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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
2 | GAMEDAY EDITION
Friday October 17, 2014
Kwiatkoski, Tonkery provide consistency at linebacker
KYLE MONROE/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Linebacker Wes Tonkery, No. 37, jumps to try and knock down a pass from Texas Tech quarterback Davis Webb Saturday.
By Dillon Durst Sports Writer @DailyAthenaeum
Prior to the start of the 2014 season, West Virginia’s linebackers garnered attention as one of the better units in the Big 12. Midway through the season, the Mountaineers’ linebackers are continuing to make a name for themselves. Despite the abundance of defensive mishaps in Saturday’s 37-34 win over Texas Tech, middle linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski remained the consistent force he’s been all season, registering a team-high 11
tackles. Kwiatkoski seemingly had ball carriers’ numbers all afternoon and was able to get into Texas Tech’s backfield for two tackles for loss. Although strong side linebacker Wes Tonkery didn’t play his best game against the Red Raiders, the redshirt senior has been an instrumental part of West Virginia’s defense thus far. Tonkery racked up nine tackles against thenNo. 2 Alabama in Week 1 and eight against then-No. 4 Oklahoma in Week 4. After suffering numerous injuries over the course of his career, Kwiatkoski
believes Tonkery’s ability to stay healthy this season has helped the most in his improvement. “He has had shoulder injuries and knee injuries, so that’s the biggest thing,” Kwiatkoski said. “I like to see him on the field. He has been here for a year longer than I have, and we both played safety when I first got here so we have been together since then. He’s a great player, and the biggest thing is him staying healthy this year so he can be out there on the field.” Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said Tuesday that Tonkery has been
playing at a high level, but wasn’t happy with his performance Saturday. “He was exposed in his space a few times, and they were cut blocking him,” Gibson said. “Some of that stuff I am not so sure was on the up and up, but it is what it is.” After moving linebacker Brandon Golson to defensive end prior to the Kansas game to establish a better pass rush, Kwiatkoski and Tonkery figure to have their hands full with Baylor’s No. 1 offense. Baylor is known to mix in a lot of play-action passes with its running game, and
both Kwiatkoski and Tonkery will need to be able to play disciplined football to counter it. The Bears feature a physical running back in Shock Linwood, who has rushed for 627 yards and eight touchdowns this season, including his most recent 178yard performance against TCU. Head coach Dana Holgorsen said setting the tone on defense will go a long way in establishing confidence and momentum against the nation’s No. 4 team. “A start is a start. How you finish is more impor-
tant. But getting off to the right track and starting quick is something that we do emphasize,” Holgorsen said. After facing two ranked teams in the first half of the season, Kwiatkoski said there’s no intimidation factor when it comes to facing Baylor. “We have opened up against two top-five teams earlier in the season, so it’s something that we have seen,” he said. “We have seen the best of the best, so it is just another game to us.” dasports@mail.wvu.edu
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday October 17, 2014
GAMEDAY EDITION | 3
Trickett searching for key to finishing top-five upset By Ryan Petrovich Sports Writer @DailyAthenaeum
West Virginia quarterback Clint Trickett was disappointed with his performance following WVU’s win over Texas Tech last Saturday. Even though Trickett felt there was room for improvement, he still amassed 301 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Red Raiders. “It just shows the kind of competitors we are,” Trickett said. “We know how
close we are and the little things we could’ve done. After the game we watched and thought we played better than we thought.” Trickett remained calm and collected under pressure during West Virginia’s final drive to set up Josh Lambert’s game-winning 55-yard field goal. The maturity level for Trickett is leaps and bounds above where it was last season. While there was the pressure to set Lambert up for the game-winning field goal, Trickett also faced a lot of pressure in terms of
