TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Nicco Marchiol threw for two touchdowns and West Virginia scored three times on fourth downs to beat Arizona 31-26 on Saturday night. Marchiol got his second career start after Garrett Greene was injured against Kansas State last week and was sharp, throwing for 198 yards on 18-of-22 passing.
The Mountaineers (4-4, 3-2 Big 12) complemented his performance with a pounding run game, rushing for 203 yards and two touchdowns. West Virginia also converted all four of its fourth-down chances, including its first three touchdowns, to end a two-game losing streak. Arizona All-American Tetairoa McMillan bounced back from a quiet game against Colorado last week with 10 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown.
He caught a 34-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and quarterback Noah Fifita added a 3-yard TD run to pull the Wildcats within 31-26 after trailing by 18. The Mountaineers never gave Arizona (3-5, 1-4) a chance to complete the rally, converting two key third downs to grind out the clock and send the Wildcats to their fourth straight loss. West Virginia had no trouble moving the ball against Arizona's defense early, particularly on the ground.
The Mountaineers opened with a field goal and scored the next drive on a fake when holder Leighton Bechdel went 14 yards around the left end for a touchdown. West Virginia opted to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 3 in the second quarter and converted when Marchiol found Hudson Clement in the back of the end zone..
