6:00: Morning News

Defensive first unit refuses to yield a TD in scrimmage

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Icky Banks rambled 60 yards on a scoop-and-score. Christian Brown registered a touch-sack safety. Karl Joseph provided two punishing licks.

Those were some of the highlights on a sparkling day for West Virginia’s first-string defense.

“I thought the 1’s did really well,” said defensive coordinator Tony Gibson. “We didn’t give up a touchdown with the 1’s and had a couple turnovers.”

There were nearly two more turnovers: Safety Jeremy Tyler dropped what should have been an easy interception of Skyler Howard, and Daryl Worley saw a Paul Millard pass ricochet off his facemask.

“They’re starting to come together,” Gibson said. “We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re a week better than we were after last Saturday’s scrimmage.”

The starting defense was on the verge of surrendering a touchdown when Tyler and Joseph converged on running back Dreamius Smith and jarred the ball free.

“As soon as I heard it, I knew Karl was involved,” said Gibson, who was Joseph’s position coach last season.

Joseph had opened the scrimmage by belting receiver Mario Alford on an underneath route.

“No. 8—he’s a missile,” Gibson said. “You know he has no neck, so he explodes from the toes through the top of his heard. He did it as a freshman and he did it a bunch last year.”





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