The West Virginia Mountaineers (4-4) improved to 3-2 in Big 12 Conference action after defeating the Arizona Wildcats (3-5, 1-4) 31-26 on Saturday night.

The West Virginia Mountaineers (4-4) improved to 3-2 in Big 12 Conference action after defeating the Arizona Wildcats (3-5, 1-4) 31-26 on Saturday night.

Opening statement

Scoop. Really proud of everyone – everyone associated with the program. We had a very good turnout from our fans. We had a good turnout in gold and blue. The gold is obviously easy to spot, but I thought we had a good crowd because we were so far away.

Over 2,000 miles driven after a very tough stretch. Our guy’s back is against the wall. A lot of negativity, a lot of adversity and we come out here without three of our four captains. (senior defensive end) Aubrey Burks didn’t make the trip, (senior left tackle) Wyat Milum didn’t make the trip, (senior starting quarterback) Garrett Greene didn’t make the trip, so three of our four captains don’t make the trip. We don’t make the journey, but we come and just fight. And I think it’s a credit to our guys.

The character of our team is very good. Our season didn’t go exactly the way we wanted it to. Now, part of it is that I’ve played really good people and I think the story continues to develop. But I had a tough stretch. Between the off weeks, this four game stretch was really tough and we wanted to go better than 2-2, but we went 2-2. Now that sets us up for some time in November.

We need some time to heal. We have to get away, rest and recover for a few days, but then we come back and that period in November will be really critical and how we finish will matter. We have to keep winning and stay in the conference race. I think that’s the big picture.

Offend

I thought we were really in control of the game. It got a little interesting late, but I thought we had the game under control. We were really efficient. We had the ball for 35 minutes. 11 of 16 at the end of possessions. Four for four on the fourth. I scored all three times I was in the red zone.

I thought we were very balanced tonight as well. If you look at it, 203 rushing, 198 passing.

Nicco (Marchiol), I thought he did well, he handled it.

We had some different men stand up. (senior wide receiver) Justin Robinson converts a big fourth down. Jaylen Anderson gets a big third down. I believed Jahiem White on the next conversion on the last conversion – we didn’t use him on a short yard, but we used him there, but he grinded a few yards.

I was very happy with the way I played. I thought maybe we gave up a touchdown there, but I thought we did some good things offensively and really controlled the game and that’s what we tried to do.

Defense

The run defense was good and we struggled with the pass. And that’s kind of been our MO this year.

Receiver (junior Tetairoa McMillan) is special. The quarterback (redshirt Noah Fifita), kept some plays alive. If you look at it, a lot of those explosive plays, he just fought and kept those plays alive, and I don’t think we did a good job of matching him… But he’s special.

Special teams

I thought today that our special teams are huge. One of the guys that didn’t play today that wasn’t talked about was (senior) Austin Brinkman. He is as good as a long robin as in the country, and he has been wounded. He made the trip but was injured. (redshirt sophomore) Macquire Moss gets his first real action – I think he broke once against Albany, but he does a great job because the three points were critical.

(Senior quarterback) Ollie (Straw) had another big day. They had zero punt return yards – he averaged 46 three-pointers and that was huge.

Obviously, the fake field goal. (senior redshirts) Leighton Bechdel – I call him the swiss army (knife) – he can do it all. He was our backup snapper tonight, he can punt, he’s a very good athlete. He played lacrosse. If you remember, I ran that fake in the bowl game and came up short. And so, I said, “Hey, I was going to drive it, man. You have to score. And he got in there – credit to him.

Pitch coverage – What about the play (freshman safety) Zae Jennings made early in the third quarter? That was very good.

Field goal made to start the game. It was a long shot in the wind and I credit Mike (Hayes) for starting it.

Nicco Marchiol’s performance

I thought he was very effective on late possessions — third and fourth downs. That was a great throw he had downfield to Traylon Ray, it was huge. I really needed it and that turned out to be the deciding factor. But I thought he was calm.

He is a much better player than the last time he started a game. The last time he started a game was against Texas Tech, and that was a year ago. He’s mature, he’s been patient and he’s gotten better, and I’ve said that a lot… and then he showed it today. He didn’t play very well in the second half of the Kansas State game, which was a tough frame for him. But I thought he really stepped up today when we needed him and I thought he played really well.