WVU’s offense had almost as many good segments as the WVU defense, but the offense had twice as many bad segments as the defense. Special teams was 3 times more bad events than good events (game-winning extra point).
Going over the play by play charts, and watching the entire game replay again, I come up with these grades:
Defense: Plus 8.5, minus 2.5.
Offense: Plus 6, minus 5.5.
Special teams: Plus 1, minus 3.
Below is my detailed observations, for anyone willing to endure reading it:
Kansas State drives 24 yards, punts. That’s to credit of WVU defense.
WVU drives 60 yards in 8 plays (7.5 yards per play), but Josh Lambert misses 30-yard field goal. That’s on special teams. Credit WVU offense.
Kansas State gets NO yards in 3 plays, punts. That’s to credit of WVU defense.
On very next play, WVU’s pass is intercepted at WVU 48. That’s on WV offense.
Kansas State goes 48 yards in 48 yards. I think offense and defense share the blame, but defense did have a very short field to defend. Still, allowing 18- and 26-yard passing gains gets no orchids.
WVU offense goes 60 yards in 13 plays, turns ball over on downs at the KState 31 because 48-yard field goal, after the Lambert miss, was not the way that Dana chose to go (not a criticism, just an observation).
Kansas State goes 49 yards in 9 plays, kicks a 37-yard field goal, which was 11 yards shorter than Lambert would have had to kick.
WVU goes 13 yards in 5 plays, punts. That’s on the offense.
Kansas State gets 2 yards in 3 plays, punts. That’s to the credit of WVU defense.
WVU gets 34 yards on 6 plays, punts. That’s on the offense.
Kansas State goes 83 yards in 11 plays, kicks 31-yard field. Defense gave up too much turf, but held enough to save 4 points.
WVU goes 2 yards in 3 plays, punts.
END OF FIRST HALF
WVU goes 55 yards in 9 plays, kicks 37-yard field goal. Offense gets credit for moving the ball, but Pankey’s false start forced the FG instead of maybe scoring a TD from the 15.
WVU kickoff team allows KState to return ball to the WVU 42. That’s on the special teams.
KState got only 37 yards in 9 plays (4 yards per play), forcing 22-yard field goal. Defense gets credit for saving 4 points despite a short field.
WVU goes 63 yards on 10 plays, Shell fumbles it to KState at the 2. That’s obviously on the offense, but give credit for impressively moving the ball 6.3 yards per play.
Kansas State goes 18 yards on SIX plays, punts. Again, credit the defense.
WVU goes 73 yards on 8 plays, scores TD. Credit the offense big-time for coming through in the clutch.
KState goes 10 yards on SIX plays, Douglas intercepted at the WVU 31. Major credit to defense for coming through in the clutch.
Down by 6 at 16-10, WVU goes 4 yards on 3 plays, punts. That’s on the offense at a critical time.
KState gains NO yards in 3 plays, punts. Again, major credit for the defense coming through in the clutch after the offense’s fizzle-out.
WVU goes 57 yards in 9 plays for a TD because WVU defense helped set up a short field. Credit offense for coming through in the clutch, and defense for giving offense a short field. And credit Ka’Raun White for making TWO catches to keep the drive alive and Skyler for gaining more time to hit Jovon Durante in the end zone for 7-yard TD pass.
And, of course, Mike Molina for making the extra point that won the game.
KState went 33 yards on 10 plays (3.3 yards a play), eating up 4 minutes and 8 seconds off the clock, but misses 43-yard field goal. Credit WVU defense for making KState working so hard, and give Dana credit for NOT having Lambert try the 48-yard field goal. If 43 is tough to make in Saturday’s conditions, then 48-yarder would have been even tougher.
Also, WVU rattled KState so much – almost uneard of for a Bill Snyder team – that it used up its 3 timeouts early in both halves, and paid dearly for it as WVU took a knee 3 times to eat up the final 2:03, which would not have been possible if KState had timeouts left. Give Dana credit for out-foxing the fox from KState on that.
