Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
The situation: West Virginia trailed Cincinnati 21-14 in the 4th Quarter and drove down to the Bearcats' 25 yard line. When West Virginia ran the ball on 3rd and 9 with about five minutes left in the game, it was clear head coach Bill Stewart had decided against the field goal: he was going for it and would take two plays to try to pick up the first down. But Jarrett Brown's 4th down pass fell incomplete, giving Cincinnati the ball back, still up by 7.
After the Bearcats quickly picked up a field goal to extend the lead to 24-14, West Virginia took under two minutes to answer with a touchdown of their own, to close the gap to 24-21 with 45 seconds remaining. When WVU failed to recover the ensuing onside attempt, the field goal Bill Stewart had decided not to kick looked like the difference in the game.
The majority of West Virginia fans at The Smoking Musket were upset when Stewart decided not to take the 3 points, but it seems to me like he made the right call. Needing a touchdown to tie Cincinnati, going for the first down when his offense had reached the Bearcats' 25 was appropriate.
But it sure looks bad given the 24-21 final score. So tell us: Should Stewart have kicked the field goal?
2 comments
Comments
Well....
it is a similar situation to what the Eagles faced on Sunday night against the Cowboys. Pretty much everyone agreed the Eagles should have played for the touchdown, so I think Stewart was right.
At least, he seemed more decisive in going for it than Reid.
by cmruready on Nov 14, 2009 4:23 AM EST reply actions
it makes me sick to think of how many times wvu has went into the locker at half or ended the game with time outs in their pockets and the ball on the field and not try to do anything with it and yes we should have kicked the field goal
by myrtle27603 on Nov 14, 2009 9:02 AM EST reply actions
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