WVU Football Road to Bowl Berth

The West Virginia Mountaineers are experiencing “growing pains,” as Head Coach Neal Brown puts it. According to Brown, the team is currently playing a combined 21 freshman and sophomores.

There’s a reason the brand conceived the #TrustTheClimb moniker coming into 2019. With a new coaching staff and the loss of several key players from 2018, Coach Brown and AD Shane Lyons wanted to establish low expectations before the season started. Back in June, Lyons said “We have to be a bit realistic here.”

Currently, the Mountaineers are sitting at 3-3, with a 1-2 conference record. Having lost miserably in week two at Missouri and now back-to-back home games against Texas and Iowa State, it doesn’t get any easier for WVU.

Let’s breakdown some factors that could affect the Mountaineers’ chances to reach the six win mark and make a postseason bowl, while also taking a look at WVU’s remaining opponents.

Run the Ball Effectively

Prior to the start of the season, much hype surrounded WVU’s stable of experienced and proven running backs including Kennedy McKoy, Martell Pettaway, Leddie Brown and Alec Sinkfield.

As many have observed, the rushing attack for WVU has for the most part been abysmal. Netting just 566 yards on 183 attempts, the EERs are 114^th nationally in rushing. WVU’s lead rusher, senior Kennedy McKoy, has just 217 yards on 62 attempts and three touchdowns.

Much of the running issue can perhaps be attributed to a young offensive line. Offensive line starters this season have included James Gmiter (freshman), who moved from defensive line to o-line in the spring, Briasion Mays (freshman), John Hughes (sophomore), Chase Behrndt (junior), Kelby Wickline (senior), Josh Sills (junior) and Colton McKivitz (senior). The majority of remaining offensive lineman belong to either the freshman or sophomore class.

It’s not all on the offensive line, however. Also notable is the need for receivers and tight ends to step up in their blocking duties. Additionally, WVU’s running backs need to execute when opportunities arise. Coach Brown mentioned in his latest press conference how McKoy “has had some opportunities in the open field and hasn’t made the most of those.”

That’s not to say there hasn’t been flashes of a formidable run game. The best performances came against NC State in week three and Kansas in week four. Rushing yards for WVU were around 200 in both games with three touchdowns scored against NC State, respectively. However, WVU hasn’t even been able to crack 100 yards running the ball in either of its last two contests.

A descent run game would likely help WVU tremendously down the stretch, possibly even improving the pass.

Get Healthy/Young Guys have to Step Up

WVU has experienced some major attrition due to injuries and departures. Going back to the offseason, WVU lost two junior safeties in Derek Pitts and Kenny Robinson to transfer, both of whom were projected starters for 2019. Robinson was an All-Big 12 player who was second on the team in tackles in 2018. More recently, senior safety JoVanni Stewart made the decision to leave the team after four games presumably to take advantage of the NCAA’s new redshirt rule.

Injury wise, current situations include starting quarterback Austin Kendall (chest), who’s questionable going forward, and senior cornerback Keith Washington, who’s also questionable for week 8. Coach Brown announced Tuesday that linebacker VanDarius Cowan suffered a knee injury in the Iowa State game and will be out for the season. Receiver Tevin Bush has officially decided to enter the transfer portal after “dealing with some lingering foot and heal issues,” Coach Brown said, because he wants to be closer to home. WVU also lost defensive end Taijh Alston for the season early on. Receiver Sean Ryan is set to have surgery soon after suffering an injury in the Texas game. The list goes on.

Perhaps it’s the secondary that has experienced the worst of it. The team would welcome the return of a healthy Keith Washington, who leads the Big 12 in passes defended and is second in interceptions. Regardless, it’s going to be up to younger DBs like Nicktroy Fortune, Tae Mayo and Sean Mahone to step up at their respective positions, with senior Josh Norwood leading the way.

Coach Brown indicated that bench players who step up in their roles can also ease the burden of more experienced players tasked with carrying the load. For example, linebacker Josh Chandler has played a lot of snaps this season as the team’s leading tackler. Against Iowa State, Brown reported that Chandler played less snaps as backup Exree Loe filled in well. As a result, Brown thought Chandler “played his best game of the year.”

It will be interesting to see who, if anybody, emerges out of the shadows in place of those who are gone or sidelined.

Beat the Odds

According to ESPN FPI predictions, WVU is currently an underdog against each of its remaining opponents. The EERs actually pulled off one upset when they defeated NC State, 44-27 (had a 28.5% chance to win).