Texas Tech’s pass rush. A similar fate awaits the red shirt senior Saturday. While Baylor’s offense is usually the topic of discussion, the Bears’ defense is no laughing matter. “The biggest thing I see with them is what they’re doing defensively,” said head coach Dana Holgorsen. “That to me is the difference in what Baylor is now, and what they’ve been the past couple of years.” The Bears’ defense surrendered 58 points to TCU, but their pass rush will
present trouble for Trickett. Trickett – for arguably the first time this season – faced excellent pass rushers in Lubbock last week. He was constantly challenged in the pocket and the pass rush often caused his passes to miss their mark. “They bring a lot (of pressure), bring one more guy than you can pick up,” Trickett said. “It leaves some holes back behind there. You just got to be able to make plays.” Baylor will also play a lot of man coverage, which
Trickett and the Mountaineers said they are looking forward to playing against. “It gives us more confidence in ourselves and the system,” Trickett said in regard to playing against the man coverage. “When they do go zone, the system kind of takes over, but when they go man the playing style takes over.” Trickett will rely on his star wide receivers, Mario Alford and Kevin White, to continue to make bigtime plays against the man coverage. The key will be keeping
Trickett upright and having the ability to expose the man coverage and hit the “home run” plays Baylor’s been hitting all season long. On Saturday, West Virginia will play its third topfive ranked team of the season, but this time around they will look to finally pickup a win. “I’d like to win one,” Trickett said. “This is the third one, and not many teams get to play three top five teams in a season.” dasports@mail.wvu.edu
Containing Baylor’s big play threats key for secondary By Ryan Petrovich Sports Writer @DailyAthenaeum
To say that West Virginia’s secondary has its work cut out for it this weekend against Baylor may be an understatement. Baylor enters Morgantown with the No. 1 offense in the country, while West Virginia owns the No. 8 spot. Defense will be a crucial factor in a game that could come down to a shootout. The Bears are averaging nearly 625 yards per game. West Virginia is giving up an average of 213 passing yards each game. Last season, the Mountaineers allowed 347 passing yards and 298 rushing yards against the Bears. “Offensively it starts with their quarterback. (Bryce) Petty is a great player,” said head coach Dana Holgorsen. “He understands their system, he’s got great experience, he’s big, he’s fast and he’s strong. He runs their offense the way it needs to be run.” Petty threw for 510 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions in Baylor’s comeback victory
over TCU last weekend. What will WVU’s defense need to do to prevent Baylor from putting up so-called video game numbers? Cornerbacks Terell Chestnut and Daryl Worley chalk it up to just doing their job. “We have to do our own job,” Chestnut said. “We have to win our own battle. We can’t do too much to try and make the play because that’s usually when they make the play against you.” “Everyone has to do their job,” Worley said. “That could be the simplest way to say it, but that’s truly what we have to do. Everyone has to do what they have to do, all 11 players have to be in tune.” Earlier this season, Worley was suspended for battery charges, but WVU’s No. 1 corner returned from suspension against Texas Tech last weekend. Worley admitted he felt rusty against the Red Raiders, but the Mountaineers have to hope he’s knocked off all the rust, as Baylor’s offense will test their defense to a tee. “I’d rather just get thrown into the fire. This
Cornerback Ishmael Banks takes the field before WVU’s win over Texas Tech Saturday. is where I was meant to receiver Antwan Goodley fast. You wouldn’t think be,” Worley said on his re- reeled in eight catches for someone so big could run turn during WVU’s tough- 158 yards and two touch- that fast. They run great downs, while Corey Cole- routes,” Chestnut said. est part of the schedule. Baylor boasts tremen- man amassed 144 yards Defense could very dous talent when it comes on eight catches and had well be the difference in a to their receiving corps. In a pair of touchdowns as matchup that features two the Bears’ game against well. up-tempo offenses. “(Goodley’s) big. He’s the Horned Frogs, wide “It’s no special formula
