(Graphic Illustration - Monday Morning Quarterback - WVU Football - Image rendered through the use of ChatGPT)

For a few moments Saturday it appeared that West Virginia was going to steal a win at Arizona State and achieve an unexpected third consecutive victory. With six minutes remaining the Mountaineers were on their own 10-yard line facing third-and-27. Looking to only gain a few yards field position a short pass was thrown in the flat to Cyncir Bowers who then eluded Wildcat defenders for a miracle 90 yard scoring play to give WVU a one-point lead.

Unfortunately, the feeling of euphoria did not last. Arizona State, aided by an untimely roughing the passer penalty, was able to nail a 49-yard field goal with 2:44 remaining to retake the lead. West Virginia got to near midfield on its last possession but failed on a fourth down attempt.

The Mountaineers came short of pulling off the upset directly as a result of being unable to execute successful plays inside the 10. Twice, West Virginia failed on fourth down attempts at the Arizona State 6- and 2-yard lines. Good drives on those possessions yielded zero points. A total domination of the game in the first quarter resulted in only a 3-0 lead.

After the 90-yard score West Virginia went for a 2-point conversion in order to gain a three-point margin and force the Wildcats to score a touchdown to win the game in regulation. Unable to get the play off in time they had to use their final timeout, and after having the opportunity to consider their options came out and handed the ball off up the middle for no gain. With an offensive line that had been unable to open holes for the running game and needing 3 yards, the play call was puzzling. The failure to convert meant that the Wildcat field goal was a game-winner instead of for a tie.

Counting the conversion attempt, West Virginia ran 14 plays inside the 10-yard line and gained all of 12 yards. While they did convert one score near the end zone early in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 22-17, overall the goal line offense was a colossal failure.

Quarterback Scotty Fax passed for 353 yards, with two long scoring touchdown passes. But the running game was totally absent preventing what could have been an upset victory.The coaching staff deserves a lot of credit for finding ways to make this team competitive after a horrendous four-game stretch at the beginning of the conference schedule. Two very close losses sandwiched around wins over Houston and Colorado showed that the Mountaineers can be respectable. But being unable to find ways to score close to the goal line and playing the last six minutes of a close game having wasted all their second half timeouts was not a good look.

West Virginia now will have an off week before the final game on November 29 against Texas Tech, the best team in the Big 12 and likely to be ranked fifth nationally.