MORGANTOWN, WV – Clint Trickett, in his first start at the reigns of the Mountaineer offense, was good enough to knock of the 11th ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys, solidifying his case to remain the starting Quarterback for WVU. The passing statistics (26/50, 309 yards, 1 TD, 2 Int) were less than stellar, but Trickett displayed toughness and resiliency throughout the game.
WVU’s defense was stunned early when a quick inside slant from JW Walsh to Josh Stewart went 73 yards put the Cowboys up 7, but Ishmael Banks intercepted a Walsh pass on Oklahoma State’s next drive and returned it 58 yards for a pick 6 and a tie game after the Josh Lambert extra point sailed between the uprights.
Trickett settled into the pocket and appeared to become more comfortable as the 1st quarter continued, and he tossed a 17 yard TD to Kevin White to put the Mountaineers up by 7, and West Virginia would not relinquish the lead.
The Mountaineers added another 3 points to their lead with 11:34 left in the 2nd quarter, but Walsh connected with Tracy Moore for a 27 yard touchdown to bring the Cowboys within 3, 17-14. After trading punts, Charles Sims plowed through the pile for a 1 yard TD run that would put the Mountaineers up 24-14 going in halftime.
Early in the third quarter, JW Walsh hooked up with Jeremy Seaton for a 30 yard TD, then a defensive battle ensued, keeping the score at 24-21 until Josh Lambert kicked a 27 yarder to put the Mountaineers up 27-21, and on the Cowboys’ next possession, Walsh misfired a pass that was intercepted by Darwin Cook which gave the Mountaineers the ball back with 3:24 to go on the OK St 36 yard line.
Josh Lambert added the final 3 points that put the nail in the Cowboys coffin with 1:28 left in the game, and WVU walked off with a morally lifting victory that brought their record to 3-2, 1-1 Big 12, while handing OK St their first loss as well as their first conference loss.
