West Virginia win has fans belting “Country Roads” from the rooftops! There was a taste of fall in the air as the Mountaineers traveled to Blacksburg to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies. The energy at Lane Stadium was electrified as “Enter Sandman” echoed through the speakers, and the sold out crowd rose to their feet. Unfortunately for Virginia Tech, that energy and crow noise was not enough. At the final whistle it was West Virginia standing victorious.
West Virginia’s Offense
West Virginia put up another good effort running the ball this week against the Hokies. The team totaled 218 yards on 46 attempts, good for 4.7 yards per carry. In his press conference, Head Coach Neal Brown was quick to give due credit to the offensive line that lead the way for WVU. Despite offensive success, star receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton was held in check, only catching three passes for 23 yards. Receivers Sam James and Kaden Prather stepped up to fill the void. Prather caught six passes for 69 yards, while James caught a crucial touchdown with 11 seconds before halftime to give WVU the lead. While West Virginia was able to move the ball, they had trouble finishing drives, settling instead for four field goals in the red zone.
Defensive Dominance
The West Virginia defense picked up right where they left off last week with another smothering performance. The Mountaineers held Virginia Tech to 35 yards rushing, averaging 1.9 yards per carry. Junior defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson continually shed blocks, clogging up the middle for the defense. With a second half lead, the defense held firm, only allowing 65 passing yards as the Hokies tried to mount a comeback. The game was sealed with 9:46 left in the fourth quarter as Freshman Corner, Jacolby Spells intercepted a Grant Wells pass and returned it for a touchdown.
Country Roads Extras
Kicker Casey Legg maintained his perfect record on the year as he made four field goals throughout the game. Legg ultimately outscored the Hokies 12-10 himself. This is the last game scheduled between the two teams for the foreseeable future. The Black Diamond Trophy headed back down country roads to Morgantown where is will reside for an indefinite amount of time. Up next for the Mountaineers will be a trip to Austin to take on the Texas Longhorns. West Virginia has held their own against the Longhorns since joining the Big XII. They lead the all-time series with six wins versus Texas’ five. The Longhorns will have their chance to tie the series next Saturday in Austin.
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