HANGING BY A THREAD: West Virginia had to fight off a last-gasp threat by Rutgers on Saturday to preserve a 24-17 football victory in the first Big East Conference contest of the season for both teams. After the Mountaineers failed on a fourth-and-two-inches-to-go effort by Jarrett Brown, then at quarterback, the Scarlet Knights took possession at the WVU 45 with 1:54 left to play. But quarterback Mike Teel completed just one of four passes for five yards.