TUCSON, Ariz. — Nicco Marchiol had an impressive performance, throwing for two touchdowns as West Virginia triumphed over Arizona with a score of 31-26 on Saturday night.
Marchiol, making only his second career start due to an injury to Garrett Greene during the game against Kansas State, displayed great poise, completing 18 of 22 passes for a total of 198 yards. The Mountaineers (4-4, 3-2 Big 12) supported him with a strong running game, accumulating 203 yards and scoring two additional touchdowns on the ground.
West Virginia demonstrated their offensive prowess by successfully converting all four of their fourth-down attempts, which included the scoring drives for their first three touchdowns, helping the team break a two-game losing streak.
On the opposing side, Arizona’s star receiver Tetairoa McMillan rebounded from a less effective match against Colorado the week prior by catching 10 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. He contributed a pivotal 34-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, and quarterback Noah Fifita followed with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, narrowing the deficit to 31-26 after the Wildcats had previously been down by 18 points.
Despite Arizona’s fighting spirit, the Mountaineers did not allow a comeback, effectively managing the clock by converting crucial third downs that sealed the game, resulting in Arizona’s fourth consecutive loss. West Virginia found early success against Arizona’s defense, especially in their ground game.
They began with a field goal, followed immediately by a creative touchdown run from holder Leighton Bechdel, who executed a fake for a 14-yard scoring run around the left side.
In the second quarter, the Mountaineers opted to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line and converted successfully when Marchiol connected with Hudson Clement in the back of the end zone. They continued their trend on the opening drive of the third quarter, scoring on a fourth-and-3 play as CJ Donaldson Jr. powered through for a 20-yard touchdown run, extending their lead to 24-7.
West Virginia further increased their advantage to 31-13 early in the fourth when Marchiol hit Traylon Ray with a long 54-yard touchdown pass on second down.
Meanwhile, Arizona’s offense struggled to find its footing. The Wildcats managed to put together one scoring drive in the first half that consumed almost eight minutes before Quali Conley found the end zone with a 1-yard run.
Most of the first half saw Arizona’s offense stagnate until they began to click late in the third quarter, closing the gap to 24-13 after a breakdown in communication left Sam Olson wide open for a 23-yard touchdown reception.
In summary, West Virginia balanced its offensive attack to secure a notable road victory, even with their backup quarterback at the helm. Arizona faced challenges against the Mountaineers’ rushing game, and they ultimately came to life a bit too late to change the course of the game, making it more difficult for them to aim for bowl eligibility in a season that saw them once ranked in the top 20.
Looking ahead, West Virginia will be facing Cincinnati on November 9, while Arizona is set to play at UCF next Saturday.