WVU shows good, bad and ugly in 59-16 win over Delaware State
MORGANTOWN — Even Clint Eastwood would have to admit that Saturday’s 59-16 victory over MEAC member Delaware State had some good, some bad and a lot of ugly.
“There’s some challenges (to playing a Delaware State),” veteran WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen admitted following the game. “There’s a human element that comes into it. You’re not going to get your guys up.
“But, you’re not going to get your guys up for 12 games. For the most part, it’s a win and that’s what you want. The SEC plays this game week nine or 10. We played it week three. We’ve played it week one before. Does it really matter? I don’t know.”
The good came in the form of sophomore receiver/kick returner Marcus Simms while the bad had to be the play of West Virginia’s cornerbacks.
“He (Marcus Simms) gives us speed,” continued the head coach. “We were able to do some things stretching the field and with our kickoff return that we haven’t been able to do for a while. So, yea, it was good to see that first return.”
As far as ‘the ugly’, well it would have to be the entire idea that a team can get mentally up to take on a program that is a plus-62 on the betting line.
But, that was the case on a beautiful weekend afternoon at Milan Puskar Stadium as the Hornets (0-3) tried to become the first FBC program to come onto Mountaineer Field and hand the homestanding Mountaineers (2-1) a loss.
WVU, which travels to Manhattan next Saturday to open Big 12 play against the Jayhawks of the University of Kansas, needed only four plays and 53 seconds to take the lead for good against their guests.
Simms, who was suspended for the Virginia Tech game, brought the crowd to its feet early when the speedy pass catcher took the opening kickoff and raced 80 yards to give WVU a first-and-10 at the DSU 18.
Justin Crawford pounded the ball over the goal line from two yards away to push the Old Gold and Blue on top with 14:07 showing on the clock. Mike Molina’s first successful PAT followed.
Next up the Mountaineer defense appeared as if it would give its offense the ball back after a three-and-out, but the Hornets’ Jack McDaniels and Nyfease West had other ideas as the duo connected for an 81-yard scoring strike when WVU Bandit Marvin Gross Jr. allowed the DSU receiver to get behind him on a third-and-4 play.
“That (long touchdown) was on me,” Gross explained. “I was a little confused. I wasn’t prepared for that. It was just a busted coverage and it’s on me because I had my eyes in the wrong place.”
Junior safety Dravon Askew-Henry’s attempt at a last second tackle failed and a shocked audience watched as Nzidee Wisdom’s PAT knotted the game at seven with 12:20 left in the first quarter of action.
That, however, would be the only tie as WVU regained the lead, 10-7, on a 20-yard field goal by Molina and then padded it to 17-7 on a 3-yard Crawford score.
Ugly is the only word to describe the Mountaineers next series as the second of two Will Grier fumbles ended up in the hands of DSU’s Ulises De Los Santos and gave the visitors a first-and-10 at the West Virginia 6.
The defense stiffened, however, and only surrendered a 24-yard Wisdom field goal adding to its list of good deeds on the day.
Grier, who finished 19-of-27 for 304 yards and three touchdowns before being pulled early in the third quarter, hooked up with Simms for a 62-yard scoring strike nine seconds later. But, that would be the story of the remainder of the first 30 minutes as the team traded interceptions with WVU’s offense tacking on three more scores while the defense kept the Hornets from stinging it again.
The final 21 minutes of the game was given to the reserves as backup signal-caller Chris Chugunov gave the hometown fans something to cheer about when he connected with Reggie Roberson Jr. for a 14-yard touchdown while freshman running back Tevin Bush pounded the DSU prevent unit for 41 yards on nine carries.
“I’m just glad to get this one in the book,” Holgorsen said. “I thought our guys did a good job of bouncing back from that week one loss (to Virginia Tech). I know there was some sloppy stuff here and there, but I’m excited to turn the page and get ready to start Big 12 play.”
∫ Redshirt freshman linebacker Brendan Ferns continues to see more action at the Mike linebacker spot as the St. Clairsville (Ohio) native finished fourth overall in tackles with five – all solo stops.
∫ Meadowbrook native Josh Sills got the start again at right guard in place of the injured Grant Lingafelter and helped the offense amass 538 yards on 69 snaps.
Contact Jim Butta via email at mountaineersman@outlook.com