The Cactus Bowl ended well after you went to bed, and appropriately enough we’re going to put it to be a little late, too. Of course we have TFGD, but I’ll drop back and throw deep with a Good & Bad later this week. Give me time — the commercial-free copy is 3 hours, 14 minutes.

What I find so far after some down time in an Admirals Club in Phoenix and then some time up in the air on the way to Dallas is it’s going to be one of those that’s complimentary and critical of the quarterback. That’s not exactly unusual for the 2015 season, but the first game of 2016 was nevertheless strange, dotted with pieces of the unexpected, not one bigger than how and why the Mountaineers prevailed.

“It’s about time it fell together,” he said. “Our goal throughout the season was to get better each week on offense, keep improving each week. It finally started clicking.”

Saturday night was filled with oddities that spilled into Sunday morning. Officials picked up a penalty marker for pass interference and upheld plays on replay that sure seemed to show receivers stepping out of bounds as they made significant plays. Arizona State blocked an extra point and returned it for a two-point conversion, the first time that ever happened to either school.

Redshirt freshman left tackle Yodny Cajuste returned after a six-game absence, and the former No. 55 was wearing No. 99 so he could be a tight end and help against Arizona State’s pass rush. Ricky Rumph started at cornerback for suspended Daryl Worley, but the senior had such trouble against Devin Lucien that WVU, which normally plays left and right cornerbacks, stuck senior Terrell Chestnut on Lucien wherever he went, a deviation that almost never happens.

One of Howard’s career-high 51 attempts was one of his career-high 28 completions, and it went through the hands of a receiver and a linebacker on the way to Daikiel Shorts. The game-winning score went to freshman David Sills, who committed to USC as a seventh-grader and began this season redshirting as a backup quarterback.

But of all the silliness and surprises, maybe nothing was as surreal as Howard’s stardom. It was either his skill in the running game or his struggles in the passing game — and likely both — that contributed to WVU’s shift to the run game this season.

There he was in the postseason, setting a game record with 532 yards passing, the best in WVU bowl history, the most of any player this bowl season and the second-highest total in school history. His five touchdowns and his 555 yards of total offense were also Cactus Bowl records.

And he did it against the team that blitzes and sacks quarterbacks more than any other,

“You talk about a humble kid who has taken some criticism,” WVU coach Dana Holgorsen said. “It’s not fair. I mean, the kid battles. It’s what it means to be a Mountaineer. Play your tail off, earn the respect of your teammates, continue to fight, continue to work. That’s what he’s done.”

There’s a man who’s climbed a mountain, and he’s calling out her name. And he hopes her heart can hear. Three thousand miles, he calls again. He can text her there beside him. He can miss her just the same My edits are in [brackets].

7:45:
This is some Day 1 [stuff] from the guy runnin the metal detector.

8:25:
Oh boy we get a dose of #Pac12afterdark

8:35:
The highlight of today so far is Danny Kannell’s turtleneck.

8:53:
I’m going to look like Huggy’s bro Skeeter by halftime.

10:02:
15 minutes before kickoff and my nerves are already shot! Wine bottle with straw already set! #CactusBowl2016

10:03:
Praying the offense gets it together!

10:04:
Haven’t anticipated a game this late since I needed Hawaii to cover at home

10:16:
TCU…way to scratch and claw your way back! Helps the Big 12 not look so horrible in the post season.

10:18:
NOT DANA IS OUT OF RETIREMENT FOR THE NIGHT. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. REPEAT. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

10:26:
10:25 pm EST = Texts from Bed Time. #middleage

10:28:
Playing in a bowl game sponsored by Motel 6 just about sums up the Holgorsen era.

10:31:
*Happy Gilmore voice* “Skyler learned to passsss”

10:32:
Holidays mean Sky Ho Ho Ho

10:32:
Nicely done, Shelton Gibson! Come back from the dark side!

