--Regardless of anything else, this West Virginia football team has won nine games and six in the Big 12 Conference for the first time since joining the league in 2012. How many would have predicted that this team would have a chance to win ten games at home when the year begin? Say what you want about the strength of the Big 12 Conference this season but nine wins was the benchmark that was set by so many entering the year and this team could do that and more. And now the only thing standing between the Mountaineers and a ten-win season is a Baylor team that is floundering down the stretch.
--This was a difficult game for a lot of reasons coming into it, but I think this team displayed a lot by coming in and taking care of business convincingly. This was the perfect set up for a let-down with the Mountaineers coming off a crushing loss, Big 12 Championships out the window and going on the road to take on an Iowa State team that was playing its best football of the season on Senior Day. The Mountaineers won the game with reserves playing all over the field due to injuries 49-19 and got time for your backup quarterback. No matter how you cut it, that’s impressive for this program.
--West Virginia rolled up 613 yards that is the fourth time that the Mountaineers have gone over the 600-yard mark this year. The Mountaineers did that three times last year including the bowl game. West Virginia had four scoring drives under five plays or less in this game.
--It wasn’t the best game when it came to yardage for the West Virginia defense allowing 561-yards, but the Mountaineers made the plays in critical situations. West Virginia forced four turnovers and held Iowa State to 4-15 on third downs while also holding the Cyclones to three field goals in the red zone. Sometimes you just have to make critical plays and today the defense did that.
--To add to that the West Virginia defense did not allow an offensive touchdown in this game. That’s the first time that’s happened since Kansas last season. Considering the fact that Iowa State's average field position was their own 37-yard line that's even more impressive.
--A big downside in this game was with injuries. Redshirt junior wide receiver Ka’Raun White, junior Justin Crawford, freshman Kennedy McKoy and junior Kyzir White all left with injuries. Redshirt senior Justin Arndt also left the game but did return. It’s that time of the year.
--All three of West Virginia’s running backs were hurt in this game and the Mountaineers had to make the difficult decision to pull the redshirt from freshman Martell Pettaway 11 games into the year. Well, what more can you say about what he was able to do out there today? In his college debut, Pettaway rushed for 181 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a 25-yard reception. You never want to burn a redshirt this late in the season but the Mountaineers didn’t really have a choice here and Pettaway was able to step up and perform when called upon.
--Still checking on this but that was the fourth time a different running back has gone over the 100-yard mark for West Virginia this season and I believe that has never happened before. Running backs coach JaJuan Seider said he loved this group from one to four and that has been tested this year.
--This was far from a clean game offensively, even with the 600+ total yards. The Mountaineers were 3-10 on third downs and committed 70-penalty yards. However, they did not turn the ball over. And it’s hard to complain when you go on the road, on Senior Day, and beat a team 49-19.
--This wasn’t a great game for senior quarterback Skyler Howard connecting on only 12-21 passes but he did manage to make those 12 completions count for 330 yards and five touchdowns. Howard also added a total of 48 yards on the ground. It was unsettling at times that West Virginia opted to throw the ball deep so much, Howard did make plays when he needed to move the offense.
--Redshirt junior wide receiver Shelton Gibson had three catches for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns, the third catch being one yard from being a touchdown. Gibson now has 927 yards for the season and is now well within reach of 1,000 yards for the year. That was his goal coming into the season and with two games left it seems very attainable.
--A lot of big plays in this game, but perhaps none as key as the 71-yard touchdown pass to Gibson when the Cyclones were trailing 21-16. That score put the game at 28-16 and the Mountaineers would pile it on from there and pull away in the second half. That’s the longest play of the season for the offense.
--Another young player that deserves mentioning is true freshman wide receiver Marcus Simms. He’s had an up and down year but today stepped up in key situations after redshirt junior Ka’Raun White left the game with an injury. Simms had three catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, the score coming from 48-yards out on a beautifully ran route where he flashed his speed down the sideline.
--I’ve been charting it and waiting for it all season but it finally happened. West Virginia was able to successfully complete a pass to the tight end this season and it resulted in a six-yard touchdown to redshirt sophomore Trevon Wesco. The Mountaineers have been trying to work that in throughout the course of the year and that will be interesting to see how that develops because it’s been there at times they just haven’t been able to successfully complete it until today.
--Redshirt senior cornerback Rasul Douglas was everywhere in this game totaling nine tackles, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and his ninth interception. The pick is the eighth of the year for Douglas and that now puts him alone in second place all-time for a single season. The school record is ten.
