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MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: Best team doesn’t always win

COLUMN-November 19(Oklahoma State)

It is ironic in sports that the more successful a team performs the harder the losses become. One would think it should be the other way around, but it isn’t.

With the opportunity to clinch a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game and to retain a Top 10 ranking the last second 45-41 loss at Oklahoma State Saturday was thus a very painful one for WVU players and fans.

West Virginia tacked on 10 points in the last 1:17 of the second quarter to take a 31-14 halftime lead. Normally that kind of turn in momentum right before the half bodes well, but for Mountaineers fans it seems to be just the opposite. Earlier this season, WVU played a dominant first half at Texas Tech and then had to hang on for the win. The same scenario played out again Saturday, but this Oklahoma State team was a better opponent and rode a 21 point fourth quarter for the dramatic win.

With a big margin it appears that West Virginia plays to protect the lead rather than maintaining an aggressive mindset, and once momentum turns it is hard to stop the bleeding. Two cases in point demonstrate the tentative approach.

After an Oklahoma State fumble on a punt return late in the third quarter the Mountaineers had a chance to regain a 14-point lead, yet on third and nine handed the ball off on a running play. The play went nowhere and holding WVU to a field goal was a win for the Cowboys’ defense.

Late in the game West Virginia had a last opportunity to close out the win by maintaining possession of the football. The Oklahoma State offense was rolling and we all knew that if the Cowboys had another possession they likely would take the lead. Thus with a 41-38 lead and four minutes to go the Mountaineers needed to play as if they were behind. The drive began well enough with a 22-yard pass to David Sills for a first down at the WVU 45. The Cowboys had only one timeout left, and one more first down would likely close out the game. But on 2nd and 3rd down and long West Virginia again handed the ball off on running plays.

I am of the view that with 10 yards to make for a first down and the game on the line, I want the ball in the hands of Will Grier. Maybe pass attempts would have been incomplete, but the running plays had little chance of success, as by that time it was clear that Oklahoma State had made adjustments to shut down the effectiveness the Mountaineers had on the ground in the first half.

The game came down to one last pass into the end zone from the 14-yard line which was batted away. But WVU may have had another opportunity or two had a timeout been called on the first play of the drive. The 12-15 seconds lost could never be regained, and with only time for one play in the final seconds the Mountaineers still had their two timeouts in their pocket. Asked in his press conference if that was a mistake, head coach Dana Holgorsen gave a curt “No”. Wrong answer.

THIS FRIDAY: As tough as the loss was, West Virginia still has an opportunity to make the Big 12 title game with a win over Oklahoma. But the Sooners have dominated WVU with six straight wins since 2012 and have an offense that is virtually unstoppable. One wonders if the Mountaineers couldn’t contain the quarterback runs last Saturday (106 yards) what will happen with the lightning fast legs of Heisman Trophy candidate Tyler Murray. But the Sooner defense is suspect and the Mountaineers have been exceptional at home. So why not? WEST VIRGINIA 51 OKLAHOMA 50.

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