Despite missing key starters on both sides of the ball, West Virginia (4-4, 3-2 Big 12) pulled out a gritty 31-26 win over the Arizona Wildcats (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) in Tucson on Saturday night.
Nicco Marchiol, making his second career start, led WVU to an early 10-0 lead, including a trick play touchdown by holder Leighton Bechdel. Arizona kept things close, relying heavily on their standout receiver, Tetairoa McMillan, but a late first-half touchdown from Hudson Clement gave WVU a 17-7 edge at halftime. A third-quarter touchdown from CJ Donaldson extended the lead to 24-7, but Arizona’s offense kept pressing.