Post by rainman on Sept 3, 2007 7:36:26 GMT -5
Explosive start
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— No. 3-ranked West Virginia erupted for 34 points in the second half on Saturday evening to crush upset-minded Western Michigan 62-24.
A sellout crowd of 60,563 packed Mountaineer Field/Milan Puskar Stadium to see the season’s opener for both teams. The fans were treated to the most productive performance by a WVU team since 2001, Rich Rodriguez’s first year as head coach.
That’s when the Mountaineers routed hapless Rutgers 80-7 on Nov. 3. They finished that year with a disappointing 3-8 record.
The visiting Broncos, picked to win the Mid-American Conference, hung tough for a half, trailing by just 28-14 at intermission.
But All-America tailback Steve Slaton, who scored four touchdowns, burst loose for a 58-yard gallop early in the third quarter to give his team breathing room.
There wasn’t much doubt about the game’s outcome thereafter. With the score 49-21 after three quarters, coach Rich Rodriguez pulled quarterback Patrick White and Slaton and began substituting freely.
“Overall, I thought it was a pretty good effort for our first game,” WVU’s seventh-year head coach said. “We had some missed assignments and we had some problems.
“But the crowd was into it, and we played a really good ball club. Our guys know we can do better, though. So we’ll take this win and move on.”
Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit said, “They just had great team speed. We turned the ball over way too much, and there was also some inexperience at the quarterback position.
“They’re just a great football team. They’ve got great talent, great speed and I guess that’s why they are expected to finish so high.”
Despite WVU’s fast pace, Cubit thought his team hung in well with the Mountaineers for a half.
“They just play so fast, and we’re not used to that,” he said.
West Virginia managed a 25-18 margin in the first downs and rolled up a staggering 542 yards in total offense while holding the Broncos to 277.
Limited to only 87 yards rushing in the first half as WMU loaded up the box, WVU finished with a net 316 yards on the ground for the game compared to just 32 yards.
The Mountaineers gained 226 yards passing to 245.
Slaton rushed 16 times for 109 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 61 yards and one score.
White completed 10 of 18 passes for 192 yards and two TDs, including a 50-yard scoring strike to Slaton. Sophomore Jarrett Brown took over in the fourth period and made good on three of four passes for 34 yards.
Brown also gained 34 yards rushing, and scored on a 20-yard run with 8:39 left in the game.
Broncos quarterback Tim Hiller connected on 16 of 25 passes for 160 yards. Thomas Peregrin was 9 of 17 for 71 yards and one TD in a reserve role.
Tailback Brandon West was WMU’s top rusher with a net 32 yards on 12 carries.
Darius Reynaud led WVU’s receiving corps, catching five passes for 92 yards. Dorrell Jalloh had three receptions for 39 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown toss to give the home team a 7-0 lead.
White’s scoring shot to Slaton made the score 14-6 at the quarter. Besides his 58-yard dash to the end zone, Slaton scored on a pair of one-yard runs.
White scored on a 38-yard run at the start of the second quarter and again on a 22-yard run with 8:39 to go in the third period.
Noel Devine, the highly rated freshman from Florida, scored the game’s final touchdown on an eight-year run. That came with 1:24 left.
He proved to be a crowd favorite instantly when he entered the game at the start of the last quarter. He rushed seven times for 44 yards.
Herb Martin passed 14 yards to Jamarko Simmons for Western Michigan’s first touchdown. Hiller scored the second on a two-yard keeper play.
The Broncos’ third TD came on a six-yard pass from Peregrin.
Pat McAfee made eight of nine extra-point attempts. Mike Jones kicked a 34-yard field goal and two extra points for WMU.
Cornerback Antonio Lewis and linebacker Reed Williams came up with pass interceptions for WVU, while Larry Williams recovered a fumble.
E.J. Biggs had a fumble recovery for Western Michigan, halting a WVU drive. That gave his team the ball for a 65-yard scoring sortie of its own.
Rodriguez said, “I think we are deeper offensively this year. But there is a concern about depth on defense.
“We’ll develop that as the season goes on. It was good to put the freshmen in there and get them some college experience.”
He also paid tribute to the fans who stayed to sing “Country Roads” and watch the young players perform.
“Our fans were terrific today,” he added.
Cubit lauded both Slaton and White as “great players.” He said, “They’re outstanding and play so hard.
“You think you have Pat White for a sack and the next thing you know he turns it into a first down.”
