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NCAA Football Recap (West Virginia-Missouri)
Posted: Sun December 27, 1998 at 1:10 a.m EST MISSOURI 34, (25) WEST VIRGINIA 31TUCSON, Arizona (Ticker) -- West Virginia became the first school to lose eight straight bowl games as cornerback Julian Jones helped account for 16 first-half points in Missouri's 34-31 victory over the Mountaineers in the Insight.com Bowl. West Virginia is winless in the postseason since a 31-14 triumph over Texas Christian in the now-defunct Bluebonnet Bowl on New Year's Eve 1984. The Mountaineers were victimized by poor special teams play -- usually a strength -- and never recovered from a 24-3 halftime deficit. "It hurts to lose another bowl game," said Mountaineers offensive tackle Soloman Page. "This is my third bowl and its like some things never change. Things just go against us. We had to make a couple of adjustments. We couldn't get in a groove with our kicking game." West Virginia's losing streak also includes setbacks in last season's Carquest Bowl, the 1997 Gator Bowl, the 1995 Carquest Bowl, the 1994 Sugar Bowl, the 1989 Gator Bowl, the 1989 Fiesta Bowl and the 1987 Sun Bowl. The Mountaineers trailed 31-10 late in the third quarter before the offense woke up. Marc Bulger capped a 15-play, 75-yard drive by hitting Khori Ivy for a eight-yard touchdown with 29 seconds left in the period. Early in the fourth, Bulger connected with running back Amos Zereoue for a nine-yard score, trimming the deficit to 31-24. But on the ensuing possession, Missouri killed the clock with the help of West Virginia's defense, which jumped offsides twice on third downs. Brian Long kicked an 18-yard field goal with 3:44 left to open a 10-point lead after the 14-play drive took nearly seven minutes off the clock. The Mountaineers quickly answered with 2:11 remaining when Bulger tossed his fourth touchdown pass, a one-yard floater to David Saunders. But with no timeouts left, West Virginia was forced to attempt an onside kick, which was recovered by Tigers tight end Dwayne Blakley. West Virginia's hopes ended two plays later when a facemask penalty gave the Tigers a first down. Bulger set Insight.com (formerly Copper) Bowl records for completions and attempts by connecting on 34-of-50 passes for a school-record 429 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. "They don't mean very much since we didn't win the game, especially the pass attempts one," Bulger said of the records. "But I wouldn't mind having that completions record for a while." Jones started in place of Wade Perkins, who was suspended before the game for violating team rules. He set up Missouri's first offensive touchdown with an interception, had a blocked punt for a safety and contributed a long kick return that led to another TD. "We knew they had a great passing team," said Jones. "The whole defensive team did an excellent job. We let them take back control late, but we were able to pull it out. It was a whole team effort -- special teams, defense and offense." Quarterback Corby Jones ran for three scores and cornerback Carlos Posey returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown as the Tigers broke a two-game bowl losing streak dating to a victory over Southern Mississippi in the 1981 Tangerine Bowl. "Everybody has been there for everybody else," Corby Jones said. "We helped each other out all season long and came out and did what we could. Our biggest goal was to improve our record and to get a bowl championship and we did that." "It felt great, just great," added Missouri coach Larry Smith, who spent seven seasons coaching Arizona. "Whenever you get a win in this stadium in feels great. I'm just so happy for our team, especially our seniors. To win a bowl game like this, it's a great way to end the season." West Virginia (8-4) opened the game with a 10-play march deep into Tigers' territory and appeared set to take the lead when Jay Taylor lined up for a 40-yard field goal. But nose tackle Jeff Marriott broke through the line and blocked the kick. Posey scooped up the ball and returned it 70 yards down the left sideline for a score. Marriott's block and stellar play in helping to shut down Zereoue, who had just 50 yards on 22 carries, earned him defensive Most Valuable Player honors. "I was real surprised to get this award," he said. "It's not very often that an inside guy gets an award like this. It usually goes to one of the outside guys. We had a great defensive effort. We did a good job of shutting down the run." The Mountaineers again were on the move on the ensuing possession when Julian Jones intercepted Bulger at the Tigers' 42-yard line. Missouri (8-4) covered 58 yards in 11 plays and went up 14-0 when Corby Jones ran the option left and scored from 10 yards out. West Virginia got on the board eight seconds into the second quarter when Taylor connected from 28 yards, and the Mountaineers quickly stopped Missouri in four plays to gain some momentum. But Vince Sebo's punt backed up the Mountaineers to their own 5 and the Tigers took advantage moments later when Julian Jones blocked Taylor's punt out of the end zone for a safety. He also returned the free kick 39 yards to the West Virginia 42 and Missouri went up 24-3 when Corby Jones plowed his way for a two-yard score. "We certainly do stress special teams," Smith said. "That was special. That has always been something that we put a lot work and time into. It paid off tonight, it sure did. Special teams won us the game. That and our ground game coming through when it had to" Cornerback Boo Sensabaugh blocked Sebo's punt deep inside Missouri territory early in the third quarter to set up Bulger's nine-yard TD toss to Saunders. But again West Virginia's special teams gave up a big play, allowing Ricardo Rhodes to return the kickoff 60 yards to the Missouri 40. Three plays later, Jones scored on an 11-yard run. Senior Devin West gained 125 yards on 31 carries for the Tigers. Shawn Foreman, also playing his final game for the Mountaineers, caught 11 passes for 189 yards. © 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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