Post by cviller on Sept 23, 2007 10:53:25 GMT -5
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
MORGANTOWN — Marc Magro sat on a couch long after West Virginia’s 48-7 win over East Carolina was in the books Saturday afternoon. He wore a T-shirt that on the front read “3 and Out” and on the back said “DOMINATE.”
“We get these every week if we reach our percentage, if we get a certain number of three-and-outs,’’ said the senior linebacker. “It’s a pride thing, getting to wear them.’’
Needless to say, it was a while before West Virginia’s defenders even knew the shirts existed. They’ve been around a couple of years now, but until this season the occasions when they were doled out were rather rare.
This year, though, the shirts are pretty much a staple. The Mountaineer defensive players might even deserve two shirts for what they did to East Carolina.
The final statistics were impressive, but even those were misleading. East Carolina gained 160 total yards — 106 rushing and 54 on the ground. The Pirates were headed for their first shutout in 119 games before scoring on the WVU reserves with 59 seconds to play.
But in the real varsity game, the one played in the roughly 21/2 quarters it took before West Virginia had built a 41-0 lead, the numbers were stunning. While taking a 34-0 lead, the Mountaineers outgained ECU 396-29. To that point the Pirates had minus-11 yards rushing. By the time it was 48-0 the total yardage was 574-93.
This was a one-sided tail kicking of the highest order, and the defense certainly played it’s part.
“They got a lot of confidence last week at Maryland and I think they got a lot more [Saturday],’’ West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said. “I’ve always said we’ve got guys over there who can play.’’
Before driving 67 yards for that consolation touchdown, East Carolina had the ball nine times. Five of the first six possessions ended in a three-and-out punt, the sixth on a Mortty Ivy interception. Four of those six resulted in no yards or negative yards.
Still, though, the defense was disappointed because the shutout was lost in the final seconds.
“It’s disappointing. That would have been great,’’ Magro said. “But they were young guys out there mostly and they got some experience. They’ll be better next week.’’
Darius Reynaud was a bit miffed.
Sure, he had been battling a bad shoulder most of the week and his availability for Saturday’s game was actually in doubt, but he was feeling fine by the time kickoff rolled around.
Yet the senior wide receiver wasn’t in the starting lineup for the first time in 22 games.
“A little bit,’’ Reynaud said when asked if he was a bit ticked off that he was replaced in the starting lineup by freshman Brandon Hogan. “But I know coach did it for a reason.’’
The reason wasn’t exactly clear, but it was probably because Reynaud had missed most of the week of practice. Then again, perhaps it was just to light a fire.
If it was, it worked. Reynaud appeared on the field for the second series of the game and on the second play took a reverse and weaved 64 yards to set up a Steve Slaton touchdown. Later he caught short passes and turned them into 12- and 14-yard touchdowns. He finished the day with five catches for 54 yards.
So Reynaud is feeling better, right?
“Yeah, I’m OK now,’’ he smiled. “Hey, the pain went away fast.’’
Briefly
• Slaton’s touchdown was the 42nd rushing TD of his career, tying him for the school record with Ira Errett Rodgers and Avon Cobourne. But a more significant career milestone passed last week at Maryland without fanfare. Slaton now has 44 touchdowns overall, and that record was also 42, held by Rodgers, Cobourne and Amos Zereoue.
• It’s actually a decent bet that Slaton and quarterback Patrick White will rank 1-2 on that career TD list by the end of their junior seasons. White’s two touchdowns Saturday gave him 30.
• White has thrown two TD passes in six of his last seven games.
• Hogan’s start at wide receiver means there are now 36 current Mountaineers with starting experience, and that number doesn’t even include specialists.
To contact staff writer Dave Hickman use e-mail or call 348-1734.