WVU visits Huntington next Saturday for the annual intrastate clash with Marshall, which lost 31-3 at Miami on Saturday afternoon.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— No. 3-ranked West Virginia erupted for 34 points in the second half on Saturday evening to crush upset-minded Western Michigan 62-24.
A sellout crowd of 60,563 packed Mountaineer Field/Milan Puskar Stadium to see the season’s opener for both teams. The fans were treated to the most productive performance by a WVU team since 2001, Rich Rodriguez’s first year as head coach.
That’s when the Mountaineers routed hapless Rutgers 80-7 on Nov. 3. They finished that year with a disappointing 3-8 record.
The visiting Broncos, picked to win the Mid-American Conference, hung tough for a half, trailing by just 28-14 at intermission.
But All-America tailback Steve Slaton, who scored four touchdowns, burst loose for a 58-yard gallop early in the third quarter to give his team breathing room.
There wasn’t much doubt about the game’s outcome thereafter. With the score 49-21 after three quarters, coach Rich Rodriguez pulled quarterback Patrick White and Slaton and began substituting freely.
“Overall, I thought it was a pretty good effort for our first game,” WVU’s seventh-year head coach said. “We had some missed assignments and we had some problems.
“But the crowd was into it, and we played a really good ball club. Our guys know we can do better, though. So we’ll take this win and move on.”
Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit said, “They just had great team speed. We turned the ball over way too much, and there was also some inexperience at the quarterback position.
“They’re just a great football team. They’ve got great talent, great speed and I guess that’s why they are expected to finish so high.”
Despite WVU’s fast pace, Cubit thought his team hung in well with the Mountaineers for a half.
“They just play so fast, and we’re not used to that,” he said.
West Virginia managed a 25-18 margin in the first downs and rolled up a staggering 542 yards in total offense while holding the Broncos to 277.
Limited to only 87 yards rushing in the first half as WMU loaded up the box, WVU finished with a net 316 yards on the ground for the game compared to just 32 yards.
The Mountaineers gained 226 yards passing to 245.
Slaton rushed 16 times for 109 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 61 yards and one score.
White completed 10 of 18 passes for 192 yards and two TDs, including a 50-yard scoring strike to Slaton. Sophomore Jarrett Brown took over in the fourth period and made good on three of four passes for 34 yards.
Brown also gained 34 yards rushing, and scored on a 20-yard run with 8:39 left in the game.
Broncos quarterback Tim Hiller connected on 16 of 25 passes for 160 yards. Thomas Peregrin was 9 of 17 for 71 yards and one TD in a reserve role.
Tailback Brandon West was WMU’s top rusher with a net 32 yards on 12 carries.
Darius Reynaud led WVU’s receiving corps, catching five passes for 92 yards. Dorrell Jalloh had three receptions for 39 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown toss to give the home team a 7-0 lead.
White’s scoring shot to Slaton made the score 14-6 at the quarter. Besides his 58-yard dash to the end zone, Slaton scored on a pair of one-yard runs.
White scored on a 38-yard run at the start of the second quarter and again on a 22-yard run with 8:39 to go in the third period.
Noel Devine, the highly rated freshman from Florida, scored the game’s final touchdown on an eight-year run. That came with 1:24 left.
He proved to be a crowd favorite instantly when he entered the game at the start of the last quarter. He rushed seven times for 44 yards.
Herb Martin passed 14 yards to Jamarko Simmons for Western Michigan’s first touchdown. Hiller scored the second on a two-yard keeper play.
The Broncos’ third TD came on a six-yard pass from Peregrin.
Pat McAfee made eight of nine extra-point attempts. Mike Jones kicked a 34-yard field goal and two extra points for WMU.
Cornerback Antonio Lewis and linebacker Reed Williams came up with pass interceptions for WVU, while Larry Williams recovered a fumble.
E.J. Biggs had a fumble recovery for Western Michigan, halting a WVU drive. That gave his team the ball for a 65-yard scoring sortie of its own.
Rodriguez said, “I think we are deeper offensively this year. But there is a concern about depth on defense.
“We’ll develop that as the season goes on. It was good to put the freshmen in there and get them some college experience.”
He also paid tribute to the fans who stayed to sing “Country Roads” and watch the young players perform.
“Our fans were terrific today,” he added.
Cubit lauded both Slaton and White as “great players.” He said, “They’re outstanding and play so hard.
“You think you have Pat White for a sack and the next thing you know he turns it into a first down.”
WVU visits Huntington next Saturday for the annual intrastate clash with Marshall, which lost 31-3 at Miami on Saturday afternoon.
