Midseason Report: WVU (4-1)
The West Virginia Mountaineers started this season strong with a warm up game against Liberty. Although the Flames were able to hang with the Mountaineers for a short while, the superior team started to emerge before halftime. Senior place kicker Tyler Bitancurt led the Mountaineers with five field goals. West Virginia won the game 33 to 20.
Next week the Mountaineers welcomed the East Carolina Pirates to Morgantown. For the second straight week the game was a tale of two halves. East Carolina jumped out to a two score lead but West Virginia was soon able to tie the game. After exchanging scores the Mountaineers made their move and never looked back. In the second half the West Virginia offense marched down field twice while East Carolina was shutout. The Mountaineers remained undefeated with a 35-20 victory.
The first road trip of the year proved to be tough for the Mountaineers. West Virginia visited Auburn and was able to jump out to a ten-point lead against the Tigers. Auburn battled back and the SEC team was just too much for their Big East opponent. The Tigers remained undefeated with a 41 to 30 victory while the Mountaineers feel to a record of two wins and one loss.
The Mountaineers next welcomed Colorado to Morgantown. The long trip didn’t seem to slow down the slumping Buffaloes. After exchanging blows throughout the game, the Mountaineers were able to pull away in the fourth quarter. Freshman running back was the story of the game as he scored two fourth quarter touchdowns that sealed the 35-24 victory for the Mountaineers.
Quarterback Noel Devine and the rest Mountaineers next traveled to Syracuse to take on the Orange. Senior quarterback Greg Paulus continued to prove how difficult it really is to return to football after an extended absence. The former Duke point guard went on to only complete 5 of 9 passes for 30 yards and an interception. West Virginia jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. The Mountaineers won the game 34 to 13 and improved to a record of four wins and won loss.
Next up for the West Virginia is Marshall. The Thundering Herd will look to cool down their in-state rival in Morgantown. Marshall holds a record of four wins and two losses but has failed to defeat a noteworthy opponent all season.
The Mountaineers will finish the season against six straight Big East opponents. Their remaining home games are between Connecticut, Louisville, and Pittsburgh. This year the “backyard brawl” will take place on November 27 and anything can happen when West Virginia and Pittsburgh get together. West Virginia will take to the road and visit South Florida and Cincinnati before finishing the season at Rutgers.
So far this season the Mountaineers have posted an impressive record but this final stretch will truly determine who these Mountaineers really are. With a possible injury to quarterback Tony Pike, Big East frontrunner Cincinnati may be vulnerable. This leaves the door wide out for the Mountaineers and a possibility for a Big East title.
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