The third quarter got off to a slow start as both teams traded three and outs and failed to pick up the sort of momentum we saw in the first half.
Finally, after a 7 play drive which saw the ’Eers travel 46 yards, West Virginia found paydirt on a 19 yard touchdown toss to Stedman Bailey. Geno Smith just threw it up in the back of the endzone and Bailey tipped the ball to himself. As implausible as it seems, that “chuck it and let Stedman work things out” play has been the most successful play in the Mountaineer playbook of late.
The Mountaineer defense, who has performed admirably thus far in the second half came up huge with a Broderick Jenkins interception at the 44 yard line. Jenkins did an incredible job getting both feet in bounds as he hauled in Gary Nova’s errant pass. Unfortunately the Mountaineer offense couldn’t capitalize on the Rutgers mistake, going three and out once they got a hold of the football.
The Mountaineer defense continued to bend but not break on the next Scarlet Knight possession. The ’Eers gave up a couple of first downs as Rutgers ran the ball convincingly, but their luck ran out a few plays later.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Mountaineers trail by 3.