SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 1, 2012
West Virginia 59, Kansas 10: Geno Smith tossed three touchdown passes - including a pair to Stedman Bailey - and set a school-record with 21 consecutive completions as the host Mountaineers jolted the Jayhawks.
Smith completed 23 of 24 passes for 407 yards in his final home game - with his lone misfire resulting in cornerback Tyler Patmon's interception in the first quarter.
Bailey reeled in 11 receptions for 159 yards and All-American Tavon Austin amassed 187 yards from scrimmage (110 receiving, 77 rushing) for West Virginia (7-5, 4-5 Big 12), which has won two in a row following a five-game skid. With the victory, the Mountaineers are likely looking at a bid to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.
After Shawne Alston rushed for the first of his two short-yardage scores to give West Virginia a 14-0 lead, Smith essentially put the game away after connecting with Bailey on a 8-yard scoring strike. The pair hooked up again on a 16-yard score in the third quarter, which was the wideout's 23rd touchdown of the season.
James Sims had a 1-yard touchdown run for Kansas (1-11, 0-9), which suffered its 21st consecutive Big 12 loss.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Austin recorded his 15th touchdown - third rushing - with a 1-yard score to give the Mountaineers a commanding 52-7 advantage. ... Sims, who entered the game with a 123.6-yard average in conference play, was held to 57 yards. Sims, who has 1,103 yards, became the 11th player in Kansas history to rush for over 1,000 in a season. ... West Virginia won the lone previous meeting - back in 1941.