Kyle Monroe/The Daily Athenaeum
on how to win a football game,” Chestnut said. “You just have to go out there, do your job and compete. That’s why we play football, to play teams like Baylor.” dasports@mail.wvu.edu
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
4 | ROSTER
Friday October 17, 2014
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NO 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 18 19 20 22 22 23 23 24 25 26 26 27 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 33 34 35 36 37 38
NAME Shelton Gibson Edward Muldrow Brandon Golson Dreamius Smith Skyler Howard Wendell Smallwood Mario Alford Nana Kyeremeh Dravon Henry Daikiel Shorts Rushel Shell Daryl Worley Karl Joseph Dontae Thomas-Williams KJ Dillon Clint Trickett Jordan Thompson Nana Twum Agyire Kevin White Ronald Carswell Khairi Sharif Andrew Buie Sean Walters Paul Millard Ricky Rumph Logan Moore Terrell Chestnut William Crest Jr. Al-Rasheed Benton Storm McPherson Marvin Gross Austin Hensley Chris Parry KJ Myers Brandon Napoleon Jarrod Harper Mike Molina Jacky Marcellus Keishawn Richardson Jeremy Tyler Eric Pittman Travis Bell Scott Levine Daejuan Funderburk Maurice Zereoue Elijah Wellman Dustin Garrison Justin Arndt Isaiah Bruce Carlton Nash Jared Barber Hunter Brown Ishmael Banks Nick Kwiatkoski Shaq Petteway Wes Tonkery Shane Commodore
POS WR LB LB RB QB RB WR CB CB WR RB CB S RB S QB WR CB WR WR CB RB LB QB S QB CB QB LB QB S QB WR WR CB S PK WR CB S RB CB PK S RB TE RB LB LB S LB LB CB LB LB LB S
HT 6-1 6-3 6-2 5-11 6-0 5-11 5-8 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-1 5-10 6-0 6-1 6-2 5-8 6-0 6-3 6-0 5-9 5-9 6-2 6-2 5-11 5-11 5-10 6-2 6-0 6-1 6-4 6-2 5-9 6-2 5-10 6-0 5-7 5-8 5-9 5-11 5-8 6-1 5-11 6-1 5-8 6-2 5-8 5-11 6-2 5-10 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-1 6-1
WT 188 212 230 216 200 200 178 188 185 196 210 198 196 221 210 175 168 194 209 180 160 192 225 230 190 200 188 210 228 210 205 185 160 196 185 210 170 175 175 205 180 188 198 180 195 240 185 215 232 186 232 210 185 235 226 218 205
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RK FR JR SR SR SO SO SR SO FR SO SO SO JR FR JR SR JR JR SR JR JR JR SO SR JR SR JR FR FR FR SO FR FR JR SO SO FR FR JR SO FR SR FR FR SR FR JR SO JR FR SR FR SR JR JR SR FR
NO 38 39 39 41 42 42 44 45 46 46 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 56 57 58 59 60 63 64 65 66 67 69 70 71 72 72 74 77 78 79 81 82 84 85 86 87 88 89 89 89 91 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
NAME Cameron Nash Malik Greaves Chai Smith Alex Brooks Garrett Hope Houstin Syvertson Hodari Christian Eric Kinsey Billy Kinney Nick Meadows Michael Molinari Darrien Howard Yodny Cajuste Walter Rauterkus Tanner Grose Xavier Preston Dayron Wilson Jewone Snow Adam Pankey Amanii Brown Stone Underwood Zack Johnson Michael Calicchio Mark Glowinski Tyler Orlosky Jonathan Haynes Quinton Spain Tony Matteo Brandon Jackson Tyler Tezeno James Gayeski Brendan Willis Sylvester Townes Marcell Lazard Marquis Lucas Grant Lingafelter Vernon Davis Devonte Mathis Lamar Parker Ricky Rogers Josh Lambert John DePalma Cody Clay Darren Arndt Darien Bryant Russell Haughton-James D.J. Carozza Nick O’Toole Jon Lewis Kyle Rose Austin Fields Christian Brown Jaleel Fields Noble Nwachukwu Tyree Owens Dontrill Hyman
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POS RB S WR LB TE LB LB DL PK LS PK DL DL OL LB LB S LB OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL WR WR WR WR PK LS TE DL TE OL DL P DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL
‡ &RPSOLPHQWDU\ ,QWHUQHW ‡ 5RRP 6HUYLFH ‡ .LWFKHQHWWHV ‡ +RWHO 5HVWDXUDQW ‡ )LWQHVV 3RRO ‡ 6KXWWOH ‡ )UHH 3DUNLQJ (YHU\WKLQJ 5LJKW ZKHUH \RX QHHG LW 6XQFUHVW 7RZQH &HQWHU 'ULYH ‡ 0RUJDQWRZQ :9 ‡ ZZZ PRUJDQWRZQ KJL FRP
HT 5-6 6-2 5-10 5-11 6-3 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-4 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-6 6-6 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-2 6-6 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-9 6-5 6-4 6-5 6-5 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-5 6-6 6-4 6-5 5-10 6-1 5-9 6-1 5-11 6-5 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-6 5-10 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-4