10:32:
Who is this Goober announce crew on ESPN Jr.? And the direction is worse

10:33:
Did he say Greasy Brown? His mama named him Greasy? No bueno.

10:33:
Are we doing TFGD? Did you leave the light on for us?

10:34:
And wtf happened to the flag?

10:34:
#TeamGoForIt

10:34:
Dana is PISSED!

10:35:
Ball was catchable. They’re trippin!

10:35:
[Forgot] you, ref. [Forgot]. You.

10:37:
/Paste “Aristocrats” text from Pinstripe Bowl/

10:38:
WVU only team in the world with 20 penalty yards, 53 yards on 2nd & 26, pass at will, screwed by refs, run on 3rd & 9 … And get 3 points

10:39:
These refs suck the suck

10:42:
Football games in baseball stadiums look like [soup] on TV. Can this stop being a thing please?

10:43:
I’m liking White today

10:44:
HOLY [FARGO] THAT JUST HAPPENED!!!

10:45:
Hockey assist to Gibson

10:45:
That will be a top 10 play! Shorts!

10:45:
Karaun raun raun raun

10:45:
“He’s a pinball wizard, there has to be a twist…” – The Smoking Musket

10:46:
Immaculate deflection!

10:46:
Overthrew Bolivia right into Brazil.

10:47:
Skyler…DUDE…come on! Another overthown ball in the red zone!

10:47:
Red Zone Thing.

10:47:
You’ve got to make hey before Arizona State makes adjustments.

10:48:
Or make hay, whatever.

10:49:
Lambert > Catanzaro

10:56:
…and there it is. The inevitable pick! Smh.

10:56:
Never mind he still sucks

10:57:
Welp.

10:58:
still watching alamo bowl

11:00:
TCU!

11:02:
Who the hell is Wellman?

11:02:
ASU’s kicking game like our passing game. Highly inaccurate.

11:03:
How about punching it in for a change?

11:03:
Holgo must personally hate Smallwood

11:03:
Wait, this is the team that can’t pass and always runs, right?

11:03:
Who was that slow [athlete]? #Wellman? What does he do???? Lol

11:04:
More like Paraguay that time.

11:04:
Okay…Skyler…damn.

11:05:
20 FGs tonight. I feel it.

11:05:
A hundred dollars is you ask a red zone question tonight. Double if you get Welman in.

11:05:
Whodda think WVU would be so good at draining threes today?

11:05:
“Holgo has a fresh cut and a fullback.”

11:06:
can we leave Howard in Arizona? I’m sure Rich could use a scout team QB

11:11:
Out of bounds. No catch.

11:12:
Abracadabra… ASU receiver’s foot inbounds!

11:16:
Is…is their QB less accurate than Howard?

11:22:
Amy be else still awake?

11:22:
Anyone else still awake?

11:23:
ASU smartly has bet Howard can’t beat them. So far, they’re right

11:30:
Good lord how was that not targetting?

11:30:
Uhhhh, targeting?!

11:31:
Um…targeting!!!! Wtf?????? Seriously???????

11:36:
Offsetting personal fouls. The last refuge of the craven ref

11:38:
3s are wild tonight. Rumph and Howard will decide this game.

11:38:
Seriously…can someone fly Worley in? Exception?

11:38:
I wish we could tackle.

11:39:
So glad we’re committed to another year of this [horseplay]. 7-6 and some other minor bowl loss.

11:39:
I’m watching this game with a smug Ohio State fan. Lord beer me strength.

11:40:
Hey guys I think they want to go to Lucien on Rumph. Just a hunch.

11:49:
Dominate and still be behind. [Fusilli]

11:55:
RIP defensive pass interference

11:55:
Reeeeeealy?

11:55:
And that’s what happens when you lead a receiver.

11:56:
SheltOWN Gibson

11:56:
When you do THAT, who gives a [finch] if the refs are youth league quality bad? #LetsGo!

