WVU’s rally comes up short in the Frisco Bowl
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The West Virginia University football team's 42-37 loss to Memphis on Tuesday in the Frisco Bowl mirrored much of the Mountaineers' overall season. Some dynamic offensive performances were canceled out by defensive miscues that led to touchdowns.
In the end, the Tigers were able to stay ahead of the Mountaineers, thanks mostly to four-year starting quarterback Seth Henigan and his 294 yards and two touchdowns.
WVU got big-time performances by quarterback Garrett Greene, who finished with his second career 300-yard passing game and two touchdowns on a season-high 22 carries by running back C.J. Donaldson. But they couldn't counteract the WVU defense's inability to keep the Tigers from moving the chains.
Memphis (11-2) won 11 games for just the second time in school history, sending WVU (6-7) to its fourth losing season in its last six.
The last minute of the game was filled with drama. After a failed Tristian Vandenberg field goal, WVU got the ball back on its 31. The Mountaineers got the ball down to the Memphis 37, but Greene's final pass was intercepted by Elijah Herring at the Memphis 16 and returned to the Memphis 21.
There was some mystery to that play. The ball popped out of Herring's hands on the return and was recovered by WVU, but officials ruled that Herring was sliding, and therefore down before he fumbled.
The Mountaineers were able to pull within one score twice, but couldn't get any closer. The last time came after a second and third effort by Donaldson led to a 1-yard touchdown run to make the score 42-37. WVU saw a previous 1-yard Donaldson touchdown cut Memphis' lead to 35-30 with 12:02 left in the game, capping a 16-play, 90-yard drive. Memphis needed just two plays and 65 seconds to regain its breathing room.
Tigers quarterback Seth Henigan found DeMeer Blankumsee for an 89-yard reception on Memphis' next play from scrimmage. Blankumsee stumbled at the WVU 1 as he was trying to score. Brandon Thomas scored on the next play to put Memphis up 42-30.
That big throw from Henigan was just one of many West Virginia's defense allowed on the night. The Mountaineers' soft pass coverage underneath allowed Henigan to connect on short passes that turned into larger gains in the open field.
The Tigers jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first half and entered halftime ahead 28-14. A three-yard Mario Anderson touchdown run put Memphis up 35-17 in the third quarter before West Virginia started its rally.
Greene finished with 328 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 29-of-40 passing and added 95 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Hudson Clement caught 11 of those passes for 166 yards and two scores. Donaldson rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.