WT 175 210 198 225 245 220 226 267 205 221 210 290 270 286 212 220 204 230 305 285 298 291 315 310 303 290 332 301 340 319 262 270 290 310 310 300 172 212 170 198 212 245 251 250 230 290 285 220 255 298 245 290 286 275 260 285
RK FR FR SO FR JR FR FR JR FR FR SR SO FR FR SR FR JR SR SO FR JR FR SR SR SO FR SR SO JR FR JR FR JR FR JR FR SO SO FR FR SO JR JR JR JR JR FR JR FR JR FR SO FR SO FR SR
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday October 17, 2014
ROSTER | 5
BAYLOR NO 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 9 9 11 12 12 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 20 20 21 22 23 24 25 25 26 26 27 28 28 29 30 31 32 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 41
NAME Corey Coleman Chris Sanders Johnny Jefferson Shawn Oakman Tion Wright Xavien Howard Jay Lee Grant Campbell Antwan Goodley Andrew Frerking Jourdan Blake Lynx Hawthorne Ishmael Zamora KD Cannon Ryan Reid Taylor Young Quan Jones Alfred Pullom Terrell Burt Chris Johnson Bryce Petty Brian Nance Gus Penning Kendall Ehrlich Davion Hall Cordell Dorsey Seth Russell Chris Platt Chance Waz Raaquan Davis Aiavion Edwards Anthony Webb Patrick Levels Terence Williams Clay Fuller Terrence Singleton Miles Johnson Blake Mahon Brandon Brown Taion Sells Verkedric Vaughns Devin Chafin Orion Stewart Jarrod Koym Tanner Ritchey Silas Nacita Shock Linwood Collin Simpson Iain Hunter Lee Bristow Mallory Franklin Spencer Roth Tyler Jaynes Collin Brence Spencer Evans Chris Callahan Tre’Von Armstead Calvin Hill
POS RB CB RB DE CB CB WR LB WR QB CB WR WR WR CB LB WR S S QB QB DE TE LB WR S QB WR S LB LB RB S RB RB CB CB TE WR S CB RB S S WR RB RB S RB TE S P CB S PK PK TE S
HT 5-11 6-0 5-10 6-9 5-9 6-2 6-3 6-1 5-11 6-4 6-0 6-0 6-4 6-0 5-11 5-10 6-5 6-2 5-10 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-3 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-1 5-11 5-11 6-2 6-2 5-11 6-0 6-5 6-0 5-10 5-10 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-1 6-0 5-9 5-8 6-0 6-3 5-10 6-5 6-2 6-0 6-0 5-9 6-6 6-1
WT 190 185 205 280 165 200 215 225 220 200 180 200 220 170 190 225 205 185 185 225 230 230 250 225 200 195 215 165 170 220 225 195 195 225 205 195 195 245 185 185 185 225 200 200 170 200 200 210 210 225 185 220 205 210 185 185 265 180
RK SO JR FR JR SO SO JR JR SR SR FR SO FR FR SO FR FR FR JR FR SR FR JR SO FR FR SO FR FR FR SO JR SO FR SR SO JR FR SO SO FR SO SO FR FR JR SO SR FR JR FR SR FR SR FR FR SO FR
NO 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 50 51 52 53 55 55 56 57 58 60 61 62 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 75 76 77 80 82 83 85 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
NAME Levi Norwood Jamie Jacobs Bryce Hager Xavier Phillips Kyle Peterson Kevin Mitchell Travon Blanchard Jimmy Landes Nelson Ehirim Greg Roberts Keith Orcutt Baylor Black Kyle Fuller K.J. Smith Tanner Thrift Spencer Drango LaQuan McGowan Jarell Broxton Tyler Edwards B.J. Jordan Drew Earnest Desmine Hilliard Ishmael Wilson Pat Colbert Josh Pelzel Devonte Jones Blake Blackmar Blake Muir Sean Muir Troy Baker Andrew Billings Jason Osei Patrick Lawrence Cal Spangler Kaleb Moore Cole Edmiston Jordan Feuerbacher Andy Ritter Terell Brooks Trevor White Javonte Magee Andrew Morris Jamal Palmer Suleiman Masumbuko Xavier Jones Beau Blackshear Byron Bonds Ira Lewis Trevor Clemons-Valdez Josh Malin
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POS WR DE LB LB PK CB S S DE DE OL TE OL DE OL OT G OL OL S OL G OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OT DT OL OL RB WR WR TE WR DL WR DE DT DE DT DE DL DT DL DT DE
HT 6-2 6-4 6-2 6-1 5-11 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-6 6-4 6-1 6-5 6-2 6-5 6-6 6-7 6-5 6-6 5-11 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-6 6-6 6-2 6-5 6-6 6-3 6-7 6-2 6-4 6-6 5-11 6-0 6-1 6-4 6-3 6-4 5-7 6-5 6-1 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-6
WT 200 220 235 220 210 185 190 250 260 220 285 205 305 255 290 310 390 330 295 205 280 340 295 310 320 305 340 310 285 305 300 300 280 185 200 190 250 180 290 160 280 270 240 300 205 300 280 265 295 245
RK SR FR SR FR SR SR FR JR SR FR FR SO SO FR FR JR JR JR SR JR JR JR FR JR FR FR FR JR FR SR SO SO FR JR SO FR FR SO SR FR SO FR JR JR FR JR SO FR JR FR
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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
6 | GAMEDAY EDITION
Friday October 17, 2014
Smallwood adds different element to WVU run game
FILE PHOTO
Running back Wendell Smallwood returns a kick against Texas Tech in 2013.
