WVU football trailed 28-10 at halftime of their Friday night clash with BYU, which is far from an ideal scenario – but things could have been much worse if it wasn't a couple of West Virginia defenders forcing turnovers at crucial points in the first half.
The first big play came as the Cougars had the ball and were driving down the field with a 14-3 lead. With the ball on the Mountaineers' 17-yard line, BYU dialed up a screen pass, but senior linebacker Chase Wilson locked in on BYU freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier and read his eyes perfectly before snagging his pass in mid-air to give Bachmeier his first interception of the season. The Mountaineers were unable to convert the turnover into a touchdown, but did prevent what was looking like a drive which would end with a touchdown for the Cougars.
Chase Wilson bringing the juice 🔋⚡#Big12FB | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/GgdH4JF4GQ
— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) October 4, 2025
The next big play came from senior safety Fred Perry, who pulled out the type of disruptive backfield turnover that would make NFL legend Troy Polamalu proud. BYU took the ball after a WVU punt with a 21-3 lead, over two minutes left in the second quarter and all three timeouts, and went to run a speed option with Perry as the read. But Perry was headed on a blitz and jumped the snap, and Bachmeier was a bit too slow on the take.
Perry was able to decipher the gambit, and split Bachmeier and his running back as the young signal caller made the pitch. Perry battled the ball to the turf to force a fumble, and fell onto the ball quickly to give the Mountaineers the ball on the BYU five-yard line. WVU would go on to punch in their first touchdown of the game quickly.
Mountaineers turn defense into points 💪 Fred Perry on the fumble recovery, Diore Hubbard punches it in on the very next snap 💥 #Big12FB | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/zWor5zpqWG
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 4, 2025