It’s a tough October and November gauntlet that features Big 12 foes Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and TCU. Four of the six games are on the road, including the next two against ranked powerhouses Oklahoma and Baylor.

If the predictions remain in the opponents’ favor as the weeks go by, WVU will have to manage three upsets to make it to a bowl game.

Winning the turnover battle, per usual, will likely be a key factor if WVU is to achieve this goal.

Next Game: Oklahoma

The Mountaineers face their tallest task in Norman on October 19^th. WVU has yet to defeat the Sooners since joining the Big 12 and there’s not much reason to believe that will change in 2019. Vegas favors undefeated OU by 33.5 points, which is “the largest opening line for a WVU team in more than a decade,” according to Chris Anderson.

5^th ranked Oklahoma has perhaps the best offense in the country, producing numbers that “look like stuff that our players play on Madden,” says Coach Brown. Led by dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts, star receiver CeeDee Lamb, and several formidable running backs, OU leads the nation in total yards per game at 622 (335 passing; 286 rushing).

Oh, and their defense is reportedly “much improved” from last year as well. The squad is led in part by nose guard Neville Gallimore, linebacker Kenneth Murray and cornerback Trey Brown.

Baylor

At a perfect 6-0, The Bears are ranked 18^th in the country and are currently tied with the Sooners for the top spot in the Big 12. The FPI currently gives the EERs about a 14% chance to win at Waco on October 31^st.

Led by junior defensive tackle James Lynch, the Bears lead the conference in sacks with 23. That’s not good news for the WVU offensive line.

Texas Tech

This is probably the most winnable game left on WVU’s schedule. The Red Raiders currently have the same record as the Mountaineers at 3-3 (1-2 in Big 12). The FPI gives WVU a 45% chance to win this home game on November 9^th.

Even still, led by junior QB Jett Duffey, Tech is second in the Big 12 in passing offense and third in total offense. Senior linebacker Jordyn Brooks leads the conference in tackles with 68 and is tied with Baylor player Lynch in the tackles for loss category. Defensive back Douglas Coleman leads the Big 12 with six interceptions.

Tech just played Baylor tight in a 33-30 overtime loss and defeated Oklahoma State beforehand.

All things said, the Mountaineers need to take advantage of the situation at home and take down the Red Raiders.

Kansas State

This likely remains the second best opportunity for a WVU win in the second half of the season. At 3-2 (0-2 in Big 12), the Wildcats are tied with Kansas for last place in the conference.

However, Kansas State is not to be taken lightly. Led by junior defensive back A.J. Parker, the Wildcats are 1^st in the Big 12 in pass defense. With senior back James Gilbert, the Wildcats are also 4^th in the conference in rushing offense.

WVU will need to play hard to come away with a win at Bill Snyder Family stadium on November 16^th.

Oklahoma State

The Cowboys have the nation’s leading rusher in sophomore Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard is already over the 1,000 yard mark through six games and has 13 touchdowns.

At 4-2 (1-2 in Big 12), Oklahoma State is scheduled to come to Morgantown on November 23^rd. It will be senior night at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Likely because of home-field advantage, FPI actually gives the Mountaineers a decent chance of pulling this one out.

Besides Hubbard, the Cowboys have junior receiver Tylan Wallace who is 5^th in the nation in receiving yards.

Behind the Sooners, Oklahoma State is second in the Big 12 in total offense.

TCU

The Mountaineers travel to Fort Worth to play the Horned Frogs for a regular season finale on Black Friday.

At 3-2 (1-1 in Big 12), TCU only has one quality win being a 21-point defeat of the Purdue Boilermakers.

But led by junior linebacker Garret Wallow, along with defenders Scott Vernon, Trevon Moehrig and Jeff Gladney, the Horned Frogs statistically have the top defense in the Big 12

Additionally, led by senior back Darius Anderson, TCU is third in the conference in rushing offense.

LIVE BLOG: #11 Texas (3-1) at West Virginia (3-1)

                                  The WVU crowd is sure to be rockin' when the Longhorns make it to Morgantown

Tune into Mountain Mama Football for live coverage as the West Virginia Mountaineers look to pull the upset against the 11th ranked Texas Longhorns on Saturday, October 5th at Milan Puskar Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 and that's when the LIVE updated coverage will begin.

FINAL: Texas- 42; WVU- 31:     The Longhorns take advantage of four Mountaineer turnovers (all interceptions) and score 21 in each half. Both defenses played well throughout, but in the end Texas was too much for WVU. UT ties the head-to-head Big 12 series up with WVU at 4-4.

