Bitancurt had feeling about his winning kick

By Dave Morrison

MORGANTOWN — Tyler Bitancurt had a premonition. It started Thursday night and the West Virginia redshirt freshman kicker couldn’t shake it Friday.

“I just had this feeling,” he said. “I was walking around the hotel today and I kept thinking, ‘I think I’m going to kick the game-winner.’ I just kept thinking that. It was more like a feeling.”

If he ever gets a feeling about numbers, he better get some lottery tickets.

His feeling became reality Friday night when his 43-yard field goal as time expired gave the Mountaineers a 19-16 win over Pitt in the 102nd Backyard Brawl at Milan Puskar Stadium.

“Unbelievable,” Bitancurt said afterward. “The ball felt really good coming off my foot. I saw it starting to hook, but it wasn’t enough to make it go wide.”

Just like that, West Virginia stopped a two-game losing streak to the Panthers. And just like that, the Mountaineers went from minor bowl to a possible berth in the Gator Bowl.

And they can thank the unassuming Bitancurt, who had four field goals in the game, for that.

Of all the potential heroes on the team, Bitancurt is likely the least assuming.

There were certainly enough heroes in the big win.

Offensively, there was Noel Devine’s 88-yard touchdown run.

And Jarrett Brown led a two-minute offense to set up the game-winner.

Ryan Clark got just enough for a first down on fourth-and-1 on that drive.

Defensively, Robert Sands’ late interception was huge.

Keith Tandy also had one in the first half.

Both set up Bitancurt field goals.

“He’s my hero,” senior safety Nate Sowers said after the game.

Ironically, coach Bill Stewart eschewed a Bitancurt attempt twice early in the game, going for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal at the 1 and later declining a 45-yard Bitancurt attempt and going for it on fourth-and-8 at the Pittsburgh 27. Both ended in no points.

“I’m trying for touchdowns, not field goals, to win this game,” Stewart said. “I’m trying to win the game the best way I know how.”

Bitancurt didn’t take offense.

“It’s not my call,” he said. “I was rooting for our team to score the touchdown. I want us to score. If I don’t kick at all, I don’t care. We’re trying to win.”

Bitancurt’s rise to hero began in August. And senior Reed Williams is roundly responsible for quickly whipping him into shape.

“It started Day One. I’ve been trying to rattle him all year. That’s part of my job as a senior,’’ Williams said. “I try to take it on myself to cause him as much grief as possible.’’

Bitancurt was a little stunned.

“Everyone knows Reed Williams is the smartest guy around here,’’ he said. “When he first started doing it, I thought, ‘Why is this guy yelling at me?’ Sometimes I kick the ball laughing so hard because he says the funniest things.’’

It might have served him better had Williams jacked him up a couple times.

Bitancurt was buried by a dog pile of humanity after the game-winning kick.

“I think I broke my sternum,” he said. “I know it was painful. But it was all my brothers dog piling on me, so it was worth the pain.”

Holder Jeremy Kash and tight end Tyler Urban were the first to arrive.

It wasn’t the hardest he’d been hit, though.

“Kash tackled me pretty good on my birthday (Nov. 5),” Bitancurt said. “He likes to do that to (team members) on their birthday.”

Bitancurt is now etched in Backyard Brawl lore. Forever.

The enigmatic Pat McAfee, now punting for the Indianapolis Colts, never kicked a game-winner. And if you remember, his two misses against Pitt in 2007’s 13-9 loss were roundly held responsible, although that is ridiculous thinking.

“I just want to do my job when I’m called on,” Bitancurt said. “I’d rather we score a touchdown every time. But I feel like I am going to make a kick when I’m called on.”

And know it’s going to happen before it does.

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