By Dillon Durst Sports Writer @DailyAthenaeum
Heading into the 2014 season, it was uncertain how West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen planned on using his stable of running backs. Midway through the season, sophomores Rushel Shell and Wendell Smallwood have risen to the top of the depth chart and were instrumental in the Mountaineers’ 37-34 win over Texas Tech Saturday in Lubbock. Shell racked up 110 yards on 24 carries and two touch-
downs, including a oneyard, game-tying touchdown run with 2:02 left to play in the fourth quarter. Although Smallwood didn’t register a touchdown, he chipped in 123 yards on 15 carries. Prior to Saturday’s matchup, Holgorsen said he’d been disappointed with Smallwood’s big-play ability. “He had his best week of practice last week, and he had his best game as a Mountaineer last week,” Holgorsen said Tuesday. “He needs to build on that, and he needs to continue to improve. “He’s a guy who has a burst, so when he gets four or five
yards in on that safety, he’s a guy who can make that guy miss and burst.” Since Texas Tech’s main defensive goal was to take away perimeter playmakers Kevin White and Mario Alford, Shell and Smallwood were able to take advantage of some good matchups in the box. “(Texas Tech) put safeties over top of (White and Alford),” Holgorsen said. “I’ve been in that situation before in the past where they put safeties over top of receivers to where you have a favorable box to be able to run the ball, and you can’t. Now you’re in trouble.
“We finally started getting some explosive plays in the run game, especially in the second half. … When you get that kind of coverage and take away the deep guys and you can’t run the ball, you’re in trouble. We’re in a situation now where we’re able to do that.” Although Shell is the Mountaineers’ leading rusher with 490 yards, Smallwood plays a more versatile role within the offense and often splits out as a receiver. Smallwood said former WVU running back Charles Sims showed him how to be versatile and effective in both the
running and passing games, but he wants to stay true to his style of play. “I would like to be like Charles Sims, but I would like to put my own spin on it,” he said. Through six games, Smallwood has tallied 278 rushing yards on 57 carries and 18 receptions for 241 yards. Holgorsen said he expects No. 4 Baylor to load the box and take away the run Saturday. Baylor’s defense has been on the rise the past several years under defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, and the Mountaineers figure to have their hands full with the Bears’
aggressive defensive scheme. “They’ve transitioned what they’re doing defensively to match what they’re doing offensively, which is take the air out of the defense and pressure and pressure and pressure – junk up the box and put a lot of people in there to the point to where you better score quickly,” Holgorsen said. As with every Big 12 game West Virginia has won this year, the Mountaineers must be able to successfully run the ball to have a shot at unseating the No. 4 team in the nation. dasports@mail.wvu.edu
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday October 17, 2014
GAMEDAY EDITION | 7
Defensive line still struggling to bring pressure By Anthony Pecoraro Associate Sports Editor @PecoraroWVUNews
As the No. 1 scoring team in the nation enters Morgantown Saturday in the No. 4 Baylor Bears, the West Virginia defense knows it has its hands full. Despite the defense giving up an average of 27.2 points per game this season through six games, defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said he still believes his defensive line will be prepared for Saturday. In the Mountaineers’
latest victory against Texas Tech, not much pressure was put on Red Raider quarterback Davis Webb, as head coach Dana Holgorsen said following the game-winning field goal Saturday. “He had hours of time to throw in the first half,” Holgorsen said. Holgorsen said Baylor, who loves the long ball, also presents top-notch running threats in sophomore Shock Linwood, who has 627 rushing yards with eight touchdowns on the season, as well as in running backs such as red-
shirt freshman Johnny Jefferson and sophomore Silas Nacita. “They’ve got plenty of backs. Shock Linwood is a quality back. You take him out and put a couple of the other guys in there, and it doesn’t miss a beat, as well,” he said. “They’re moving the ball. They’re scoring. They’re doing it quickly. It will be a challenge for us defensively.” Knowing West Virginia’s defensive line will be challenged Saturday, the Mountaineers will have to bounce back from a
