MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - Jarrett Doege threw two touchdown passes and ran for one score, Leddie Brown surpassed 100 rushing yards for the fifth time this season and West Virginia beat TCU 24-6 on Saturday.
The Mountaineers (5-3, 4-3 Big 12) used a balanced offensive attack to beat TCU (3-4, 3-4) for the third straight season.
“I thought what we put on tape today was West Virginia football,” West Virginia coach Neal Brown said. “I thought individually and collectively our guys laid it on the line.”
The Horned Frogs were held to a pair of field goals, the first time they were held out of the end zone since 2016 against Kansas State.
It was the first game in which a West Virginia defense held an opponent out of the end zone since 2018, also against Kansas State.
Leddie Brown had three rushes of at least 30 yards to pile up 156 yards on the ground, while Doege continued to make good decisions with his arm. The second-year starter, who transferred from Bowling Green last year, completed passes to seven different receivers.
Leddie Brown, who had been questionable all week, didn’t have the green light until pregame warmups when Neal Brown made the decision to play him.
“He’s not 100%, but he was good enough,” Neal Brown said. “I think if he’s 100% maybe a couple of those balls that bounced maybe he takes them to the house.”
With TCU trailing 17-6 in the fourth quarter, Trevon Moehrig fumbled a punt and it was recovered by West Virginia’s Sean Mahone. Two plays later, Doege floated a pass to a streaking T.J. Simmons for a 38-yard touchdown and the final margin.
Doege, who had a 1-yard TD run to finish off a 99-yard drive in the first quarter and also found Simmons with a 26-yard scoring strike in the second, finished 19 of 26 for 212 yards.
The 99-yard drive gave West Virginia early momentum.
“What would you feel like if someone took your girl? It feels about the same way,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said in regard to that long West Virginia drive. “And most of it was all our fault, to be honest with you.”
Doege’s 73% completion rate was his most efficient game since the season opener against Eastern Kentucky.
“Just a great, great quarterback,” said Moehrig, one of TCU’s safeties. “He was just making some throws that were really pretty accurate. Receivers were making catches. We’ve just got to finish plays, including myself.”
TCU’s Max Duggan, who set career highs with 19 carries for 154 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Texas Tech last week, finished 16 of 29 with 161 yards and an interception. He ran 10 times for 19 yards.
Patterson credited the West Virginia defense for Duggan’s tough day under center.
“How about defensive linemen in your face,” Patterson said. “That would be one thing today. I think he’s pressing too much.”
TCU was outgained 392 yards to 295 on offense.
“I didn’t think we had as much (fire) as we had the last couple of weeks,” Patterson said. “That’s what I told them in the locker room. That’s my job.”
THE TAKEAWAY
TCU: Duggan has been effective throughout the season through the air and on the ground but struggled to find open receivers and had a tough time escaping West Virginia defenders when scrambling. TCU lost for the first time on the road this year after beating Baylor and Texas.
“If you’re going to win on the road, you’ve got to be able to take ball games, and you can’t be OK with field goals,” Patterson said. “It’s very simple. You’ve got to give West Virginia a little bit of credit.”
West Virginia: In Neal Brown’s second year, the Mountaineers have already passed their win total from a year ago. They remain unbeaten at home with a Nov. 28 meeting left with No. 18 Oklahoma.
UP NEXT
TCU: The Horned Frogs have a week off before playing at Kansas on Nov. 28
West Virginia: Hosts No. 16 Oklahoma on Nov. 28.
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