BYU : As the first half came to a close in Provo, the night couldn’t have started rougher for the West Virginia Mountaineers. Facing off against the 23rd ranked BYU Cougars, WVU entered the locker room trailing 28–10, undone by costly turnovers and big plays that shifted all the early momentum to the home team.
A Rocky Start for the Mountaineers
West Virginia opened the game cautiously, leaning on Khalil Wilkins’ legs for the first few plays. But the opening drive sputtered, forcing a punt that pinned BYU deep in its own territory. The Cougars, led by quarterback Bear Bachmeier, wasted no time showing their offensive intent. After connecting with Chase Roberts for a huge 47 yard gain, BYU threatened early but missed a 48 yard field goal to keep things even.
However, it didn’t take long for the Cougars to strike first. Wilkins’ next pass was intercepted by Therrian Alexander and returned to the goal line, setting up an easy 1 yard touchdown run by Parker Kingston. Suddenly, BYU led 7–0 and had all the momentum.
BYU’s Explosive Offense Takes Control
BYU’s passing game continued to haunt the Mountaineers. Bachmeier found Kingston again for a 54 yard touchdown to double the lead late in the first quarter. WVU showed flashes of promise especially when backup quarterback Scotty Fox provided a burst of energy with a 23 yard run but drives continued to stall short of the end zone.
Kade Hensley finally put WVU on the board with a 45 yard field goal early in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to 14–3. But BYU responded almost immediately. A short throw turned into a huge 85 yard breakaway by Roberts, setting up another Cougar touchdown by LJ Martin to make it 21–3.
WVU Finds Life, but BYU Strikes Back Before Half
Just when it looked like the game was getting out of hand, WVU’s defense delivered a spark. Fred Perry stripped Bachmeier and recovered the fumble at the 3 yard line, setting up Diore Hubbard for a short touchdown run. That quick score brought the Mountaineers back within 21–10 and reignited some hope with just under two minutes to go in the half.
But BYU didn’t let up. Bachmeier orchestrated a lightning fast drive, connecting again with Kingston and Roberts to move inside the 10. He capped the drive himself with a 2 yard keeper, giving BYU a commanding 28–10 lead heading into halftime.
Halftime Numbers Tell the Story
For West Virginia, Wilkins completed just four of ten passes for 20 yards and an interception, though he did rush for 60 yards on 13 carries. Hubbard added 20 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Rodney Gallagher led the receivers with two catches for 14 yards. Defensively, Perry and Wilson stood out with a forced fumble and interception respectively.
BYU, meanwhile, rode Bachmeier’s hot hand. He finished the half 10 of 14 for 249 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Roberts was unstoppable, racking up 133 yards on three catches.
What Lies Ahead
With BYU set to receive the kickoff to start the second half, the Mountaineers will need a quick defensive stop to keep their comeback hopes alive. The offense must find rhythm through Wilkins and Hubbard if they hope to close the gap and make this a contest again.
Disclaimer: This article is based on live first half action between West Virginia and BYU. All stats and events reflect the situation as of halftime. Official postgame updates and statistics may differ once the game concludes.
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