MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s second-ever meeting with Towson comes at 1 p.m. on a warm Saturday at Mountaineer Field.
The Mountaineers (0-2) have lost twice to start the season for the first time since 1979. Towson (2-0) has posted single-digit wins over Bucknell and Morgan State and is seeking to play spoiler in its toughest test of the season.
In the only previous meeting between the two teams, WVU won 54-0 in September 2014.
4:22 p.m. — FINAL: WEST VIRGINIA 65, Towson 7. The Mountaineers roll by the Tigers for their first victory. West Virginia (1-2) scored touchdowns on nine of its 10 possessions and a field goal on the other. WVU will seek its first win this season over a FBS opponent Thursday when it meets Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium.
4:10 p.m. — Nicco Marchiol follows the first passing touchdown of Crowder’s career with his first. The left-handed true freshman connects with Morgantown native Preston Fox for 26 yards. WEST VIRGINIA 65, Towson 7, 4:42 4th qtr
3:55 p.m. — SCORE: Will Crowder throws the first touchdown of his career — a 5-yard pass to Jeremiah Aaron. WEST VIRGINIA 58, Towson 7, 11:12 4th qtr
3:35 p.m. — Towson backup quarterback Scott Smith fumbles and Morgantown High product Caden Biser, a linebacker, recovers it. That marks the second turnover West Virginia has forced this season.
3:20 p.m. — Greene’s 11-yard touchdown run allows the Mountaineers to add to their lead. Following a false start penalty, Parker Grothaus point-after attempt drinks off an upright and misses. WEST VIRGINIA 51, Towson 7, 8:21 3rd qtr
3:05 p.m. — West Virginia leads 45-7 at halftime and appears well on its way to its first victory this season. With a quick turnaround Thursday at Virginia Tech, it’s safe to assume backups will see most of the second-half action for the Mountaineers. WVU has a 415-56 advantage in total yards at the break, including 235-3 in rushing. Donaldson has 97 yards on eight carries, while Mathis has 88 on 11 attempts. The aforementioned duo has combined for five rushing scores. Daniels hit on 16-of-24 passes for 174 yards.
2:45 p.m. — SCORE: Donaldson’s third rushing touchdown of the half and sixth of the season comes on fourth-and-goal from the 1. On Towson’s previous possession, the Tigers picked up their first two first downs, but threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-14 from just short of midfield. Garrett Greene then came on to quarterback for the Mountaineers and his 39-yard run helped lead to the team’s sixth touchdown today. WEST VIRGINIA 45, Towson 7, 0:06 2nd qtr
3⃣ first half touchdowns for CJ Donaldson‼️#Big12FB x @WVUfootball
📺 Big 12 Now on @ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/GAH2mzYKpw
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 17, 2022
2:30 p.m. — SCORE: The Mountaineers add to their lead with Casey Legg’s 26-yard field goal. WEST VIRGINIA 38, Towson 7, 2:42 2nd qtr
2:25 p.m. — The Tigers endure their fourth consecutive three-and-out and they’ve yet to pick up a first down. WVU will start its sixth series from its 40 with 4:18 to play in the half.
2:17 p.m. — SCORE: Mathis plunges into the end zone on a 2-yard run and it’s all Mountaineers. They’ve scored touchdowns on all five possessions to this point. Ford-Wheaton was a spectator for that drive, though it didn’t appear to be injury-related. WEST VIRGINIA 35, Towson 7, 5:59 2nd qtr
2:00 p.m. — SCORE: Donaldson’s 3-yard touchdown run makes it a three-touchdown difference on the scoreboard. Two plays earlier, Bryce Ford-Wheaton had what was originally ruled his fifth touchdown reception overturned to an incompletion. On the opening play of the second quarter, WVU elected to go for it on fourth-and-9 and Ford-Wheaton brought in a 13-yard pass that put the Mountaineers in the red zone. WEST VIRGINIA 28, Towson 7, 12:59 2nd qtr
1:40 p.m. — SCORE: Donaldson breaks free for an 82-yard touchdown run. Prather played it well after Donaldson had gained first down yardage, and instead of potentially throwing a blindside block that would’ve resulted in a flag, the receiver simply got in the way of a pair of Tigers’ defenders. WEST VIRGINIA 21, Towson 7, 3:40 1st qtr
TO THE HOUSE‼️🙌#TOWSvsWVU pic.twitter.com/gpOCm3XwUu
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) September 17, 2022
1:35 p.m. — West Virginia forces a three-and-out and the game’s first punt. Hershey McLaurin is starting at safety in place of Aubrey Burks, who was deemed questionable by Brown earlier this week. The Mountaineers will start their third series from their 27. Dixon was at the spear position for Towson’s opening series. A video tribute to the late Frank Cignetti Sr. plays during the change of possession.
1:26 p.m. — SCORE: West Virginia scores its second touchdown on as many drives, this one the first of the season for tailback Tony Mathis on a 3-yard run. The Mountaineers converted on fourth-and-1 from their 47 via a 3-yard CJ Donaldson run earlier in the drive, which also featured two grabs for 32 yards from Prather. WEST VIRGINIA 14, Towson 7, 5:40 1st qtr
1:12 p.m. — SCORE: D’Ago returns the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown and the Tigers pull even. Brown said he liked most of what he’d seen from the special teams units, outside of kickoff return, over the first two weeks. That’ll no longer be the case. WEST VIRGINIA 7, TOWSON 7, 11:14 1st qtr
D’AGO HUNTER TO THE HOUSE!!!!!!! THIS GAME IS TIED!!!!!!
📺- https://t.co/WIzS0m2vJ5
📻- https://t.co/iz8M8wONes
📊- https://t.co/9Npzgbfz8B#GohTigers | #UnitedWeRoar | #NCAAFCS | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/Qy8iegl6ca— Towson Football (@Towson_FB) September 17, 2022
1:08 p.m. — SCORE: Kaden Prather brings in a 2-yard pass from JT Daniels for the first touchdown of his career. The Mountaineers make the most of their first drive, which covered 75 yards in 10 plays. WEST VIRGINIA 7, Towson 0, 11:27 1st qtr
1:00 p.m. –– Towson wins the toss and defers to the second half. West Virginia will start with the ball.
12:45 p.m. — Linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave is available for the first time this season. Austin-Cave is a Miami transfer.
12:02 p.m. — For the third consecutive contest, West Virginia defensive linemen Jalen Thornton, Hammond Russell and Zeiqui Lawton are not listed among the Mountaineers’ dress list.
11:55 a.m. — West Virginia head coach Neal Brown and defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley suggested personnel changes were coming defensively. There are several notable ones on the two-deep depth chart for today’s game, including Jasir Cox at will linebacker, where he or Exree Loe will start. Lance Dixon, who was previously a will backer, is now listed at spear with Davis Mallinger. Malachi Ruffin will backup Marcis Floyd at cat safety. Andrew Wilson-Lamp is behind Wesley McCormick at one cornerback spot, while true freshman Jacolby Spells is behind Rashad Ajayi at the other. Sean Martin is starting at defensive end in place of Taijh Alston, who was assessed a roughing the penalty passer that proved costly in overtime last week.
On offense, right guard Jordan White returns after missing last week’s loss to Kanas. White’s presence shifts Doug Nester back to right tackle.
Your essential pregame links:
‘The focus is on us this week’: WVU after first victory against Towson
Prather hopeful for continued production
Veteran Towson coach Rob Ambrose adjusting to new-look roster
Three Guys Before The Game – Towson preview edition
Reality of 0-2 start not lost on Mountaineers