Texas Tech Red Raiders vs West Virginia Mountaineers Match Player Stats On Oct 14, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 14, 2017

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Will Grier threw five touchdown passes, including four unanswered during the second half when West Virginia climbed out of an 18-point hole, to defeat No. 24 Texas Tech 46-35.

After suffering close losses to Virginia Tech and TCU, the Mountaineers (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) snapped a nine-game skid against Top 25 teams that dated back to 2014.

Grier finished 32 of 41 passing for 352 yards, salvaging an offense that rushed for only 44 yards. The Big 12's leading rusher Justin Crawford finish with 47 yards on 14 attempts.

David Sills caught three touchdowns, adding to his FBS lead. Ka'Raun White scored twice in the fourth quarter, one on a leaping 32-yarder that energized the home crowd and again on a 17-yarder that gave West Virginia its first lead at 39-35.

Nic Shimonek tossed four scores for Texas Tech (4-2, 1-2), which led 35-17 midway through the third quarter before Grier got cranked up.

Justin Stockton ran for 97 yards and Tre King scored on a 30-yard touchdown for the Red Raiders, who failed to score on their final four series.

Shimonek threw four first-half touchdowns but Texas Tech settled for a 28-17 lead after Michael Barden missed field-goal tries of 43 and 23 yards.

Braden fell to 0-for-3 by mishitting a straight-on 37-yarder in the third quarter.

West Virginia was held to minus-10 yards rushing at the half on 12 carries.

T.J. Vasher took a screen pass 60 yards for Texas Tech's opening score and outjumped cornerback Kenny Robinson for a 58-yard touchdown later in the half.

In between, Shimonek threw 6-yard touchdown passes to Dylan Cantrell and KeKe Coutee, as the Raiders avoided punting throughout the half. They lined up in formation on fourth-and-1 at their 34-yard line but punter Dominic Panazzolo ran 13 yards on a fake.

NOTES: Texas Tech was playing its first game as a ranked team since 2013. ... West Virginia RB Justin Crawford entered Saturday averaging 112 yards per game. ... The game featured a brotherly coaching angle between Mountaineers offensive coordinator Jake Spavital and Texas Tech linebackers coach Zac Spavital.