11:57:
Mounties should have 500 yards passing already

11:57:
Don’t pull that thing out unless you came to bang. Bombs over Maricopa.

11:59:
Rumph as lively in coverage as the corpse in Weekend at Bernie’s

11:59:
Perlo Rumph III

12:00:
Richard Bryant and Harold Kidd think Rumph is toasty

12:09:
These refs don’t deserve to do youth league

12:12:
I’m gonna miss having Jordan Thompson to kick around in TFGD after tonight…

12:13:
You know, Thompson’s become a fine college player. Hope he was a good sport about the spring game stuff. Dude’s 5-foot-6 and nails.

12:13:
Stinchcomb wants WVU to save timeouts with 0:33 left and a timeout

12:13:
BOLIVIA [MAGISTRATES]#

12:14:
Salute. Your. Shorts. Jr.

12:14:
LAKE [MANIPULATING] TITICACA

12:15:
What in THE TOTAL [FORCE] just happened? I may vomit.

12:16:
I’m at my in-laws watching this game without alcohol. Hold me.

12:16:
Special teams [relaxation]. Thanks, DeFore _ _

12:16:
So happy we’re done with O’Toole and DeFo. Got over their act way before they did.

12:21:
Mountaineers making me drink!!! Wine bottle opened…straw inserted.

12:22:
Whenever you feel bad about blowing a lead, there’s always Oregon.

12:25:
Friends don’t let friends coach special teams.

12:29:
In retrospect, Big Ern McCracken was a poor choice for coach

12:37:
I’m sure my kids will sleep in appropriately tomorrow. Until 11:00 or so.

12:38:
Honestly, there’s no justification for this game being on at this hour. It’s absurd. When does a team say no?

12:44:
Wherefore art thou, Train?

12:48:
Somewhere Joey Bosa is watching this game and STILL screaming at his TV (or hitting it with his head)

12:51:
Rumph, roasted

12:51:
Again…WHY DARYL WORLEY….WHYYYYY?

12:55:
My kingdom for a tight shot of Brian Mitchell and I Miss My Friend as ESPN goes to commercial.

12:55:
Let me tell you why Dana is not a great coach. Wayyyyyy too many lapses during games where the team, as a whole, just isn’t in sync. This doesn’t happen

12:55:
very frequently at great programs.

12:59:
Yasssssssss! Touchdown! Jennings!

1:00:
If this is a Todd Graham defense maybe we owe Phil Elmassian an apology for 2001

1:00:
Dana’s gonna need another case of Red Bull on the sideline real soon…

1:00:
Coulda played November Rain during the the time that ball was in the air. How out of position are these DBs?

1:01:
Who okayed the [debonair] Howard pics for ESPN? Nonetheless, good pass to Jennings. Dur-who?

1:04:
Chicken Bercovici is my favorite dish at the Olive Garden

1:05:
Arizona St defense is so bad even Carly Fiorina won’t pretend to support it

1:07:
skip all that red zone crap and just go.

1:09:
nice things happen when you catch the ball

1:11:
Dravon is killing it tonight!

1:12:
Somebody stop this kid, Lucien…please…and thank you!

1:14:
Yeesh KJ Dillon I’ll pretend I went to bed early and missed that

1:16:
Of course the ruling on the field stands…of course. Smh. #RefsSuck

1:16:
Started watching a Big 12/Pac 12 bowl game and a Tuesday night #MACtion game broke out…

1:17:
My name is Luis Zendejas. You surpassed my school points record and killed my brothers Tony and Max. Prepare to die.

1:17:
Engage referee snipers Mr Kendrick

1:21:
Shelton Gibson out here doing thangs, smokin fools…

1:22:
Some wheeeeeere oooover the raaaaaainbowwww

1:22:
Skyler and his floating passes. #SoOverIt

1:23:
[Snackwell] he was out. Unless these idiots let it stand.

1:23:
HAAAHAAAHAAAAHAAA!

