Mountaineers March through the BIG 12 - Week 1 Update - ansu610's Dynasty

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Mountaineers March through the BIG 12 - Week 1 Update

Posted on August 15, 2012 at 09:52 PM.

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Week 1 Report

The Mountaineers have made a statement in this year's Friends of Coal Bowl. Senior 2nd team All-Big 12 QB Geno Smith played well after an interception in the redzone of the 1st drive for the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers were able to 2 score two consecutive TDs after moving the ball into the redzone on both drives. The defense also was able to force a turnover on which they capitalized on a short field scoring on a senior RB Shawne Alston TD. Marshall bounced back scoring a TD to make it a one possesion game. WVU's offense then went on to score a TD in the final minute of the 1st half. Marshall then got a few big plays on the ensuing drive which put them in WVU's redzone. Then on a speed option play Blake Frohnapfel's pitch was stolen in the back field by true sophomore DB Avery Williams who then took it 83 yards for a score with :16 left in the 1st half. Halfway through the 3rd quarter, Geno Smith threw a 26 yd TD to Senior WR Tavon Austin off a nicely sold play-fake which froze Marshall's secondary enough to leave Austin wide open for the TD toss. Later in the 3rd quarter, Austin caught a pass across the middle of the field for 1st down and broke his fibula. The Thundering Herd scored another TD late in the 3rd but were unable to score again the rest of the game even when Coach Holgorsen pulled his starters halfway through the 4th quarter. Mountaineer fans are happy after the win against state rival Marshall but after losing star wideout Austin for a majority of the season this rivalry win comes bittersweet. Austin will miss 10-12 weeks with the injury and this will create a need for someone to step up at WR. Whether it's Geno Smith's HS teammate junior Ivan McCartney, redshirt senior (grandson of Mountaineer legendary coach Don Neihlen) Ryan Neihlen, or true freshman Jordan Thompson who saw a lot of snaps in the slot after throughout the game in week 1, someone will need to standout to replace such a vital part of this offense. This much needed bye week in week 2 will give Dana Holgorsen enough time to make this decision.

Game report

Marshall Thundering Herd at West Virginia Mountaineers
Sep 1, 2012	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	OT	SCORE
Marshall Thundering Herd (0-1)	0	7	7	3	-	14
#10 West Virginia Mountaineers (1-0)	0	28	7	0	-	38

Team Stats Comparison
	MRSH	WVU
Total Offense	350	398
Rushing Yards	78	115
Passing Yards	272	283
First Downs	17	19
Punt Return Yards	17	15
Kick Return Yards	66	43
Total Yards	433	456
Turnovers	3	1
3rd Down Converstion	1-9	5-13
4th Down Conversion	0-1	0-0
2-Point Conversion	0-0	0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	3-2-0	4-3-1
Penalties	3-26	4-32
Posession Time	11:37	25:56

Scoring Summary
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		MRSH	WVU
8:56	(WVU) G. Smith to Bailey 7 yd pass (Bitancourt XP)	0	7
6:39	(WVU) Alston 1 yd run (Bitancourt XP)	0	14
6:12	(MRSH) Martinez 15 yd run (Haige XP)	7	14
:48	(WVU) G. Smith 11 yd run (Bitancourt XP)	7	21
:16	(WVU) A. Williams stolen pitch returned 83 yds (Bitancourt XP)	7	28
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		MRSH	WVU
6:31	(WVU) G. Smith to Austin 26 yd pass (Bitancourt XP)	7	35
:50	(MRSH) Martinez 5 yd run (Haige XP)	14	35
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		MRSH	WVU
3:09	(WVU) Bitancourt 29 yd FG	14	38

Marshall Thundering Herd
PASSING	C/A	YDS	TD	INT
Cato	9/14	130	0	0
Frohnapfel	10/18	142	0	2
RUSHING	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD
Cato	10	-3	-0.3	0
Martinez	7	53	7.5	2
Frohnapfel	6	13	2.1	0
Van	1	7	7.0	0
Wilson	1	8	7.0	0
RECEIVING	REC	YDS	AVG	TD
Dobson	8	137	17.1	0
Smith	4	31	7.7	0
Hoskins	3	31	10.3	0
Booker	3	65	21.6	0
Wilson	1	8	8	0
DEFENSE	TACK	SACK	INT	TD
Holmes	14	0	0	0
Dunston	9	0	0	0
Baxter	7	0	0	0
Hunter	7	1	0	0
Daniel	7	0	0	0
Lovett	7	0	0	0
Bazzle	6	1	0	0
Arrington	3	0	1	0
Myers	3	0	0	0
KICKING	FG	XP	PTS	LONG
Haige	0/0	2/2	2	N/A
PUNTING	NO	YDS	AVG	IN20
Haige	7	288	33.1	0
KICK RETURN	RET	YDS	AVG	TD
Wilson	2	40	20	0
Roberts	1	26	26	0
PUNT RETURN	RET	YDS	AVG	TD
Roberts	2	17	8.5	0

West Virginia Mountaineers
PASSING	C/A	YDS	TD	INT
G. Smith	24/31	283	2	1
RUSHING	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD
G. Smith	10	62	6.2	1
D. Garrison	9	38	4.2	0
S. Alston	7	10	1.4	1
T. Austin	5	3	0.6	0
P. Millard	2	2	1.1	0
J. Thompson	1	0	0.0	0
RECEIVING	REC	YDS	AVG	TD
T. Austin	7	109	15.5	1
S. Bailey	5	83	16.6	1
D. Garrison	3	5	1.6	0
I. McCartney	3	41	13.6	0
J. Thompson	2	23	11.5	0
W. Johnson	2	8	4.0	0
J. Woods	1	15	15.0	0
A. Buie	1	-1	-1.0	0
DEFENSE	TACK	SACK	INT	TD
J. Snow	9	2.0	0	0
P. Miller	7	0	0	0
D. Cook	5	0	0	0
D. Rigg	5	0	1	0
T. Bell	3	0	1	0
B. Jenkins	3	0	0	0
W. Tonkery	3	0	0	0
W. Clarke	3	1.0	0	0
T. Redman	2	0	0	0
T. Garvin	2	0	0	0
J. Harper	2	0	0	0
T. Chestnut	2	0	0	0
J. Wright	2	2.0	0	0
A. Williams	1	0	0	1
J. Francis	1	0	0	0
KICKING	FG	XP	PTS	LONG
Bitancourt	1/1	5/5	8	29
PUNTING	NO	YDS	AVG	IN20
C. Smith	5	228	45.6	0
KICK RETURN	RET	YDS	AVG	TD
T. Austin	2	43	21.5	0
S. Bailey	0	0	0	0
PUNT RETURN	RET	YDS	AVG	TD
T. Austin	3	10	3.3	0
S. Bailey	1	5	1.5	0

Recruiting Report

Assistant Coach Joe DeForest was able to get a commit from 4 star ATH Brian Jones of East Norriton, Pennsylvania. Jones is 6'5" 257 lbs and is expected to play defensive line at WVU. Jones is the 1st of many commits in the 2013 Mountaineer recruiting class. DeForest couldn't add much more about the recruiting process so far except that he's got a few Maryland kids that have been showing more interest in WVU after making a few phone calls to the prospects.