West Virginia football rolls over No. 25 Virginia behind QB Michael Hawkins
Michael Hawkins Jr. didn’t need magic with the kind of game he was playing, but his senior wide receiver Jaden Bray delivered it.
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On 3rd and 5 from West Virginia’s own 38-yard-line, Hawkins dropped back under duress and chucked it up towards the left sideline. Bray, guarded tight by a Virginia Cavalier, somehow came up with it for the 38-yard reception.
Two plays later, Hawkins rushed five yards into the end zone to account for his fifth touchdown of the game and put West Virginia up 35-21 with 5:24 remaining in the game, en route to a 38-27 Mountaineer victory.
Hawkins, who completed 10 of 17 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, rushed 18 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns. It was an outstanding performance by the transfer from Oklahoma, which puts his new squad at 3-0, a better record than the Sooners.
Early on, it seemed like the No. 25 Virginia could squeak out the win. The Cavaliers scored a touchdown on their very first drive, running 12 plays over nearly seven minutes. But as they did all day, the Mountaineers responded, with a methodical touchdown drive of their own.
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At halftime, West Virginia was up 21-14, but Virginia quickly rebounded. On their second drive of the half, the Cavaliers faced a 4th and 10 from the West Virginia 34-yard-line. Rico Flores Jr. grabbed a Beau Pribula pass in coverage for a 26-yard completion, which set up the tying Pribula 1-yard touchdown pass to Jekail Middlebrook. That completed an 11-play, 66-yard touchdown drive.
But West Virginia quickly took back the lead. With 12 seconds remaining in the third, Hawkins threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to DJ Epps. And on West Virginia’s next drive, Hawkins and Bray struck magic before Hawkins’ fifth touchdown.
Virginia tried to rally but quickly found itself at fourth and 5 from its 30-yard-line. When West Virginia defensive back Geimere Latimer sacked Pribula, the game was all but over.
The Mountaineers notched a field goal seven plays later to arrive at 38-21, and on the next drive Virginia scored a touchdown.
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