WVU Football: 2023 Season in Review (game-by-game recap)

Game 4 - vs Texas Tech

Not in our house 

West Virginia would be the home team for the 3rd consecutive week as the Red Raiders of Texas Tech came to Morgantown. Quarterback Garrett Greene was in street clothes for this one following the injury he picked up in the Backyard Brawl. West Virginia was forced to open up conference play without their starting quarterback and against a Texas Tech team that had beaten them 4 in consecutive meetings. One could characterize that as a recipe for disaster for a team that was picked to finish last in the preseason poll. The 2023 version of the Mountaineers was a resilient bunch, and they proved that against Texas Tech.

Through the air, Marchiol failed to reach the 100-yard mark again, but he made up for it by leading the team in rushing yards. It was a gritty performance from Marchiol and the West Virginia defense that led to West Virginia picking up the win in the conference opener.

Tyler Shough, the starting quarterback for Texas Tech was injured during the opening quarter and would not return. Behren Morton replaced the injured Shough, but he was unable to find the success he had in the 48-10 beatdown of the Mountaineers during the previous season. Morton completed just 13 passes on 37 attempts for 158 yards.

West Virginia would come out victorious, collecting their first three-game win streak during Neal Brown’s WVU tenure. Beanie Bishop Jr. and Aubrey Burks led the way in the West Virginia secondary, both making big plays to put an end to the Texas Tech potential game-tying drive. 

Mountaineer Notables:

Nicco Marchiol - 12/21, 78 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 Interceptions, 15 carries, 72 yards

CJ Donaldson Jr. - 15 carries, 48 yards, 1 touchdown

Kole Taylor - 3 receptions, 39 yards, 1 touchdown 

Aubrey Burks - 7 tackles, 2 passes defended 

Beanie Bishop Jr. - 5 tackles, 3 passes defended 

Final Score: West Virginia 20, Texas Tech 13