Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
TEMPE, Ariz. — West Virginia’s upset attempt came down to the final minutes on Saturday, but Arizona State’s defense delivered at the key moments, handing the Mountaineers a 25–23 loss at Mountain America Stadium.
The Sun Devils relied heavily on backup quarterback Jeff Sims, who accounted for 288 total yards and three passing touchdowns. His mobility and improvisation helped ASU (7–3, 5–2 Big 12) navigate a slow start and counter WVU’s pressure throughout the afternoon.
For the Mountaineers, freshman quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. turned in the most productive outing of his young career. Fox threw for 353 yards and two touchdowns while spreading the ball to nine different receivers, though WVU struggled to complement the passing attack with just 68 rushing yards.
“When you can’t run the ball, it puts everything else behind the sticks,” Mountaineer head coach Rich Rodriguez said. “We didn’t do enough there to win.”
WVU opened the scoring with a field goal after stopping the Sun Devil’s opening drive, but the game shifted in the second quarter when the Mountaineers were turned away on fourth-and-2 at the ASU’s 6-yard line. The Sun Devils responded with consecutive touchdown drives, including a 31-yard catch-and-run by Derek Eusebio and a two-point trick play that stretched the lead to 15–3.
WVU quickly punched back when Fox hit Jeff Weimer on a slant that turned into a 75-yard score, but ASU added another touchdown before halftime to take a 22–10 advantage into the locker room.
The Mountaineers clawed back in the second half. A 10-play drive early in the fourth quarter ended with a 1-yard run by Curtis Jones Jr., bringing WVU within five. Moments later, Fox delivered a highlight play — a 90-yard strike to Cyncir Bowers on third-and-27. Bowers broke multiple tackles and navigated half the field to give the Mountaineers a chance to tie, but the two-point conversion was stopped short, keeping the Sun Devils ahead 23–22.
A roughing-the-passer penalty on ASU’s next possession helped set up a 49-yard field goal from Jesus Gomez, giving the Sun Devils their final margin with 2:44 left.
WVU crossed its own 40 on the final drive, but Fox’s fourth-down throw was intercepted by Keith Abney II near midfield, ending the comeback bid.
The loss drops the Mountaineers to 4–7 overall and eliminates the Mountaineers from bowl eligibility.
WVU will close the season on Nov. 29 against eighth-ranked Texas Tech at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics- Dale Sparks- All Pro Photography
