Interesting stats that I found in reports on the KState game.

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers]

First, the defense saved our bacon again. Yes, the offense came alive at the end, but if the defense hadn't done such a tortuous job, being on the field for 7 more minutes than the offense, the game would have been beyond saving by the fourth quarter.

WVU was down by 13 points in the 4th quarter, but won, 17-16, to beat Kansas State for the first time since 1930.


Kansas State offense got 108 yards in the 2nd half.


QB Skyler Howard was 24 for 41 with 298 yards and one interception (threw deep with 3 Wildcats covering the WVU receiver). WVU had 124 rushing yards, interrupting its even distribution of rushing and passing yardage in previous games.


Kansas State, which had the #1 defense nationally going into the game, gave up 422 yards.


Rushel Shell lost a fumble at the Kansas State 3 and Josh Lambert, a Lou Groza finalist last season, returned from a 3-game suspension to miss a 30-yard field goal after causing a delay of game penalty. Later, Lambert made a 37-yard field goal but Molina kicked both extra points. Shell’s fumble was the only one WVU had in the game.


Justin Crawford had 104 yards, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.


Eight players caught passes for WVU in the game.


Thirteen players had 3 or more tackles in the game.


WVU was only 4 for 14 on getting first downs on 3rd down plays.


WVU out-gained Kansas State by 136 yards.


Kansas State had the ball 7 more minutes than WVU.

This was a perfect example of a team that refused to quit. Kansas State did a pretty good imitation of that, too, continually coming up with plays despite the ferocious WVU defense. Both sides gave their all.


M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

 

[MountaineerWV]

First, the defense saved our bacon again. Yes, the offense came alive at the end, but if the defense hadn't done such a tortuous job, being on the field for 7 more minutes than the offense, the game would have been beyond saving by the fourth quarter.

WVU was down by 13 points in the 4th quarter, but won, 17-16, to beat Kansas State for the first time since 1930.


Kansas State offense got 108 yards in the 2nd half.


QB Skyler Howard was 24 for 41 with 298 yards and one interception (threw deep with 3 Wildcats covering the WVU receiver). WVU had 124 rushing yards, interrupting its even distribution of rushing and passing yardage in previous games.


Kansas State, which had the #1 defense nationally going into the game, gave up 422 yards.


Rushel Shell lost a fumble at the Kansas State 3 and Josh Lambert, a Lou Groza finalist last season, returned from a 3-game suspension to miss a 30-yard field goal after causing a delay of game penalty. He never got back in the game. Mike Molina, who subbed for Lambert during his suspension, did the kicking the rest of the game, making both extra points. Shell’s fumble was the only one WVU had in the game.


Justin Crawford had 104 yards, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.


Eight players caught passes for WVU in the game.


Thirteen players had 3 or more tackles in the game.


WVU was only 4 for 14 on getting first downs on 3rd down plays.


WVU out-gained Kansas State by 136 yards.


Kansas State had the ball 7 more minutes than WVU.

This was a perfect example of a team that refused to quit. Kansas State did a pretty good imitation of that, too, continually coming up with plays despite the ferocious WVU defense. Both sides gave their all.


M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

I think you have the INT confused. His INT wasn't his fault at all. He threw it, the WR bobbled it, and it fell in to the DB's hands. It was a short 5-8 yard pass, too. Safe pass, and should have been easy completion. Was the WR's fault that was picked. Howard played well.

And Tony Gibson's adjustments after halftime were great!

 

[tomhef]

No, the pass was thrown high and the receiver was hammered as he went to catch it as he jumped to grab it and it was bobbled and fell into the hands of a very lucky K-State defender. Not really anyones fault but it was not a well thrown pass.

 

[Soaring Eagle 74]

No, the pass was thrown high and the receiver was hammered as he went to catch it as he jumped to grab it and it was bobbled and fell into the hands of a very lucky K-State defender. Not really anyones fault but it was not a well thrown pass.

That's how I saw it too.

 

[Beechurst]

Guess someone did not notice Lambert DID get back into the game and kicked a 37-yard field goal.

Without that interesting stat, WVU loses.

 

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers]

I think you have the INT confused. His INT wasn't his fault at all. He threw it, the WR bobbled it, and it fell in to the DB's hands. It was a short 5-8 yard pass, too. Safe pass, and should have been easy completion. Was the WR's fault that was picked. Howard played well.

And Tony Gibson's adjustments after halftime were great!

I watched my recorded replay. There were THREE Kansas State players surrounding the receiver. One stepped in front to pick off the pass. I could be wrong, and the TV replay could be wrong.


M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

 

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers]

Guess someone did not notice Lambert DID get back into the game and kicked a 37-yard field goal.

Without that interesting stat, WVU loses.

