Sunday notebook: Targeting call on Tony Fields confounds Neal Brown

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s defense entered Saturday’s matchup at Texas Tech as the NCAA leader in fewest yards allowed per game (240.3). The Mountaineers allowed a season-high 348 yards in the 34-27 loss and not having one of their top players on the field for over half the game didn’t help matters.

Senior linebacker and leading tackler Tony Fields II was ejected in the second quarter on a targeting call while making a tackle on Tech quarterback Henry Colombi. The call was made only after an official review.

“We have made the game so difficult to officiate on targeting and difficult to coach,” said WVU head coach Neal Brown. “That could have been a good call, it could have been a bad call. I have no idea. But as a head football coach, I don’t have a clear understanding of targeting. I don’t have a clear understanding of how it is reviewed. I feel bad for the officials on the field. I feel bad for the review. I don’t know.

“And here’s the thing on quarterbacks, it is even worse especially against dual threat quarterbacks because they fake a slide and then they slide. They slide head first. They slide feet first. I don’t know.”

West Virginia’s defense tightened up in the second half after allowing twenty points in the first half. A Dante Stills fumble recovery on the opening possession of the third quarter led to a game-tying touchdown drive. After trading touchdowns later in the third, Tech’s lone forced turnover of the game was turned into the decisive points on a 56-yard scoop-and-score from Zach McPhearson.

“The fumble we had in the fourth quarter, that wasn’t the reason we lost the game. But that was the turning point. We had two possessions where we had an opportunity to get it done and we didn’t.”

Texas Tech Red Raiders running back SaRodorick Thompson (4) rushes for a touchdown (Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)

Three different Tech backs rushed for at least 40 yards and the Red Raiders averaged 4.6 yards per tote.

“Here’s the deal, they dinged us in the run game. We had trouble with them a year ago. Final offense numbers weren’t bad but we let them run for 179 yards. That’s too much. They were fifty percent (8-of-16) on third down. That is really good in our league.”

Drops adding up among Mountaineer receivers

According to the ESPN broadcast, West Virginia was tagged with seven dropped passes against Texas Tech. A recurring problem in the first half of the season resurfaced again and at critical times in the second half.

“It is just the little things,” said WVU receiver Winston Wright, who caught 9 passes for 126 yards. “If you don’t have your hands at the right place at the point of the break, you can lose your eyes. It is just the little things. But I think we will bounce back.”

“I don’t really have anything to say about the drops,” said WVU quarterback Jarret Doege. “I just tell them I am coming right back to them. I go love them up. I had my share of missed reads. So that is like a drop for me. I have to clean up some things.”

Doege returns to West Texas

Jarret Doege passed for a season-best 347 yards in defeat. Doege is a native of Lubbock and was a fixture at Texas Tech games growing up.

West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Jarret Doege (2) passes against the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)

 

“It was a cool experience. I tried to take it all in in pregame, realizing what was going on. Once the ball kicked off, I got locked in and got ready to play. It was a really cool experience to come back home and play.”

Big 12 co-leaders up next

West Virginia opens the second half of their regular season Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium against Kansas State. The Wildcats (4-0) and Oklahoma State are the only unbeaten teams in Big 12 play.

“We’re all down about it,” Wright said. “We practiced really hard this week. The difference between this year and last year, we are pushing on to the next game. So we are going to come back ready to work on Monday. We are going to go out on Saturday and prove that we are the most improved team.”





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