West Virginia Escapes Waco with a Win

In a tale of two halves, the West Virginia Mountaineers use late game heroics for a 34-31 victory over the Baylor Bears

Waco, TX - West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene connected with Jahiem White for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 23 seconds remaining as the Mountaineers (8-4, 6-3) beat the Baylor Bears (3-9, 2-7) Saturday night 34-31.

Team + Individual Stats: WVU at Baylor

West Virginia grabbed an early 7-0 lead after freshman running back Jahiem White burst through the left side for a 53-yard run, setting up quarterback Garrett Greene to Treylan Ray in the back of the endzone for the 30-yard touchdown pass. 

On the Mountaineers following possession, White continued to find success on the left side, bursting for 25 yards, but the drive stalled at the Baylor 20 and West Virginia settled for a 38-yard field goal from Michael Hayes for a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. 

Richard Reese returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to cut into the WVU lead 10-7. 

West Virginia responded with a seven-play 82-yard touchdown drive. Greene hit Hudson Clement down the right side for 36-yards to put the Mountaineers in Baylor territory. Then, Greene carried the ball into the endzone from 23-yards out to give WVU a 17-7 lead. 

Reese, again, returned the ensuing kickoff for the touchdown, this time for 93 yards, to get the Bears back within three. 

The Mountaineers settled for a Michael Hayes 36-yard field goal on the following possession.

West Virginia extended its lead in the final two minutes of the half. Greene connected with tight end Kole Taylor and Preston Fox over the middle on consecutive plays for 45 yards before scrambling for 11 yards to the goal line and punched it in from a yard away to take a 27-14 lead into halftime. 

Nov 25, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Garrett Greene (6) reacts with wide receiver Hudson Clement (84) after carrying the ball for a 23-yard touchdown against the Baylor Bears during the first half at McLane Stadium.  / Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

Baylor drove the opening possession of the second half 77 yards on seven plays capped off with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Roberston Sawyer to Ketron Jackson Jr to get back with six, 27-21. 

After a holding call following a 46-yard run from Garrett Greene, the Mountaineers were forced to punt on their opening drive of the second half. 

Baylor struck quickly; Robertson hit Jackson over the middle for 38 yards to the WVU 13. Five plays later, Dominic Richardson carried into the endzone for a 28-27 Baylor lead at the 5:45 mark of the third quarter. 

Baylor added to its lead early in the fourth quarter with a Isaiah Hankins 39-yard field goal. 

Following a Baylor missed field goal with 1:14 left to play, the Mountaineers drove 84 yards with Greene hitting Jahiem White down the left sideline for the 29-yard touchdown to take a 34-31 lead with 23 seconds remaining and held on for the win. 

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