MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia lost three fumbles in a span of four offensive plays during the second quarter of Saturday’s season opener against Robert Morris.
Fortunately for the Mountaineers, their defense was up to the challenge throughout the afternoon. When the offense got it in gear over the final two quarters, it amounted to a 45-3 victory in the start of the second stint with Rich Rodriguez as head coach.
“I would like to say that was a typical first game, but I don’t know if I’ve ever had or seen three fumbles in four plays,” Rodriguez said. “We obviously didn’t play well at all in the first half. It was West Virginia beating West Virginia. We did some things OK, but weren’t playing like we should have. We’ll take the win and learn from it.”
The Mountaineers limited the Colonials to 123 total yards and 2.1 yards per play while allowing only an 18-yard scoring drive on a short field. Playing under the guidance of coordinator Zac Alley, the defense was easily the team’s most productive phase.
“We gave up two third-and-10s, but they couldn’t run the ball and our front did a good job of getting guys on the ground,” Rodriguez said. “We tackled pretty well. They’re not a high explosive team, but I felt the whole time during the game the defense was going to be OK.”
For all of its struggles in the first half, the WVU offense got off to a strong start. After forcing a Colonials’ three-and-out on the game’s opening series, the Mountaineers marched 83 yards over 10 plays and produced their first touchdown on starting quarterback Nicco Marchiol’s 10-yard run.
WVU managed a 27-yard Kade Hensley field goal on its third series for a 10-0 lead before developing a turnover bug it was unable to shake for some time.
Oddly enough, it began directly after the Mountaineers forced the game’s first turnover, that coming on Braden Siders’ recovery of a Donta Whack fumble at the RMU 48.
Four plays later, after hauling in a pass from Marchiol, wideout Cam Vaughn fumbled in the process of hurdling a defender, and the ball trickled into the end zone before being recovered by RMU for a touchback.
“Fumbles are part of the game,” Vaughn said. “You have to get up with a next-play mentality.”
On the second play of their ensuing possession, the Mountaineers were ruled to have lost another fumble following a review that determined Oran Singleton lost the ball and the Colonials’ Mitchell Robinson recovered.
Starting from the WVU 36, Robert Morris managed one first down and its only points shortly after on Jayson Jenkins’ 36-yard field goal, enabling the visitors to pull to within 10-3 with 3:08 to play in the half.
On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, tight end Grayson Barnes brought in a pass from Marchiol and fumbled, with the Colonials’ Patrick McDonnell recovering 1 yard short of midfield.
WVU’s defense buckled down and benefited from Reid Carrico’s third down sack to force a punt, though the Mountaineers failed to get a first down on their final series of the half and settled for the seven-point halftime lead.
“There’s going to be another game this season where the offense has to have our back. That’s what’s great about being a team,” said WVU linebacker Chase Wilson.
While the second quarter was rather forgetful for his team, Rodriguez noted that he was impressed with the demeanor inside the locker room at halftime.
“I’m proud there was no panic at halftime from anybody,” Rodriguez said. “I wasn’t happy. The coaches always have some heated discussions, but nobody panicked. The players weren’t looking around big-eyed like what do we do now? We’re going to need that because we’re going to face adversity against bigger teams going forward.”
The Mountaineers were more crisp throughout the second half, starting with a 64-yard drive on the opening series that was punctuated by Jahiem White’s 1-yard touchdown run.
Not long after taking its largest lead of the matchup to that point, WVU continued to expand on it.
Following an exchange of punts, Hammond Russell’s sack of Zach Tanner created a fumble that Carrico recovered. Starting from the RMU 24, WVU needed just three plays to generate its third touchdown, which was scored by White on a 4-yard run with 5:21 to play in the third.
WVU’s longest touchdown drive came on its next series as the Mountaineers marched 81 yards in 10 plays, with more than half coming on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Marchiol to Vaughn.
“This connection is not something that just happened this morning,” Marchiol said. “It’s been the day he got on campus. It’s the things we do when no one’s looking. Having a connection with a guy like that is so huge.”
As the defense continued to dominate, the offense continued its second-half outburst and generated another two fourth-quarter touchdowns courtesy of Cyncir Bowers’ 26-yard run and a 59-yard run from true freshman quarterback Scotty Fox that marked the longest play of the matchup.
The Mountaineers finished with 625 yards — 502 more than Robert Morris. Marchiol completed 17-of-20 passes for 224 yards and rushed 13 times for 56 yards.
“You get around [Rodriguez] and it’s hard to not want to produce for that man,” Marchiol said. “He motivates better than anybody I’ve ever been around.”
White led all ball-carriers with 93 rushing yards on 18 attempts, though Rodriguez felt his blockers could’ve helped spring him more often.
“Jahiem ran hard. I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get him loose for some longer runs,” Rodriguez said. “He’s an explosive guy and we didn’t get him enough explosive opportunities today. We have to figure out what happened with that.”
Vaughn, with 127 receiving yards on seven catches, led all players in both categories.
Russell recorded two of WVU’s four sacks, while Wilson and Carrico added one apiece.
“That is a scary defense to go against. I’ve been waiting to say it and see it,” Marchiol said. “As a quarterback, it’s such a good feeling knowing you have a solid defense like that.”