You are right and I am wrong. I didn't see Lambert's number in Mountaineer Field, but I just checked the play by play on ESPN online. My apologies to Lambert. He DID make the 37-yard field goal. Lesson learned from Molinaro coming in, I guess. And I am reminded of my life-long mantra that I failed to follow: Check, double-check your facts. I went through a ton of statistics, but missed who kicked the field goal. I apology to Lambert, to anyone on this board offended by it. I spent my 43-year newspaper career, much of it in sportswriting, getting it accurately. But I blew that one .... big time! Otherwise, I think my analysis was on the money. Hey, even WVU drops the ball on the 3-yard line. It's rare in both cases, but it happened to both of us. Thank you for pointing it out.


M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

 

[MountaineerWV]

I watched my recorded replay. There were THREE Kansas State players surrounding the receiver. One stepped in front to pick off the pass. I could be wrong, and the TV replay could be wrong.


M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

You must have watched something entirely different. Howard threw only 1 INT. It was a high pass (but catchable), to White who turned and got hit, popped the ball in the air, and it was snatched by K State defender.

 

[xWVU2010x]

Here is the main takeaway IMO

Despite a missed 30 yard FG, an INT in our territory that lead to a KSU TD, a turnover on downs, and a goalline fumble we still managed to win the game against a decent opponent that has had our number for years. We left atleast 9 points on the board IMO and still won. If we lost I would be bitching hard, but the fact that we won despite the mental breakdowns says a ton about this team's upside.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

"Kansas State, which had the #1 defense nationally going into the game, gave up 422 yards."

but it was our defense that won the game?

Also couldn't manage to credit Howard with the game-winning drive and TD pass.

And Howard's INT hit White in the gloves. He couldn't hang onto the ball when he got him and it popped up into the defender's hands.


Honestly, is it age or do you just not give a shit about being correct at all anymore?


But alas, to give any credit to WVU's offense would mean to give credit to Dana. Something you'd never do.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

"Kansas State, which had the #1 defense nationally going into the game, gave up 422 yards."

but it was our defense that won the game?

Also couldn't manage to credit Howard with the game-winning drive and TD pass.

And Howard's INT hit White in the gloves. He couldn't hang onto the ball when he got him and it popped up into the defender's hands.


Honestly, is it age or do you just not give a shit about being correct at all anymore?


But alas, to give any credit to WVU's offense would mean to give credit to Dana. Something you'd never do.

Howard was under tons of pressure in the first half, too. It could have been worse but he kept it together.

 

[AirForceer]

You are right and I am wrong. I didn't see Lambert's number in Mountaineer Field, but I just checked the play by play on ESPN online. My apologies to Lambert. He DID make the 37-yard field goal. Lesson learned from Molinaro coming in, I guess. And I am reminded of my life-long mantra that I failed to follow: Check, double-check your facts. I went through a ton of statistics, but missed who kicked the field goal. I apology to Lambert, to anyone on this board offended by it. I spent my 43-year newspaper career, much of it in sportswriting, getting it accurately. But I blew that one .... big time! Otherwise, I think my analysis was on the money. Hey, even WVU drops the ball on the 3-yard line. It's rare in both cases, but it happened to both of us. Thank you for pointing it out.


M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

Not so rare for WVU! Like myself, you are an old timer and should know we have a history of fumbling the ball on the goal line. Think .....LSU! That's only one. Non the less, your evaluation was pretty good and I enjoyed reading it.

 

[countryroads89]

"Kansas State, which had the #1 defense nationally going into the game, gave up 422 yards."

but it was our defense that won the game?

Also couldn't manage to credit Howard with the game-winning drive and TD pass.

And Howard's INT hit White in the gloves. He couldn't hang onto the ball when he got him and it popped up into the defender's hands.


Honestly, is it age or do you just not give a shit about being correct at all anymore?


But alas, to give any credit to WVU's offense would mean to give credit to Dana. Something you'd never do.

Any one that knows football knows it was without any shadow of a doubt our defense that won the game, not to take credit from the offense. The offense missed a chip shot field goal. The offense fumbled the ball on the 3 yard line. The offense gave K State the ball (via the INT) around mid field and the kick off team gave K State's offense the ball around mid field after a kick off. Despite having the ball for more than 7 minutes more than us, our D held them to fewer first downs (17 vs 21) and fewer total yards (286 vs 422).

 

[KeatonsCorner]

and yet.......... 17 2nd half points....... over 400 yards on the league's best defense......

and a defense that let a bad KSU team march down the field on a end-of-game drive for a game-winning field goal that, thankfully, they choked on.

 

[VaultHunter]

The defense won the game huh?

I could have sworn WVU scored 17 second half points.

Howard got it done.