lackluster performance against Texas Tech. Junior Red Raider running back DeAndre Washington put up a career day with 132 rushing yards, and Tech ran for a total of 217 rushing yards, the secondmost Tech has put up in a Big 12 game over the past decade. That outburst on the ground has now made West Virginia eighth in the Big 12 in allowing 4.8 yards per carry, with only Iowa State and Texas Tech allowing more per carry with 4.9 yards each. Gibson said even with
those unpleasant statistics for West Virginia, the focus will remain on doing all the Mountaineers can to attempt to contain the beast in the Bears. “You always try to control what they are doing and how they are doing it,” Gibson said. “Right now, we are facing another animal as far as that goes. They are going to spread you from sideline to sideline. “We just have to get better at space, and that’s easy to say, but when you are used to playing in the back, stopping the run and
going out on wide outs, it gets difficult.” Gibson made it clear when he said with the immense amount of weapons the Bears will bring into Milan Puskar Stadium Saturday, some rearranging on the defensive line, as well as with the entire defense, should be expected. “Some other guys may have to step up and do some things,” he said. “You will see some different people on the field at times against these guys.” dasports@mail.wvu.edu
Trio of White, Alford, Thompson tearing up defenses By Anthony Pecoraro Associate Sports Editor @PecoraroWVUNews
West Virginia’s top-three upperclassmen receivers have been invaluable to the 2014 Mountaineer squad. From senior receivers Kevin White and Mario Alford to junior receiver Jordan Thompson, this trio has combined for 125 receptions for 1,582 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns through the first six games of the season. That’s 28 more receiving yards out of the top-three receivers in only half as many games, compared to the topthree in the entire 2013 season from Alford, White and Daikiel Shorts with 1,554 receiving yards combined. However, even with outstanding numbers early on for the offense and the man connecting with them in redshirt senior quarterback Clint Trickett, who is No. 3 in the nation in passing yards this season with 2,203, Thompson said the entire receivers squad each week is focused on the task at hand and knows what to expect out of the No. 4 Baylor defense. “Every receiver’s dream
is to have a defense play man, because it’s one-onone routes,” Thompson said. “We are definitely looking forward to the challenge of Baylor’s defense playing man coverage.” Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said he knows what his offense must prepare for as the Bears are capable of far more than most teams, but that still doesn’t change the overall game plan for West Virginia. “Obviously, we have to take shots by the nature of their defense, and we have to throw the ball vertical, but that can’t be all that you do, because your percentages are going to go down when you are taking shots,” he said. “At some points, it is like a tennis match. We might go out there and it might be a defensive battle. You never know what the overall game is going to be like.” Even with the major threats Baylor presents, Dawson said the best thing the Mountaineers can do Saturday is worry about themselves and not the opposition. “All you can do is control what you are able to control
Wide receiver Jordan Thompson breaks away from the defense on his way to the end zone Saturday. on your end. We are going Thompson, who found tality this entire Mountainto go out there on Saturday out first-hand Saturday eer squad will be taking and try to execute,” he said. against Texas Tech that moving forward. “Obviously, the game plan is anything is possible – even “There is no such thing different from week to week, when trailing by two touch- as a comfortable lead, esand philosophy is different downs with less than six pecially with all the highfrom week to week, so we minutes remaining in the power offenses in the Big will see.” game – said that’s the men- 12 Conference,” he said.
Kyle Monroe/The Daily Athenaeum
“People will generally quit when you get behind a certain amount of points, but this team didn’t quit. We believed that we were going to win the game.” dasports@mail.wvu.edu
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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday October 17, 2014
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