked at the scoreboard and saw WVU trailing by a 28-17 count with only a little more than five minutes to play.

But the ever-present Garrett Greene threw 15 yards to Rodney Gallagher and made an encore throw of eight yards to Kole Taylor with only 26 seconds remaining to bring more than a rousing end to West Virginia’s improbable victory.

Greene had finished his eventful afternoon completing 15 of 30 passes for 295 yards. His touchdown passes were balanced by two earlier interceptions.

Senior spur Ty French gets to Jalon Daniels, as he attempts to pass the ball, during Saturday's game at Milan Puskar Stadium. David Pennock

Greene also rushed for a score and totaled 87 yards on his 17 running attempts.

Former Martinsburg High School receiver Hudson Clement had seven pass receptions for 150 yards.

In what proved to be an anticlimactic first half, WVU held a tenuous 14-7 lead. Kansas had assumed a 21-17 lead when the third quarter finished.

And with only 3:27 to play, Kansas still had that 11-point lead, before Greene’s late antics helped the still-plugging, still-chugging Mountaineers get a much-needed win.

This week’s open date on the schedule might be much appreciated by coaching staff and playing roster alike.

While Wyatt Milum provides a block, Garrett Greene passes in the second quarter of the Mountaineer victory over the Jayhawks in Morgantown on Saturday. David Pennock

West Virginia had Josiah Trotter register 11 tackles and Trey Latham credited with 10 stops.

Tyrin Bradley had seven tackles in addition to a fumble recovery and pass interception. Anthony Wilson also had seven tackles.

As in the home opener against Penn State, the rain and lightning had come again, causing a considerable delay.

As had been seen in the closing minutes of the Pitt game, a workable lead was not safe — only this time the Mountaineers could savor the choice morsels of comeback football instead of wondering how their lead could have evaporated so quickly.

After its week off, the Mountaineers will next ravel to T. Boone Pickens Stadium to see nationally ranked Oklahoma State on Oct. 5.

WVU defensive lineman Taurus Simmons tackles University of Kansas receiver Trevor Wilson on a kick off return in Morgantown on Saturday. David Pennock

West Virginia’s somewhat deceptive 2-2 record has been achieved in some of the most extraordinary ways possible in college football.

And there are still eight conference games remaining to be negotiated!