Former Chiles High QB Garrett Greene steps in, leads West Virginia over Oklahoma
Casey Legg's 25-yard field goal with no time left lifted the West Virginia Mountaineers to a 23-20, come-from-behind victory over the visiting Oklahoma Sooners Saturday before a crowd of 50,281 at soggy Milan Puskar Field.
Legg shared the hero's role with backup quarterback Garrett Greene, the former two-sport star from Chiles High School.
Greene - a 5-foot-11 redshirt sophomore - ran for two touchdowns and threw for a third score as WVU beat the Sooners for the first time since joining the Big 12 in 2012.
"I'm happy for him," WVU coach Neal Brown told 247Sports. "He's kind of waited his time. He hasn't complained. He went in there and did a nice job."
Greene played two series in the first half and the entire second half in relief of JT Daniels, who joined the program last May after starting three games for the national-champion Georgia Bulldogs last season before being injured.
“I think getting into a rhythm, as a quarterback, is huge,” Greene said.
“I am just thankful to be on the field, whether it’s for a play or for a series, for the second half like it was today. Guys (teammates) did a great job helping me out. (It was my) first real big playing time in a big moment. They made it so much easier.”
Greene makes most of chance
Greene's 11-yard touchdown run that followed his 16-yard pass to Kaden Prather on fourth down early in the fourth quarter tied the score at 20-20.
Known for his athleticism and live arm, Greene finished with a career-high 119 rushing yards on 14 carries. He also completed 12 of 22 passes for 138 yards.
Greene had appeared as a backup in six games this season, completing 8 of 15 passes for 103 yards and one touchdown. He also had 13 rushes for 93 yards and a score.
Daniels struggled for the second consecutive game. He completed 7 of 12 passes for 65 yards and threw his seventh interception in the last five games.
West Virginia boosts its record to 4-6, 2-5, and keeps alive its bowl hopes with regular season games left against Kansas State next Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium and the regular season finale at Oklahoma State on Nov. 26.
When asked whether Greene or Daniels would start against Kansas State, Brown answered, ""I'm probably going to make that (decision) sometime this week. We're not going to make it today."
Greene started at quarterback and was a standout catcher at Chiles.
Greene's father, Charlie Greene, is in his 17th season with the Milwaukee Brewers as a roving instructor who works primarily with catchers and infielders.
In an interview with the Democrat last July, Greene said he's looking into potentially joining West Virginia's baseball team next season.
"I want to play baseball again but I'd have to get some stuff ironed out," Greene said. "I've played both sports basically my whole life, so I understand time demand."
A look back at Greene at Chiles
A standout dual-threat quarterback for coach Kevin Pettis at Chiles High. ... Member of the prestigious quarterback Elite 11 Club in 2019. ... MVP of the Camp Series Event in Tampa. ... Led team to a 6-6 record and the first round of the state 7A playoffs. ... Passed for 1,155 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 930 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior. ... One of Neal Brown’s first commitments at West Virginia. ... Standout baseball catcher in high school, earning multiple postseason honors. ... Also offered by Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and TCU.
Reach Jim Henry at jjhenry@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: See who came in relief from Chiles to lead West Virginia past Oklahoma