Long ago when I was in my sportswriting heyday, I was paid good money to do this. I offer this to my fellow WVU fans without charge.
You're welcome.
Going over the play by play charts, and watching the entire game replay again, I come up with these grades:
Defense: Plus 8.5, minus 2.5.
Offense: Plus 6, minus 5.5.
Special teams: Plus 1, minus 3.
Below is my detailed observations, for anyone willing to endure reading it:
Kansas State drives 24 yards, punts. That’s to credit of WVU defense.
WVU drives 60 yards in 8 plays (7.5 yards per play), but Josh Lambert misses 30-yard field goal. That’s on special teams. Credit WVU offense.
Kansas State gets NO yards in 3 plays, punts. That’s to credit of WVU defense.
On very next play, WVU’s pass is intercepted at WVU 48. That’s on WV offense.
Kansas State goes 48 yards in 48 yards. I think offense and defense share the blame, but defense did have a very short field to defend. Still, allowing 18- and 26-yard passing gains gets no orchids.
WVU offense goes 60 yards in 13 plays, turns ball over on downs at the KState 31 because 48-yard field goal, after the Lambert miss, was not the way that Dana chose to go (not a criticism, just an observation).
Kansas State goes 49 yards in 9 plays, kicks a 37-yard field goal, which was 11 yards shorter than Lambert would have had to kick.
WVU goes 13 yards in 5 plays, punts. That’s on the offense.
Kansas State gets 2 yards in 3 plays, punts. That’s to the credit of WVU defense.
WVU gets 34 yards on 6 plays, punts. That’s on the offense.
Kansas State goes 83 yards in 11 plays, kicks 31-yard field. Defense gave up too much turf, but held enough to save 4 points.
WVU goes 2 yards in 3 plays, punts.
END OF FIRST HALF
WVU goes 55 yards in 9 plays, kicks 37-yard field goal. Offense gets credit for moving the ball, but Pankey’s false start forced the FG instead of maybe scoring a TD from the 15.
WVU kickoff team allows KState to return ball to the WVU 42. That’s on the special teams.
KState got only 37 yards in 9 plays (4 yards per play), forcing 22-yard field goal. Defense gets credit for saving 4 points despite a short field.
WVU goes 63 yards on 10 plays, Shell fumbles it to KState at the 2. That’s obviously on the offense, but give credit for impressively moving the ball 6.3 yards per play.
Kansas State goes 18 yards on SIX plays, punts. Again, credit the defense.
WVU goes 73 yards on 8 plays, scores TD. Credit the offense big-time for coming through in the clutch.
KState goes 10 yards on SIX plays, Douglas intercepted at the WVU 31. Major credit to defense for coming through in the clutch.
Down by 6 at 16-10, WVU goes 4 yards on 3 plays, punts. That’s on the offense at a critical time.
KState gains NO yards in 3 plays, punts. Again, major credit for the defense coming through in the clutch after the offense’s fizzle-out.
WVU goes 57 yards in 9 plays for a TD because WVU defense helped set up a short field. Credit offense for coming through in the clutch, and defense for giving offense a short field. And credit Ka’Raun White for making TWO catches to keep the drive alive and Skyler for gaining more time to hit Jovon Durante in the end zone for 7-yard TD pass.
And, of course, Mike Molina for making the extra point that won the game.
KState went 33 yards on 10 plays (3.3 yards a play), eating up 4 minutes and 8 seconds off the clock, but misses 43-yard field goal. Credit WVU defense for making KState working so hard, and give Dana credit for NOT having Lambert try the 48-yard field goal. If 43 is tough to make in Saturday’s conditions, then 48-yarder would have been even tougher.
Also, WVU rattled KState so much – almost uneard of for a Bill Snyder team – that it used up its 3 timeouts early in both halves, and paid dearly for it as WVU took a knee 3 times to eat up the final 2:03, which would not have been possible if KState had timeouts left. Give Dana credit for out-foxing the fox from KState on that.
Long ago when I was in my sportswriting heyday, I was paid good money to do this. I offer this to my fellow WVU fans without charge.
You're welcome.
