Rodriguez All Smiles After Victory
by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published September 13, 2025, 9:29 PM
Morgantown, WV – The 108th meeting between Pittsburgh and West Virginia wasn’t just another Backyard Brawl. It was a once-in-a-lifetime emotional ride that brought me to tears. I’ve covered football for decades, seen games on every stage, but I’ve never experienced an ending like West Virginia’s 31-24 overtime victory over Pitt.
It wasn’t just me. A dear media pal wiped his eyes as we stood on the field and watched in awe of the outcome that unfolded before us. A proud WVU grad, and kid we love like a son texted that tears also were part of his happy moment.
This wasn’t just a football game it was a collective outpouring of joy, heartbreak, relief, and pride, all wrapped into three and a half hours under the lights in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers used three different quarterbacks to survive a night filled with miscues, turnovers, and momentum swings. Freshman Scotty Fox Jr. struggled, tossing two interceptions in just four attempts. Pitt stormed back from a 14-3 hole and built a 24-14 lead with 9:23 left.
The game felt over. The stadium that brings such vibrant emotions were silenced as the Panthers began to capitalize on the Mountaineers miscues.
But West Virginia’s defense dug in, giving their offense a chance. And then came the madness seven points in the final 11 seconds of regulation to somehow tie the game, followed by the game-winning touchdown on their first possession in overtime.
One insider for the Mountaineers felt the team would “lose by 30” prior to kickoff. Surely, I respected his words since experience around the program is immense.
“We didn’t stop them,” Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said. “Now, obviously, look at the tape and figure it out, but they did a good job of running the ball. They have a good scheme. (WVU head coach) Rich Rodriguez does a great job.”
Head coach Rich Rodriguez, back at WVU after 17 years away, admitted the weight of the moment.
“You could tell when we pulled in, you could tell during the week, you could tell during the offseason that this game was on our main trip,” Rodriguez said. “When there were people tailgating on Tuesday, you knew how important it was.”
Even he could feel the emotion as the final seconds ticked off.
“Sometimes, when you have your back against the wall and there’s a sense of urgency, athletes perform better,” Rodriguez said. “Thankfully, our guys performed better today, at the end of the game.”
When the final whistle blew, the crowd of 62,106 unleashed their happiness in unison. And then came the moment that pushed everything over the edge: John Denver’s Country Roads blasting through the speakers as fans swayed, arms wrapped around each other, belting out every word. It was surreal. It was overwhelming. It was enough to make even the toughest football lifer break down.
Call it cheesy. Call it sentimental. Call it whatever you want. But this game this night reminded us all why we love sports. Why rivalries matter. Why we cry when the right song plays at the right moment.
Coach Rodriguez is known for his incredible high-powered offenses but often tonight the crowd was left in disbelief as a modest task of completing a forward pass seemed a bit of a reach. It was the Mountaineers defense and newcomer Tye Edwards who pounded the rock for a total of 141 yards and three touchdowns.
The style of win resembled more smash mouth than exotic offensive play call with an offense that hums with avalanches of points. Nope this was a win won in the description of the people Rodriguez mentioned after the win.
“You know this this state is full of hard working, gritty, tough people that that support this university, support this football program,” said a jubilant Rodriguez postgame.
The Backyard Brawl didn’t just produce a winner or a loser. It produced memories and emotions that will stay with us forever. Sometimes we all need a game like this to keep the love alive.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