--Special teams continued to be far from special. West Virginia allowed its first kickoff return for a touchdown, had a 14-yard punt and a 27-yard punt return. It continues to be a weekly adventure.
--This was a difficult game for a lot of reasons coming into it, but I think this team displayed a lot by coming in and taking care of business convincingly. This was the perfect set up for a let-down with the Mountaineers coming off a crushing loss, Big 12 Championships out the window and going on the road to take on an Iowa State team that was playing its best football of the season on Senior Day. The Mountaineers won the game with reserves playing all over the field due to injuries 49-19 and got time for your backup quarterback. No matter how you cut it, that’s impressive for this program.
--West Virginia rolled up 613 yards that is the fourth time that the Mountaineers have gone over the 600-yard mark this year. The Mountaineers did that three times last year including the bowl game. West Virginia had four scoring drives under five plays or less in this game.
--It wasn’t the best game when it came to yardage for the West Virginia defense allowing 561-yards, but the Mountaineers made the plays in critical situations. West Virginia forced four turnovers and held Iowa State to 4-15 on third downs while also holding the Cyclones to three field goals in the red zone. Sometimes you just have to make critical plays and today the defense did that.
--To add to that the West Virginia defense did not allow an offensive touchdown in this game. That’s the first time that’s happened since Kansas last season. Considering the fact that Iowa State's average field position was their own 37-yard line that's even more impressive.
--A big downside in this game was with injuries. Redshirt junior wide receiver Ka’Raun White, junior Justin Crawford, freshman Kennedy McKoy and junior Kyzir White all left with injuries. Redshirt senior Justin Arndt also left the game but did return. It’s that time of the year.
--All three of West Virginia’s running backs were hurt in this game and the Mountaineers had to make the difficult decision to pull the redshirt from freshman Martell Pettaway 11 games into the year. Well, what more can you say about what he was able to do out there today? In his college debut, Pettaway rushed for 181 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a 25-yard reception. You never want to burn a redshirt this late in the season but the Mountaineers didn’t really have a choice here and Pettaway was able to step up and perform when called upon.
--Still checking on this but that was the fourth time a different running back has gone over the 100-yard mark for West Virginia this season and I believe that has never happened before. Running backs coach JaJuan Seider said he loved this group from one to four and that has been tested this year.
--This was far from a clean game offensively, even with the 600+ total yards. The Mountaineers were 3-10 on third downs and committed 70-penalty yards. However, they did not turn the ball over. And it’s hard to complain when you go on the road, on Senior Day, and beat a team 49-19.
--This wasn’t a great game for senior quarterback Skyler Howard connecting on only 12-21 passes but he did manage to make those 12 completions count for 330 yards and five touchdowns. Howard also added a total of 48 yards on the ground. It was unsettling at times that West Virginia opted to throw the ball deep so much, Howard did make plays when he needed to move the offense.
--Redshirt junior wide receiver Shelton Gibson had three catches for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns, the third catch being one yard from being a touchdown. Gibson now has 927 yards for the season and is now well within reach of 1,000 yards for the year. That was his goal coming into the season and with two games left it seems very attainable.
--A lot of big plays in this game, but perhaps none as key as the 71-yard touchdown pass to Gibson when the Cyclones were trailing 21-16. That score put the game at 28-16 and the Mountaineers would pile it on from there and pull away in the second half. That’s the longest play of the season for the offense.
--Another young player that deserves mentioning is true freshman wide receiver Marcus Simms. He’s had an up and down year but today stepped up in key situations after redshirt junior Ka’Raun White left the game with an injury. Simms had three catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, the score coming from 48-yards out on a beautifully ran route where he flashed his speed down the sideline.
--I’ve been charting it and waiting for it all season but it finally happened. West Virginia was able to successfully complete a pass to the tight end this season and it resulted in a six-yard touchdown to redshirt sophomore Trevon Wesco. The Mountaineers have been trying to work that in throughout the course of the year and that will be interesting to see how that develops because it’s been there at times they just haven’t been able to successfully complete it until today.
--Redshirt senior cornerback Rasul Douglas was everywhere in this game totaling nine tackles, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and his ninth interception. The pick is the eighth of the year for Douglas and that now puts him alone in second place all-time for a single season. The school record is ten.
--Special teams continued to be far from special. West Virginia allowed its first kickoff return for a touchdown, had a 14-yard punt and a 27-yard punt return. It continues to be a weekly adventure.