0:47- ONSIDE KICK ATTEMPT- Texas recovers.

0:48- TOUCHDOWN (WVU scores; Texas leads 42-31) Freshman Bryce Wheaton catches a 12-yarder from Kendall on 4th down.

1:20- Young receiver Bryce Wheaton catches a 31-yarder from Kendall to put the Mountaineers at the Texas 12. Two receivers banged up this game for WVU in Sean Ryan and Sam James.

3:03- TOUCHDOWN (Texas scores; leads 42-24): After a WVU timeout, Ehlinger runs it again for a 23-yard score.

3:57- ONSIDE KICK ATTEMPT:  Staley's kick Recovered by Texas at the WVU 47.

3:57- TOUCHDOWN (WVU scores; Texas leads 35-24): WVU goes 5 plays, 74 yards as Kendall finds Simmons for a 19-yard score. Sean Ryan caught a big 39-yard pass during the drive but was injured on that play as well.

5:27- WVU stops Texas to force a punt. EERs take it at their own 26. UT still up three scores.

9:21- WVU makes it past mid field but is stopped again. Texas takes over up three scores. 21 of Texas' 35 points have come off turnovers.

10:31- TOUCHDOWN (Texas leads 35-17): Elhinger tosses it to left tackle Samuel Cosmi (yes he's an O-lineman) who runs it in for a 12 yard score.

12:25- INTERCEPTION: Jamison has his 2nd pick of the day for Texas, and it's Kendall's 4th. UT in Mountaineer territory again up 11.

12:42- TOUCHDOWN (Texas leads 28-17): Duvernay runs it in from 13 yards out to put Texas up by two scores, capitalizing on the third WVU turnover.

13:32- INTERCEPTION: Kendall is picked off for the 3rd time today by Foster to set up Texas in the redzone.

Start of 4th Quarter: A dropped pass by Texas on 3rd down results in a punt to the 8 yard line where WVU will start. INJURY:  Top receiver Sam James is out for the game with a head injury.

END OF 3rd QUARTER (UT leads 21-17): Texas will start the final quarter near mid-field. WVU defense has come up big in the 2nd half.

1:59- FIELD GOAL (WVU adds 3; UT leads 21-17): After the UT turnover, Texas holds WVU to a 29-yard Evan Staley field goal.

3:11- INTERCEPTION: Keith Washington picks off Elhinger and returns it 39 yards into Texas territory. This is the first Longhorn turnover of the day. Then an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty is called on Texas after a scruff between the two teams that puts the EERs in the redzone.

3:25- WVU goes three-and-out again after Kendall's pass is knocked down. Both defenses playing well to start 2nd half. Texas will start at their 23.

5:24- Another WVU defensive stop, this time highlighted by third-down coverage by Hakeem Bailey, forces Texas to punt it for the 3rd time in a row. EERs take over at their own 10.

8:01- WVU unable to get anything going on their 2nd offensive possession of the second half. Growden punts it to the 26 where Texas has it again.

10:08- Keith Washington comes up big defensively as the Mountaineers force another Texas punt. WVU starts at their own 28.

11:03- INTERCEPTION: After a Texas punt that set WVU up nicely at the 49, Kendall gets picked off by D'Shawn Jamison as he was trying to connect with James. Texas takes over at their own 20.

11:12- WVU defense holds Texas and forces a punt as the Longhorns take about 4 minutes off the clock

Start of 3rd Quarter- Texas starts the second half with the possession.

HALFTIME STATS:
          Total Yards: Texas-271; WVU-233
          Passing: Elhinger- 13-21, 176 yards and 2 TDs; Kendall 15-18, 163 yards 1 TD and 1 INT
          Rushing: Texas- 20 carries for 95 yards; WVU- 13 carries for 70 yards
          Turnovers: Texas- 0; WVU- 1

HALFTIME- Texas leads 21-14

0:00- MISSED FIELD GOAL- Staley misses wide right as the teams now go into the locker room.

0:04- TIMEOUT Texas. The call stands as a catch and Staley will attempt a 47-yard field goal.

0:04- Kendall completes it to James for what could be a 14-yard pass that sets up a reasonable Evan Staley field goal attempt at the 30 before halftime. Under review.

0:13- TIMEOUT WVU.  After converting on third down and a few plays that drained clock and moved the ball some, The Mountaineers are inside Texas territory though outside of field goal range at the 44.

2:12- TIMEOUT WVU. The EERs face 3rd and 4 from from their own 31 yard line.

3:28- WVU starts from their own 25 trailing for the first time today.

