West Virginia Mountaineers Fall to Baylor Bears in Heartbreaking Fashion
Mountaineers Drop Hard-Fought Battle, 35-28
Third-Quarter Deficit Proves Insurmountable for WVU
In a thrilling Big 12 clash at McLane Stadium, the West Virginia Mountaineers narrowly fell to the Baylor Bears by a score of 35-28. Despite a valiant effort and a late comeback attempt, WVU was unable to overcome a 35-21 deficit in the third quarter.
The Mountaineers' offense struggled to find consistency throughout the game, with quarterback JT Daniels completing just 15 of 31 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Running back CJ Donaldson led the rushing attack with 77 yards on 17 carries, but WVU failed to establish a consistent ground game.
On the defensive side, the Mountaineers forced three turnovers but allowed Baylor to convert 8 of 16 third-down attempts. Safety Jasir Cox led the team with 10 tackles, while linebacker Lance Dixon had a sack and a forced fumble.
The game turned in the third quarter when Baylor scored two quick touchdowns to take a commanding lead. WVU responded with a touchdown pass from Daniels to Isaiah Esdale, but the Bears countered with another score to extend their advantage to 35-21.
The Mountaineers made a late push in the fourth quarter, with Casey Legg hitting a 43-yard field goal and Daniels connecting with Bryce Ford-Wheaton for a touchdown. However, WVU's onside kick attempt failed, and Baylor was able to run out the clock.
With the loss, WVU falls to 2-2 in Big 12 play and 3-4 overall. The Mountaineers will have a bye week before traveling to Lubbock to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders on October 15.
Key Stats:
- Total Yards: WVU 317, Baylor 423
- Passing Yards: WVU 181, Baylor 284
- Rushing Yards: WVU 136, Baylor 139
- Turnovers: WVU 3, Baylor 0
- Third-Down Conversions: WVU 3-14, Baylor 8-16
Notable Performances:
- WVU: CJ Donaldson (77 rushing yards), Isaiah Esdale (4 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD)
- Baylor: Blake Shapen (284 passing yards, 2 TDs), Monaray Baldwin (6 catches, 124 yards)
