Ad

A Little Know-Howe: Looking Back at Tennessee and a Look Ahead at WVU's Matchup vs. Youngstown State

By Brad Howe on September 08, 2018 from A Little Know-Howe via Connect-Bridgeport.com

And after month's of waiting, the college football season is underway.
 
It was a fantastic start for West Virginia last week in Charlotte. Before we look ahead to tonight’s game against Youngstown State, let’s peek back at some interesting numbers from the Tennessee game.
 
Will Grier looked worthy of the preseason Heisman hype, throwing for a career high 429 yards and five touchdowns. Seventy-Six percent of Grier’s completions went for first downs or touchdowns. Talk about making them count.
 
David Sills picked up where he left off in 2017 (a nation’s best 18 receiving touchdowns), by adding two more receiving touchdowns. Sills now stands in a tie for fourth place (with Chris Henry) all-time on the WVU receiving touchdowns list with 22. Next up for Sills: Tavon Austin and his 29 career receiving touchdowns.
 
Gary Jennings was spectacular again. He caught six balls for 113 yards and one touchdown.
 
Will Grier welcomed Alabama transfer, TJ Simmons to the program by hitting him for a 59-yard touchdown for the first WVU touchdown of the season.
 
It wasn’t just the receivers that got into the pass catching action. Much was made this summer about West Virginia’s tight ends. Trevon Wesco and Jovani Haskins combined for three catches for 44 yards. Now that may not sound like much, but put it in this context: those three catches were more catches than the tight end position had the last two seasons COMBINED. 
 
The other offseason storyline that came true was the play of the defensive line. USC transfer, Kenny Bigelow announced his presence with authority on the first snap of the game. He blew by Vols center, Brandon Kennedy and hammered quarterback Jarrett Guarantano. That play (and hit) set the tone for the entire day.
 
Native West Virginians played a big role along the revamped defensive line. Fairmont’s Darius Stills got into the action with two and a half tackles for loss. His brother Dante, the much-hyped true freshman, saw his first collegiate snaps along the line as well. Cabell Midland product, Reese Donahue blew past and through a Vols double team to record a sack.
 
All told, WVU had 12 tackles for loss in the game, tied for the second most TFL’s in a game under Dana Holgorsen. Now it’s on to the home opener against Youngstown State.
 
The Penguins enter tonight’s game off one of the worst losses in college football in recent years. Youngstown State was favored by 35 points against Butler to open the season. Not only did they lose the game, but the Penguins did so after leading 21-7 with only nine minutes remaining. It was a stunning loss for Youngstown State who now enter the game against WVU as 33-point underdogs.
 
Tennessee struggled mightily with its young defensive backs matched up against West Virginia’s veteran receivers. Youngstown State is in the same boat. Will Grier should have his way tonight. 
 
And if history is any indication, WVU should win this one with relative ease. Under Dana Holgorsen, WVU is 7-0 against FCS opponents. The average margin of victory in those games is 31.1 points per game.
 
I expect more of the same in this one. 
 
West Virginia rolls on and Will Grier’s Heisman campaign continues in high gear.
 
NOTES:
 
If you are interested in a last minute preview of tonight’s home opener for WVU, I invite you to watch our latest edition of Three Guys Before The Game.  Tony Caridi, Hoppy Kercheval and I take a look this WVU - Youngstown State matchup and remember the 1988 team that will be recognized at the game tonight.
 
Three Guys Before The Game can be found by clicking HERE.
 
Our Metronews GAMEDAY radio coverage begins at 3 p.m. today and will take you all the way until midnight. To find your local station or to listen live, click HERE.
 
For those of you headed to the game, our coverage will include live traffic reports from Kevin Nicholas flying above Morgantown. Tune to 101.9 FM (WVAQ), 104.5 WAJR - FM or 1440 AM - WAJR to hear how traffic is moving in and around the stadium. 
 
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Kenny Bigelow, left, making one of several big defensive plays in his WVU debut, while quarterback Will Grier lived up to the preseason hype in game one. Third photo shows Dylan Tonkery after the win against the Vols, while Fairmont's Darius Stills celebrates after a big tackle in the bottom picture. Photos are by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.


Connect Bridgeport
© 2024 Connect-Bridgeport.com