West Virginia and Texas Tech turned Saturday into a track meet, and the numbers from the game tell the story all by themselves.
The two teams piled up 101 points, the most in a Big 12 game this season, and 68 of those came in the first half alone. That was the most points in a half of a Big 12 game since 2017, when Oklahoma and Oklahoma State combined for 76.
The offenses were moving so fast that the first half produced 892 total yards, the most in a single half of football since 2004. WVU’s own offense accounted for 398 of those yards before halftime, its best half of the season.
The Mountaineers also kept a streak going on the scoring side. They have now scored at least 24 points in each of their first nine games, something they had not done since 2006. And the ground game stayed a constant threat, with WVU scoring at least one rushing touchdown in 65 of its last 72 games.
Michael Hawkins Jr. was at the center of it all for West Virginia. He went 11-for-16 for 303 passing yards and a touchdown, while also running for 88 yards on 19 carries and scoring three times on the ground.
He opened the scoring with a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, added another rushing score in the third, and became the first Mountaineer to reach 19 rushing touchdowns in a single season in program history. He also set a program mark with multiple rushing touchdowns in seven games this season, the most multi-TD performances in a single season in WVU history.
On top of that, he became the first Mountaineer to score three rushing touchdowns in three games in a season since Steve Slaton in 2007, and he is the first WVU quarterback to score a rushing touchdown in nine consecutive games in program history.
Cam Cook delivered another big day on the ground, finishing with 149 rushing yards on 23 carries. It was his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season, the most in a single season for a Mountaineer since Justin Crawford had seven in 2017. He also added an 8th rushing touchdown of the season on a 3-yard run in the third quarter.
Amari Latimer chipped in 36 yards on 15 carries and scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season on a 3-yard run in the first quarter.
Taron Francis provided the explosive plays through the air. He scored his first touchdown as a Mountaineer on a 73-yard catch in the second quarter, then came back with the longest pass play of the year on a 75-yard grab in the third.
He finished with 169 receiving yards on just three catches, the most by a Mountaineer since Hudson Clement had 177 in 2023. That 73-yard score was the second-longest play from scrimmage this season and also the second-longest pass play of the year.
On defense, Kameron Reddic led the way with a season-high 11 total tackles and six solo stops. Jason Hall Jr. posted a season-best nine tackles with five solo stops and added his second sack of the season.
Isaiah Patterson finished with eight tackles, including three solo stops. KJ Henson turned in a strong outing too, logging a season-best four solo tackles, plus a sack and two tackles for loss.
Special teams were steady as well. Jack Cassidy went 2-for-2 on field goals, hitting from 30 yards in the first quarter and 29 yards in the second, and he was perfect on all six PAT attempts. Bryan Hansen handled punting duties and averaged 47.8 yards on four punts, totaling 191 yards, with two kicks pinned inside the 20 and a long of 64.
The game also marked the 16th meeting between West Virginia and Texas Tech, and the Mountaineers’ all-time series record against the Red Raiders now stands at 7-9. WVU’s defense has now recorded multiple sacks in 25 of its last 39 games, and the Mountaineers have had at least four tackles for loss in 47 of their last 55 games.
In Other News...
WVU Wasted A Historic Night In A Loss Fans Will Hate
West Virginias trip to Texas Tech turned into one of those maddening Big 12 shootouts that leaves everyone exhausted and none the happier for it. In a game packed with offense and little margin for error, the Mountaineers were part of a first half that produced more than 892 yards of total offense, and Mike Hawkins Jr. still managed to carve out a place in the school record book by setting the program mark for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season.
Even with that kind of individual milestone, the result is what will sting most. West Virginia fell 53-48 after defensive breakdowns and a handful of critical late plays swung the finish in Texas Techs favor, turning a historic night for Hawkins into a loss the Mountaineers will be replaying for a while. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs PFF Review Shows Who Carried The Offense In Texas Tech Loss
Pro Football Focus review of West Virginias shootout loss to Texas Tech offered a clear snapshot of where the offense held up and where it broke down. Quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. graded out well thanks to strong passing efficiency, giving the Mountaineers enough production to stay in the game, while the offensive line had a much tougher night trying to keep the pocket clean.
The defensive grades told a similar story of a few bright spots surrounded by too many issues. K.J. Henson and linebacker Isaiah Patterson drew notice for their work, but the secondary came under fire for shaky positioning and an inability to finish plays, leaving West Virginia with more questions than answers as it looks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Hawkins Jr. Is Giving West Virginia One Huge Reason To Worry
Mike Hawkins Jr. has already put his name alongside one of the most recognizable figures in West Virginia football, and he did it in a way that keeps changing the conversation around the Mountaineers. With 19 rushing touchdowns through nine games, he broke Pat Whites mark for the most rushing scores by a West Virginia player in a single season, a reminder of just how central he has become to the offense.
The bigger issue for West Virginia is what comes next. Hawkins has a chance to keep climbing the record book and potentially set a standard for a non-service academy quarterback that would draw national attention, but only if he remains in Morgantown. For a program that wants to build real momentum, his future with the Mountaineers may be every bit as important as what he has already done on the field. [Read more 🡒]