West Virginia Debriefing: Senior Day Was Full of Big Plays and Historic Marks

Before we put a bow on that huge West Virginia win and start calculating thaw times for turkeys, let’s hand out some weekly awards and contemplate questions for OSU’s upcoming season finale.

Time to debrief.

The Short Story

This really was a tale of two halves. The Cowboys, hampered by three turnovers, struggled to muster 14 points in the first half and gave up big play after big play to the Mountaineers on defense.

But the Pokes D turned the screws on Will Grier and Co., after some technique tweaks at intermission, and held them scoreless in the third frame. Even when it did bend, Jim Knowles’ group rarely broke in the score zone.

Taylor Cornelius put his first half transgressions behind him and threw, scampered, barreled and pump-faked his team to a 17-point comeback win, its second against top 10 visitors in as many tries.

Will Grier had one final shot to prove he was the better QB, but A.J. Green batted an expired pigskin onto pay dirt along with the Mountaineers’ CFP aspirations.

Who Gets a Marshal Badge Gigantor Pete Sticker?

Offense: Taylor Cornelius and Chuba Hubbard

In honor of his BPS finale and because Corndog is a comeback story personified, it’s fitting to dole out an extra sticker after a comeback Senior Day win.

The Oil Baron overcame a couple of head-scratching INTs in the first half to outplay a Heisman hopeful in Will Grier down the stretch. One QB made the plays to win, the other didn’t.

Cornelius finished north of 65 percent in completion rate and eclipsed the 300-yard mark for the fifth time this year while matching his record of five passing TDs and setting a new high mark with six total scores.

Taylor Cornelius stat line for last 4 games (3 ranked opponents):

362 passing yards/game
64% completion
16 Total TDs
2 INTs

— Adam Lunt (@AdamLunt817) November 18, 2018

For the second week in a row, the freshman phenom from the North spelled a sidelined Justice Hill, and his legend only grew. Chuba toted the rock 26 times for a career-high 134 yards and caught all five of his targets for 24 receiving yards and a score.

With Hubbard taking firm grasp of the RB2 reins, the Cowboys look to be in good shape moving forward despite the impending transfer of J.D. King, and even if Justice Hill foregoes Year 4 to play on Sundays. But imagine a 1-2 punch of ⚖ and ? in the backfield next season. ?

Also receiving votes: Tylan Wallace, Dillon Stoner, Tyron Johnson, Ry Schneider

Defense: Jordan Brailford

This one was even tougher for me to narrow down than on offense. A pretty solid case could be made for Malcolm Rodriguez who logged a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss and forced Will Grier’s first lost fumble of the season.

A.J. Green also comes to mind after almost singlehandedly (and heavy-handedly) locking down a Biletnikoff hopeful in David Sills V before denying West Virginia’s CFP hopes after time expired.

But I’ll go with Brailford, the fifth-year junior who took place in the pregame ceremony before wreaking havoc on a very good West Virginia front 5.

OSU’s sack leader didn’t get his paws on Grier, but he did set new career marks with 10 total tackles and eight solo grabs.

Also receiving votes: A.J. Green, Malcolm Rodriguez, Devin Harper, Justin Phillips

Question for TCU

Who will want it more? You’d hope that Oklahoma State is finally beyond it’s swinging pendulum routine and can take care of business on Saturday as a current 4.5-point favorite. But as Kyle Porter aptly pointed out, this team has not done well when favored this year and has been even harder to figure out.

There is still a ton to be decided in the Big 12’s pecking order, though neither team squaring off in Fort Worth this week has much to say about the upcoming title game in nearby Arlington.

But a lot can still change in terms of bowl eligibility. For one, OSU has it and TCU wants it. The Horned Frogs need a win on their own Senior Night to secure their fourth consecutive postseason bid.

I’d like to say the Pokes will ride some of that momentum it earned from knocking off a top 10 team southward down I-35, but we have recent evidence to suggest the opposite will occur.

Play(s) of the Game

I just could not settle on one, so here are my top 2 plays from Saturday.

Tylan Wallace, the sophomore Biletnikoff finalist, recorded his lowest yardage output of the conference slate with just 62 yards while catching seven of his 11 targets. But he found the promised land twice, including this well-earned go-ahead score to finally complete the historic comeback.

And this scramble play on third-and-20 was good enough before Tyron toe-tapped it for 38 yards.

Aside from the obvious, this awesome throw and catch saved the game for OSU who was still down two scores and set up another ?-to-? connection for 6 that brought OSU within 3.