West Virginia Bounces Back with Win Over UCF
ORLANDO - West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene rushed for three touchdowns as the Mountaineers (5-3, 3-2) handled the UCF Knights (3-5, 0-5) Saturday afternoon 41-28.
West Virginia went 75 yards on nine plays on the game's opening drive. The Mountaineers faced a fourth and one near midfield and CJ Donaldson bounced out to the left side for a 21-yard gain and a first down. Then, West Virginia was set up at the six after a 19-yard toss and catch from Greene to Devin Carter and Greene capped off a drive with a six-yard keeper up the middle for the touchdown.
UCF responded on its first drive of the game with a nine-play 75-yard drive and finished with a 34-yard touchdown reception by Kobe Hudson.
The Mountaineers, again, moved the ball with ease down the field on the ensuing possession. Jaheim White placed West Virginia inside the 10 with a 19-yard run but the drive stalled and settled for a Michael Hayes 24-yard field goal for a 10-7 advantage.
The Knights were on the verge of tying the game until a pass intended for Baker on fourth and one went through his hands and off his feet and cornerback Beannie Bishop intercepted the pass and returned it to the WVU 37-yard line.
The West Virginia offense continued its momentum, with Greene connecting with Devin Carter for 14 yards on third and nine, Rodney Gallager followed with an 11-yard run before Kole Taylor hauled in ana4-yard reception to place the Mountaineers at the UCF 10. Then, consecutive runs by Jaheim White for 10 yards and the touchdown put the Mountaineers up 17-7.
UCF responded and got momentum after a 29-yard carry from RJ Harvey and capped off an eight play 75-yard drive on a keeper from John Rhys Plumlee to get the Knights within three, 17-14.
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Beannie Bishop began the second half with his second interception, giving the Mountaineer offense the ball at the WVU 32-yard line.
The Mountaineer offense reclaimed a 10-point lead, highlighted by a 28-yard reception from Preston Fox on a receiving screen and finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run from Garrett Greene.
UCF answered on the ensuing possession. Plumlee bounced back after throwing his third interception, going 5-5 for 72 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown pass to Baker to get back within three, 24-21 at the 5:25 mark in the third quarter.
After trading sack fumbles, West Virginia took over at the UCF 27-yard line, Greene rumbled for a 21-yard gain to the six and a pair of runs put the Mountaineers in the endzone and back up 10 to begin the fourth quarter.
The Mountaineer defense forced UCF first punt of the afternoon, the West Virginia offense quickly went back to work.
Jaheim White began the drive with a burst off the right side for 32 yards, and facing a fourth and two, Greene found E.J. Horton over the middle for 13 yards before Donaldson finished the drive with a six-yard touchdown run as the Mountaineers claimed a 38-21 lead with 9:25 left to play.
The Mountaineer defense forced a turnover on downs and the Mountaineer offense took over at the UCF 32-yard line.
West Virginia continued its success on the ground game, but a holding call negated a White touchdown run and the Mountaineers settled for a 41-yard field goal from Michael Hayes to extend the lead 41-21 with 5:14 remaining in the game.
UCF constructed one last scoring drive for 80 yards and the touchdown with just under two minutes to play. An onside kick attempt by the Knights failed and the Mountaineers ran out the clock deep in UCF territory for the 41-28 win.
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