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Business-like win propels Mountaineers, 41-17

Skyler Howard scrambles for first-half yardage against Liberty.

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Skyler Howard tossed three touchdowns to three receivers and West Virginia produced a business-like 41-17 win over FCS member Liberty.

Along with completing 21-of-26 passes for 263 yards in three quarters of action, Howard ran for 68 yards as the Mountaineers (2-0) improved to 13-0 all-time again FCS opponents.

Shelton Gibson turned a short pass into a 52-yard touchdown, Jovon Durante caught a 10-yard score and Elijah Wellman added a 4-yard touchdown catch.

“Offensively, I think we made strides,” said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen. “We had zero turnovers for the second straight game—I think everybody is pretty fired up about that. The completion percentage was pretty high. I think Skyler did a good job putting the ball in play.”

Liberty (1-1) ended WVU’s defensive scoreless streak at 100 minutes when Todd Macon powered in from 7 yards out. The touchdown capped a 78-yard drive on which Dante’ Shell made a leaping 36-yard grab over cornerback Daryl Worley.

After watching the Flames put up 372 yards, Holgorsen said he thought the West Virginia defense was “a little lethargic.”

Liberty’s Jeff Woodrum completed 21-of-32 passes for 280 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown to Zac Parker in the fourth quarter.

West Virginia twice settled for Josh Lambert chipshots, repeating the red-zone failures of Week 1. But the tide turned when Wendell Smallwood punched in a second-quarter touchdown, finishing a physical 5-yard run by recovering his own fumble in the end zone.

The Mountaineers finished their last four red-zone chances with touchdowns, including Smallwood’s 5-yard score with 4:59 to play. He finished with a team-high 88 yards on 15 carries.

Entering the game ranked No. 13 in the FCS, Liberty had multiple chances at first-half scores only to see potential NFL kicker John Lunsford miss three times from 42, 52 and 31 yards.

“If we had one or two touchdowns out of those three drives, then I think the game is going to be a little bit different,” said Liberty coach Turner Gill. “If we make the field goals, I think the game might be a little bit different as we come down toward the stretch.”

Running back Desmond Rice also dropped a fourth-down option pitch at midfield, spoiling a play that was staged for a big gain.





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