Ballistic Blue Devils Stun Crimson Tide in Overtime ThrillerBallistic Blue Devils Stun Crimson Tide in Overtime Thriller Morgantown, WV – In a pulsating overtime thriller at Mountaineer Field, the unfancied West Virginia Blue Devils upset the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide 31-28, snapping the Tide’s 23-game winning streak and sending shockwaves through college football. The game was a seesaw affair from the outset. Alabama, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Bryce Young, drew first blood with a touchdown pass to Cameron Latu. West Virginia responded with a touchdown run by Justin Johnson, but the Tide regained the lead with a field goal before halftime. The second half was a back-and-forth slugfest. Young threw a second touchdown pass, but West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene answered with a pair of his own, including a 75-yard bomb to Bryce Ford-Wheaton. As regulation time expired, the score was deadlocked at 21-21, sending the game to overtime. In the extra period, Alabama struck first with a field goal, but West Virginia responded with a dramatic touchdown catch by Kaden Prather. The Blue Devils then sealed the victory with a game-saving interception by Jacolby Spells. Greene, a true freshman, had an unforgettable performance, completing 28 of 45 passes for 370 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson rushed for 125 yards and one touchdown, while Ford-Wheaton had 10 receptions for 185 yards and one touchdown. For Alabama, Young threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted once. The Crimson Tide were also hampered by injuries to key players, including star linebacker Will Anderson Jr. The loss was a major blow to Alabama’s national title hopes, while sending the Blue Devils soaring into the national spotlight. It was West Virginia’s first victory over Alabama since 1983 and their most significant since joining the Big 12 Conference in 2012. The “Ballistic Blue Devils” nickname, coined by West Virginia fans, became a rallying cry for the underdogs, who proved that anything is possible in the unpredictable world of college football.
