Shanna Rose I WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- Nicco Marchiol led the charge as West Virginia University rallied to beat Pitt 31-24 in overtime on Saturday afternoon at Milan Puskar Stadium in the Backyard Brawl.
Trailing 24-14, the Mountaineers stormed back with 17 unanswered points.
With 5:03 left, Kade Hensley drilled a 21-yard field goal to cut the deficit to seven. WVU’s defense then stood tall, forcing a Pitt punt with 2:47 remaining.
The Mountaineers took over at their own 13 with one timeout and the two-minute warning. Marchiol stayed calm under pressure, finding Grayson Barnes for a 34-yard gain to the Panthers’ 41. Clay Ash added two runs, and Cam Vaughn hauled in a 13-yard catch. A pass interference penalty was called on Rashan Murray on a pass intended for Vaughn, moved WVU to the Pitt 2 with 18 seconds left.
Marchiol connected with Barnes for the game-tying touchdown with 11 seconds to play, and Hensley’s extra point made it 24-all. Pitt ran out the clock to send the game to overtime.
In the extra session, Marchiol had a 7-yard pass to tight end Jacob Barrick, giving the Mountaineers a third and 1 at the Pitt 4. Tye Edwards powered ahead for a first down, then broke through for the game-winning touchdown from three yards out.
The WVU defense closed the door. Juelz Goff was stopped for a loss on first down, Eli Holstein nearly threw an interception on second, and Eddie Vesterinen sacked him for a nine-yard loss on third. Holstein’s fourth-down heave sailed out of bounds, sealing the win for the Mountaineers.
Marchiol went 19-for-25 for 192 yards and one touchdown for WVU. Edwards had 141 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Rodney Gallagher III had 61 receiving yards
Holstein completed 22-of-37 passes for 303 yards and one touchdown. Raphael Williams Jr. finished with six catches for 119 yards and one touchdown for the Panthers.
Edwards 12-yard touchdown run and the PAT from Hensley gave WVU a 7-0 lead with 11:51 left in the second quarter.
Trey Butkowski completed the drive with a 23-yard field goal with 1:37 left in the half to make it a 7-3 contest.
In the third quarter, it was Edwards again that found the end zone, extending the Mountaineers lead to 14-3.
Minutes late the Panthers answered with a 1-yard touchdown run from Catarus Hicks.
WVU opens Big 12 play at Kansas next Saturday. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. and will be televised nationally on FSN1.
Photo Credit: Kelsie LeRose WVSN
