HOUSTON, TX— Freshman quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. turned in a breakout performance, accounting for three touchdowns as West Virginia snapped a five-game losing streak with a 45–35 upset over No. 22 Houston on Saturday night.
Fox threw for 157 yards on 13-of-22 passing, including a 24-yard touchdown strike to Cam Vaughn, and added 65 yards rushing with scoring runs of 6 and 34 yards. The Mountaineers (3–6, 1–5 Big 12) dominated the ground game, piling up 246 rushing yards to Houston’s 82.
Running back Diore Hubbard led the way with 108 yards and a touchdown, while Cyncir Bowers chipped in 65 yards and another score.
“Our freshman quarterback is growing up,” said head coach Rich Rodriguez. “He was calm, made the right reads, and our backs ran hard. Diore ran his tail off tonight.”
Turnovers Turn the Tide
West Virginia’s defense came up huge, forcing four Houston turnovers and converting them into 17 points.
“We know how much that shifts the momentum,” cornerback Jordan Scruggs said. “The offense feeds off those takeaways, and it keeps our energy up.”
Scruggs delivered the biggest defensive play of the night — an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the third quarter that gave the Mountaineers a 10-point lead.
After Houston clawed back within three on Conner Weigman’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Amare Thomas, Fox responded with his 34-yard rushing score. Hubbard then capped the win with an 11-yard touchdown midway through the fourth to seal a 17-point cushion.
“Even when they made a little run, there was no panic,” Rodriguez said. “That shows the maturity we’ve been waiting to see. Against a good football team, our guys stayed locked in.”
Houston’s Costly Mistakes
For Houston (7–2, 4–2 Big 12), the loss dealt a serious blow to its Big 12 Championship hopes and likely ended its brief stay in the national rankings.
Quarterback Conner Weigman completed 25 of 35 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions and lost one of three fumbles. He added a short rushing score.
The Cougars entered the night with only four turnovers all season, but matched that total in one game.
“It’s hard for Vince Lombardi’s Packers to win with that many turnovers,” head coach Willie Fritz said. “We didn’t execute, and I didn’t do a good enough job preparing this team.”
Receiver Amare Thomas had a standout game with 10 catches for 99 yards and three touchdowns, while Tanner Koziol added five receptions for 54 yards and a score. Running back Dean Connors rushed for 71 yards.
Second-Half Surge
The teams were knotted 21–21 at halftime, but West Virginia controlled the second half, outscoring Houston 24–7 over the next two quarters. A field goal early in the third gave the Mountaineers the lead for good, followed by Scruggs’ defensive touchdown that shifted all momentum.
The victory was West Virginia’s first win over a ranked opponent since a 38–31 triumph over Iowa State on Oct. 30, 2021, and kept the Mountaineers’ slim bowl hopes alive.
The Takeaway
West Virginia: A resilient performance from a young quarterback and opportunistic defense helped the Mountaineers end their skid and secure a signature win for Rich Rodriguez’s rebuilding squad.
Houston: The Cougars’ playoff dreams took a major hit after a turnover-plagued performance. The loss exposed costly mistakes that erased another strong outing from Weigman and the offense.
Up Next:
West Virginia: Hosts Colorado on Saturday.
Houston: Travels to Central Florida on Friday night.
