Final: West Virginia 30, USF 27

Posted Dec 2, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Dec 2, 2011 at 01:43 AM

West Virginia kicker Tyler Bitancurt connected on a 28-yard field goal on the game’s final play, lifting the visiting Mountaineers to a 30-27 victory over USF in front of an announced crowd of 41,743 at Raymond James Stadium.

Bitancurt’s game-winning kick was set up by a 26-yard pass play from West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith to receiver Stedman Bailey on a fourth-and-10 play with 13 seconds left on the clock. The winning drive came after the Mountaineers recovered a B.J. Daniels fumble at their own 26 with 3:02 left when the Bulls were driving for the potential winning score.

It was the seventh loss for USF (5-7, 1-6 in Big East) in the final eight games. With a losing record, the Bulls had their string of six consecutive seasons of reaching a postseason bowl game snapped.

West Virginia (9-3, 5-2) clinched at a share of the Big East title with the win and kept its hopes alive of earning the league’s BCS berth. The Mountaineers need Cincinnati to defeat Connecticut to earn a trip to the Orange Bowl.