JT Daniels threw for a touchdown and Casey Legg made four field goals to lift West Virginia to a 33-10 victory over Virginia Tech on Thursday in Blacksburg, Va.
Daniels completed passes to eight different receivers and finished 20 of 30 for 203 yards. Kaden Prather had six receptions for 69 yards, and Sam James reeled in a 24-yard touchdown toss late in the first half.
CJ Donaldson rushed for 106 yards and Justin Johnson Jr. added 83 more and a touchdown for the Mountaineers (2-2), who held a decisive 218-35 edge in the yards on the ground.
Mountaineers defensive back Jacolby Spells capped the scoring after breaking on a slant and returning an interception 27 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
West Virginia native Grant Wells completed 16 of 35 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown for the Hokies (2-2), who were penalized 15 times for 132 yards.
The Mountaineers benefited from a late flourish toward the end of the first half to take a 13-7 lead into intermission.
Legg kicked a 35-yard field goal to trim Virginia Tech’s lead to 7-6 with 1:50 to play in the second quarter. The Mountaineers stopped the Hokies on their next possession before James gained a step on Virginia Tech linebacker Dax Hollifield for a 24-yard touchdown reception with 11 seconds left.
The teams traded field goals in the third quarter before West Virginia put the game away in the fourth.
The Mountaineers had a drive extended by a roughing-the-passer penalty on fourth down and then by a hands-to-the-face infraction on a subsequent third-and-14. Johnson bolted up the middle for a 6-yard score early in the fourth to extend West Virginia’s advantage to 23-10.
Legg added a 38-yard field goal with 10:16 left in the fourth quarter before Spells sealed the win for the Mountaineers.
West Virginia capped a 14-play, 92-yard drive with a 23-yard field goal by Legg to open the scoring before Virginia Tech answered on the ensuing possession.
Kaleb Smith snared a pass over his back shoulder in the right corner of the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown pass from Wells. Smith wound up with five catches for 70 yards.
–Field Level Media
