Mountaineers set for matchup with Kansas in Big 12 opener

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Nine days after letting its season opener slip away at Pitt, West Virginia hopes to avoid one loss leading to another.

The Mountaineers’ challenge Saturday comes in the form of their Big 12 Conference opener against Kansas at Milan Puskar Stadium. The contest begins at 6 p.m. and will be shown by Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

“They’re a very improved football team and well-coached,” WVU head coach Neal Brown said of the Jayhawks. “We’ll have our hands full, but we’re looking forward to getting back to it.”

West Virginia (0-1) displayed a number of positives in the 38-31 setback to the Panthers, but lost a touchdown lead and its second season opener in as many years. Quarterback JT Daniels hopes to carry over much of what he showed against Pitt when he completed 23-of-40 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns with one interception that was by no fault of his own.

Daniels’ first game in Morgantown comes against the Jayhawks, 56-10 winners over FCS foe Tennessee Tech last Friday.

In his second season as head coach at KU, Lance Leipold looks to have the program moving in the right direction. Since Mark Mangino’s last season at Kansas in 2009, the Jayhawks are 24-118 overall and 7-99 in Big 12 play. However, Kansas scored an overtime victory over Texas in its 10th game a year ago, which was followed by single-digit losses to TCU and the Mountaineers.

A resounding victory for KU to start the 2022 season, albeit over an inferior opponent, has the attention of the Mountaineers.

“They have belief. They’re playing well,” Brown said. “They’re a good football team. At the end of the year, you’re going to look back and say this is one of the most improved teams in the country.”

In addition to Daniels’ solid WVU debut, true freshman CJ Donaldson arrived on the scene in a major way, rushing for 125 yards and one touchdown on seven carries, while also blocking a punt.

Tony Mathis is likely to remain the Mountaineers featured back, though Donaldson could see his role expand after his productivity against Pitt.

Wideout Bryce Ford-Wheaton had an up-and-down performance against Pitt that featured game bests of nine receptions, 97 yards and two touchdowns, but his late drop led to the interception Pitt’s M.J. Devonshire returned for a touchdown for what proved to be the winning score.

Tight end Mike O’Laughlin got more comfortable as the game went on what marked his first contest since a season-ending injury suffered in 2021 against TCU.

Up front, the Mountaineers struggled at times with pass protection, but were sharp with their run-blocking. A group of Zach Frazier, James Gmiter, Wyatt Milum, Jordan White and Doug Nester played more than half of the game together, though White left with an injury that moved Nester from right tackle to right guard and allowed Ja’Quay Hubbard to play tackle.

The Mountaineers finished with 404 total yards and 5.5 yards per play in their first outing with Graham Harrell as offensive coordinator.

“Harrell and Brown are great offensive minds,” Leipold said. “They find a way to keep you off balance. They’re going to find a way to take shots down field and get the ball out to the perimeter. They have a couple backs and one physical back that was able to hit some creases. You have to be able to defend the whole field, stay physical, tackle well and get people around the football.”

A five-sack effort keyed by Dante Stills and strong run defense were a pair of highlights for a WVU defense that also had its share of ups and downs in Week 1.

The Mountaineers’ secondary will be something to watch Saturday as top cornerback Charles Woods left the Pitt game early in the first quarter with an injury and never returned, while fellow starting cornerback Wesley McCormick must sit out the first half after being ejected for targeting in the fourth quarter.

A back end that already has no shortage of fresh faces could add another one or two to the mix depending on Woods’ status.

Leipold isn’t expecting the Mountaineers to have a hangover from the Pitt setback.

“I’m not in their shoes, but that was a big game that they hadn’t played in a long time,” Leipold said. “A lot of positives to playing on Thursday night and a lot of emotional energy can be spent. Young men across the country are pretty resilient. To follow it up with a conference game is probably the next best thing to grab a team’s attention. I’m more focused on what we need to do. He’s an outstanding coach and offensive mind and they’ve done a good job making additions to their program. I know he’ll have them ready Saturday night.”

The WVU defense will look to slow a KU offense led by quarterback Jalon Daniels.

Sep 2, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) rolls out to pass against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles during the first half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

A dual threat, Daniels was 15-of-18 for 189 yards with one touchdown and one interception last week. He also rushed for 32 yards and a touchdown.

“They use motions and shifts and they do a great job of moving guys around and figuring out ways to run the football and get some shot plays down the field,” Brown said. “They’re a different team with him playing quarterback. He has confidence. He’s athletic enough to run, but a passer first. He’s accurate and throws the deep ball well. They hit some explosive plays against Texas last year and he did it again in their first game this year.” 

Running back Devin Neal, who did not play in the 2021 matchup against WVU, leads a deep and talented backfield. In the season opener, Neal rushed for 108 yards and half of his four carries went for scores. Nebraska transfer Sevion Morrison and Minnesota transfer Ky Thomas spell Neal at times.

“They’re as deep as anybody in our league,” Brown said of KU’s backfield.

Wideout Lawrence Arnold had a team-best four catches for 56 yards in Week 1.

Miami Ohio transfer Lonnie Phelps had three sacks last week in his KU debut, putting the defensive end No. 2 nationally ahead of the team’s Big 12 opener.

Safety Kenny Logan was the Big 12’s top tackler with 113 last season and finished third nationally in unassisted tackles with 79.

“It starts with their safety Kenny Logan,” Brown said. “An all-Big 12 performer last year and a really good tackler. He gets them lined up in the back end. A really sharp and an intelligent player.”

Saturday marks the first home night game West Virginia has played under Brown.





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