In an emotional Week 13 Big 12 matchup, West Virginia (6-5) secured a 31-21 victory over UCF (4-7) on Saturday in Morgantown, sending quarterback Garrett Greene off with a touchdown pass in his final home game. CJ Donaldson powered the Mountaineers with two short touchdown runs, as the team avoided the ignominy of losing five home games in a season for the first time since 1990.
The win may provide temporary relief for embattled head coach Neal Brown, whose future with the program remains uncertain despite improving to 37-34 in six seasons.
Donaldson, who entered the game averaging just 53 rushing yards per contest, delivered one of his best performances of the season. He finished with 96 yards on the ground, including 56 yards on his first four carries. His early dominance helped the Mountaineers establish control, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run on their opening drive.
West Virginia’s defense contributed to the momentum as cornerback Dontez Fagan recovered a fumble by UCF quarterback Dylan Rizk, leading to Jahiem White’s 3-yard touchdown run on the ensuing possession.
Though Greene struggled in the passing game for much of the first half, he came alive late. The senior quarterback went 4 of 6 for 65 yards on a crucial drive before halftime, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to Rodney Gallagher for a 21-7 lead. Greene finished the game 13 of 21 for 118 yards and added 49 rushing yards to his tally.
UCF’s offense, led by the Big 12’s leading rusher RJ Harvey, kept the Knights in contention. Harvey ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns, including a 9-yard score that cut West Virginia’s lead to 31-21 with just over five minutes remaining. Quarterback Dylan Rizk added a 45-yard touchdown pass to Kobe Hudson, finishing 11 of 21 for 172 yards.
However, UCF’s rally fell short when an onside kick failed to travel the required 10 yards. Greene responded by converting two critical fourth-down passes, allowing West Virginia to run out the clock.
Despite outgaining West Virginia 348-318 in total yards, the Knights dropped their seventh game in eight outings following a 3-0 start. The Mountaineers overcame frequent third-and-long situations and leaned on their defense and rushing attack to secure the win.
The Knights return home to face Utah on Friday night. The Mountaineers conclude their regular season with a road game against Texas Tech next Saturday.
While the victory was a high note for Greene and his fellow seniors, whether it is enough to solidify Neal Brown’s future in Morgantown remains to be seen. For now, West Virginia will savor this hard-fought win as they look to end their season on a positive note.