1:23:
Wait…what????? They gave us one???? First down???? Wow!

1:24:
Well, at least the refs are consistent

1:24:
Oh man…even when it benefits WVU these refs are still so comically incompetent.

1:24:
No catch. The helium balloon took too long to come down. And the replay officials completely blow it. Good!

1:24:
VIVA SIMON BOLIVAR

1:25:
Arizona State fans shouldn’t boo … They got a TD from their blown call

1:25:
Turnabout is fair play.

1:25:
This is Skyler’s Brad Lewis Music City game

1:26:
Forthcoming Skyler pick is going to taste so bitter.

1:27:
Skyler’s got his groove back. Err, he’s got a groove, a newfound groove

1:31:
Who designed Arizona State’s unis? Gabes? #TheyLookCheap

1:33:
Yasssss…missed it!

1:34:
Mike

1:34:
That overthrow was more egregious than the missed calls. #DamnItSkyler

1:35:
So. Bitter.

1:35:
And…there it is…the familiar interception #2. How did he not see that coverage?

1:35:
Where in the [field] was that pass?

1:36:
I’m not even mad at Skyler. I just feel bad for him.

1:36:
why am i still awake?

1:36:
3:20 to play 3 quarters, 1:36 a.m. and l will ask again… Who has time for this?

1:39:
on the other hand, if we lose, i won’t be up listening to post-game report

1:41:
“I shan’t fear the fork, madam, but I tremble at your mother of pearl caviar spoon.”

1:44:
Todd Graham: “ask me about kickoffs…”

1:44:
This shouldn’t even be close. But it is

1:46:
Betcha that was gonna be an onside kick

1:50:
Slaton Cobourne Zereoue…single season rush company for Smallwood

2:01:
Elaine dances better than Shell

2:02:
Rushel shell I give you crap but that was awesome

2:05:
Oh for the love of God…just freakin run the damn ball, please! [Fiesta]!

2:06:
Jesus, just hit an open guy and you have 800 yards passing

2:07:
Three big misses by Howard on a crucial drive.

2:10:
Ref just tried to tackle that ASU player…these dudes are [bold]!

2:10:
HO HO HO WHY NOT A PERSONAL FOUL ON THE BACK JUDGE THEN

2:10:
FLAG?!?! What the actual mango farming [farm]?

2:12:
A “[horsewoman] call” is what Dana told the ref. Announcer called it.”Mickey Mouse.” Walt is offended.

2:13:
[Fantastic]. Great defense, you [admirals]

2:13:
That’ll do it. I’m going to bed.

2:14:
Dana needs less childish tantrums and more coaching.

2:20:
Every time Skyler drops back to pass, my stomach knots up.

2:21:
Insane conversion.

2:21:
I was legitimately getting in my car to drive to Arizona when he handed that off.

2:22:
Well stuff me full of hot fudge and call me Donnie Drawplay

2:23:
I HAVE OPINIONS AND FEEINGS ABOUT THIS!!! #LetsGo

2:23:
#KiffyKnew

2:24:
Just win the game defense cuz I wanna go to bed

2:25:
I hate Deforest.

2:25:
D$F$RE$T

2:25:
The pooch just needs to be put down

2:29:
4th &10 for the game…bring some pressure, Gibbie & double Lucien

2:30:
OH OF COURSE THERE’S A FLAG!

2:31:
A flag? What flag? Aww…for what? Not now!!!!!

2:31:
At least they’ve been consistent in their incompetence tonight

2:33:
BALLGAME, MAGGLE!

2:34:
Cobra so played, but will allow it, ASU.

2:34:
Thank god that’s over.

2:35:
Todd Graham is exactly as poor of a coach as you’d guess just by looking at that haircut

2:35:
Say what you want but these guys play their asses off for Dana. And I root my [posterior] off for these guys & Dana.

2:36:
Dana had the better hair

2:37:
Hertzel just guzzled the rest of his Cutty