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

Game 8 - at UCF

Bounce Back at the Bounce House

WVU traveled to Orlando to face the UCF Knights, a conference newcomer. Winless in confrere play to this point, the Knights were eager for their first, many expecting it to come in the matchup with the struggling Mountaineers. A wildly entertaining game in front of an energetic crowd saw the Mountaineers take advantage of 4 costly UCF turnovers. John Rhys Plumlee of UCF threw for 274 yards and 3 touchdowns but paired that with 3 interceptions. All-American standout Beanie Bishop Jr. picked off the quarterback twice en route to the WVU victory. 

This was a rather tight contest that saw consistency throughout as UCF scored exactly one touchdown in each quarter. CJ Donaldson Jr. scored a touchdown in the early part of the 4th quarter that opened up a WVU 38-21 lead. The Mountaineer running game was lethal throughout this game, picking up 286 yards and 5 touchdowns on 50 carries. UCF had some success on the ground with RJ Harvey and even through the air with Plumlee, but the 4 turnovers were too much to overcome and they would fall to 0-5 in conference play.

Mountaineer Notables:

Garrett Greene - 14/23, 156 yards, 11 carries, 55 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns 

CJ Donaldson Jr. - 17 carries, 121 yards, 1 touchdown

Jahiem White - 9 carries, 85 yards, 1 touchdown

Lee Kpogba - 8 tackles, 1 sack

Beanie Bishop Jr. - 4 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 pass defended

Final Score: WVU 41, UCF 28