3:28- TOUCHDOWN (Texas leads 21-14): Elhinger runs it in from 13 yards out to complete a 6 play, 80-yard drive for the Longhorns that lasted under 3 minutes.

3:56- Texas moving the ball quickly now in the redzone after a couple of 10-plus yard rushes from Roschon Johnson and a 25-yard connection between Elhinger and Cade Brewer. A pass to Duvernay sets them up at the 13.

6:08- MISSED FIELD GOAL- WVU unable to convert 3rd down and Evan Staley with a rare miss from inside 40 yards. Texas takes over from their own 19.

6:53- TIMEOUT WVU. The EERs in the middle of a quick (bout a minute) five play, 54 yard drive after Kendall ran it and was hit on the ground (Texas called for personal foul), Petteway ran it for 11 yards, and Simmons caught a Kendall pass for 22 yards. WVU faces 3rd and 9 out of the TO at the Texas 21.

7:56- TOUCHDOWN- (Texas ties it at 14): The Longhorns finish an 11 play, 69 yard drive that lasted 5 minutes as Ehlinger finds John Burt for the 13-yard TD pass.


8:01-  TIMEOUT Texas. The Longhorns have it in the redzone at the 13 yard line. Roschon Johnson and Kirk Johnson have both stepped up for UT running the ball after the loss of Ingram.

12:55- Texas starts the drive from their own 31-yard line down 7.

12:59- TOUCHDOWN- (WVU leads 14-7): Austin Kendall fakes the handoff and runs in the one yard keeper for the Mountaineer score. That caps off a quick 1:07 drive that featured an 11-yard Leddie Brown run and a 44-yard connection between Kendall and T.J. Simmons to put WVU in the redzone.

Start of 2nd Quarter- WVU holds Texas to a three-and-out and the punt sets up the Mountaineers nicely at their own 40 yard line.

END OF 1st QUARTER-  Tied 7-7:  Injury notes- Texas running back Keaontay Ingram was injured late in the first quarter. Texas defender B.J. Foster was also injured. Both being evaluated.

0:48- WVU not able to cross the 50 after a drive that featured a holding penalty and the team's first rushing attempts of the game. Growden punts to Texas' 18 yard line where the Longhorns take over.

2:49- Kennedy McKoy runs the ball for the first time today. He goes 18 yards to the 41.

2:56- Nice defensive stand by WVU to force a Texas punt after good plays by Cowan and Norwood. WVU starts their drive from their own 23.

3:32- Ehlinger connects with Duvernay for 36 yards to get the Longhorns out of their own territory. VanDarius Cowan sacks Ehlinger on the next play for a five yard loss. Ball at Texas 32.

4:07- WVU goes three-and-out in less than two minutes. Growden punts it 55 yards and George Campbell downs the ball inside Texas' 1 yard line where the Longhorns will start their drive.

5:10- B.J. Foster hits Kennedy McKoy hard after a short pass and gets called for targeting. Foster shakes himself up play after lowering head and the targeting call is under review again.

5:44- Sam James has a nice 30-yard kickoff return. Ball at the 37 yard line where WVU will start their third drive. Texas kicker Cameron Dicker lowered his helmet to drive James out of bounds for a scary collision that was reviewed. No targeting is called.

5:52- TOUCHDOWN (Tied at 7): Texas takes advantage of the WVU turnover as Ehlinger finds Malcolm Epps for a 22-yard score.

6:26- INTERCEPTION- Austin Kendall gets picked off by Texas' Ayodele Adeoye. Ball at WVU's 27.

6:36- MISSED FIELD GOAL- As WVU is finally able to stop Texas from converting third down, Texas' Cameron Dicker misses a 42-yard field goal attempt. WVU ball now on own 25.

7:01- Quondariius Qualls sacks Ehlinger on third down for a 3 yard loss, ball on the WVU 24.

9:49- Texas converts another third down on this methodical drive as Ehlinger connects with Duvernay for 10 yards.

11:05-  Ehlinger finds Duvernay for 16 yards to convert another third down.

12:24- Sam Ehlinger converts a 3rd-and-13 on an 18-yard QB run.

13:30- Texas has their first possession, starting from their own 25.

13:31- TOUCHDOWN (WVU leads 7-0): After multiples penalties on Texas, Austin Kendall finds Sam James for a 44-yard strike to cap off a quick 77 yard drive.

14:56- West Virginia receives the kickoff to start the game and Sam James makes it to the 23 yard line.

15:00- First quarter/game begins.