LIVE GAME THREAD: West Virginia vs Minnesota - Guaranteed Rate Bowl
West Virginia (6-6) vs Minnesota (8-4)
Where: Chase Field (Phoenix, AZ)
Kickoff: Approx. 10:15 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Stream: fuboTV
Listen: Mountaineer Sports Network from Learfield IMG College, wvusports.com
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LIVE GAME UPDATES
Coin toss: West Virginia will receive to begin the game.
1ST QTR
WVU will start at their own 12.
Mountaineers go three and out on opening drive. Short completion to Tony Mathis, a drop by Sam James, and incomplete pass intended for Sean Ryan.
Minnesota will start at their own 42.
The Golden Gophers have worked their way inside the WVU 5-yard line. Tanner Morgan hit Dylan Wright for a gain of 22 and a 12-yard rush by Ky Thomas has Minnesota knocking on the door.
Dante Stills sacks Tanner Morgan on 3rd down and Matthew Trickett misses a short, 33-yard field goal. Score remains 0-0.
WVU will start at their own 20.
Doege with two quick passes to Winston Wright and WVU faces a 3rd & 6 out of the timeout.
Doege nearly intercepted on 3rd down, pass falls incomplete and the Mountaineers will punt.
Minnesota will start at their own 42....again.
Morgan hits a deep pass to Wright for a gain of 36 on the first play of the series. Huge break for WVU as Ky Thomas fumbles inside the 10-yard line and the Mountaineers recover (CB Charles Woods). Two red zone trips for Minnesota and they have zero points.
WVU will start at their own 6.
After Tony Mathis picks up a first down, Doege is sacked on back-to-back plays, putting the ball inside the 1-yard line. Mathis gives punter Tyler Sumpter a little breathing room and the Gophers will have the ball.
Minnesota will start at their own 47.
The Gophers are on the move again with the ball at the WVU 26. We're headed to the 2nd quarter with no score.
2ND QTR
Mar'Keise Irving with a 16-yard rush to the outside up the sideline has Minnesota inside the WVU 5 once again. Right tackle Daniel Faalele lines up at fullback in the Power-I and runs in a touchdown to get the Gophers on the board. Annexstad runs in the two-point conversion on the fake field goal and Minnesota leads 8-0 (14:19).
WVU will start at their own 25.
Jarret Doege heating up on this drive for the Mountaineers with a 14-yard completion to James and a 12-yard completion to Wright. Pass interference in the end zone gives WVU a 1st & goal situation. Tony Mathis stuffed on back-to-back plays a couple yards shy of the goal line. West Virginia has 4th & goal inside the two. Doege runs in a 2-yard touchdown after finding no one open. Two-point conversion fails, WVU now trails 8-6 (8:48).
Minnesota will start at their own 35.
WVU defense forces a three and out.
WVU will start at their own 17.
WVU picked up a first down but their tempo/momentum came to an end after a play was reviewed for targeting. Back to the Gophers.
Minnesota will start at their own 39.
Ky Thomas makes a cut back inside and finds a huge hole in the middle of the field, goes for a gain of 50. Ball is now at the nine. Thomas finishes off the drive with a 5-yard rushing score. Minnesota extends the lead, 15-6 (2:14).
Doege finds Reese Smith for 15 yards but fumbles the ball, Tony Mathis saves the day and recovers it for WVU. Ball in Minnesota territory. Doege intercepted by Michael Dixon.
END OF 1ST HALF: Minnesota 15, West Virginia 6.
3RD QTR
Minnesota will start at their own 29.
Mar'Keise Irving hits for a big run to start the 3rd quarter going for 24 yards. Jackie Matthews sacks Tanner Morgan on flea-flicker, Morgan's pass falls incomplete on 2nd down and Thomas losses three yards on 3rd and long. Gophers punt.
WVU will start at their own 11.
True freshman RB Justin Johnson Jr. gets a couple of carries to move the sticks but nothing else for WVU after that.
Minnesota will start at their own 30.
Irving and Thomas combine for 30 yards on the ground to get into field goal range for Matthew Trickett who sails one through from 49 yards out. Gophers lead 18-6 (5:53).
WVU will start at their own 13.
Doege helps lead the offense into plus territory but the Mountaineers turn it over on downs by throwing an incompletion deep down the field near the goal line on 4th & 11.
Minnesota will start at their own 42.
Charles Woods intercepts Tanner Morgan on 3rd down, West Virginia gets the ball right back.
WVU will start at their own 41.
4TH QTR
West Virginia goes three and out following the interception.
Minnesota will start at their own 10.
The Gophers move the ball to midfield but Dante Stills comes up with a tackle for loss on 3rd down to force a punt. Game is still within reach for WVU but they need points quick.
WVU will start at their own 11.
West Virginia goes three and out.
Minnesota will start at their own 38.
The Golden Gophers run the ball 10 straight times and takes three kneel downs to bring the game to an end. Minnesota wins the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, 18-6.
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