Backup QB Nicco Marchiol leads West Virginia past Arizona

West Virginia quarterback Nicco Marchiol, playing in place of the injured Garrett Greene, led the Mountaineers to a 31-26 victory over Arizona in a Big 12 game in Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday.

Greene and starting left tackle Wyatt Milum, who suffered upper body injuries in last week's home loss to Kansas State, did not travel to Tucson.

Marchiol, from nearby Chandler, Arizona, completed 18 of 22 pass attempts for 198 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Arizona (3-5, 1-4) has lost four straight games.

West Virginia (4-4, 3-2) took a 31-13 lead with 13:31 left on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Marchiol to Traylon Ray.

Noah Fifita completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to All-American candidate Tetairoa McMillan on Arizona's next possession.

McMillan's first touchdown reception since the season opener against New Mexico cut the lead to 31-19 with 8:52 remaining.

McMillan finished the game with 202 yards on 10 receptions.

Fifita collected 133 of his 294 passing yards in the fourth quarter. He completed 21 of 32 pass attempts with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

After a three-and-out for West Virginia, Arizona cut the lead to 31-26 when Fifita scored on a 3-yard scramble for a touchdown with 4:35 left.

Fifita completed a 49-yard pass to McMillan on the drive.

West Virginia was able to run out the clock after Marchiol completed a 9-yard pass to Jaylen Anderson on a third-and-7 play at the Mountaineer 39 with 2:02 left.

Marchiol gave West Virginia a 17-7 halftime lead by completing 11 of 13 passes for 98 yards with a touchdown.

West Virginia built a 10-0 lead in the first quarter after Michael Hayes II made a 45-yard field goal and a successful fake field goal that led to a touchdown.

Defending champion Leighton Bechdel took the snap and ran 14 yards for the score with 31 seconds left in the first quarter.

Arizona managed a 14-play, 75-yard scoring drive that lasted 7:57 minutes.

Quali Conley, who fumbled the ball at the West Virginia 27 to end the previous possession, capped the long drive with a 1-yard scoring run that cut the lead to 10-7 with 7:34 left in the second Quarter.

–Field level media