Clement helps WVU prime Duquesne 56-17 following prolonged climate delay

MORGANTOWN — It took longer than anticipated, however the West Virginia Mountaineers picked up their first win of the season Saturday night time, 56-17, over Duquesne in a sport that included an almost two-hour climate delay.

“Profitable is tough and we made it more durable than it wanted to be at occasions (Saturday),” WVU coach Neal Brown mentioned. “I wasn’t happy with how we began.”

Redshirt freshman receiver Hudson Clement, a former W.Va. state champion at Martinsburg, had a breakout efficiency, flattening 5 receptions for 177 yards and three first-half touchdowns. 

“I feel life’s about alternatives and what you do together with your alternatives,” Brown mentioned. “He’s been actually productive in observe and we’ve simply been ready for him to do it in a sport and he broke out.”

Clement began instead of senior Devin Carter, who harm his ankle earlier within the week and was dominated out throughout pregame.

“Three touchdowns is clearly a loopy accomplishment, particularly to your first sport,” Clement mentioned. “I’ve the utmost confidence in myself to carry out at a excessive stage however nobody actually expects going into their first school soccer sport and taking part in like that.”

Brown awarded Clement with a scholarship within the locker room after the sport.

“That’s one thing that I got here right here and I knew I must grind for,” mentioned Clement, who walked on the group final season. “Each day you’re form of taking part in with that in your thoughts that (a scholarship) is the purpose.”

Previous to the one-hour and 54-minute delay for lightning within the space, the Mountaineers (1-1) seemed sloppy and allowed the Dukes (1-1), an FCS group, to hold round. The rating earlier than the delay was 14-10 with WVU holding the slight lead.

“I wasn’t actual happy with the beginning of (the sport),” Brown mentioned. “The break was most likely nearly as good for me because it was for anyone as a result of I used to be at a breaking level with how we performed early.”

After the break within the motion, the Mountaineers got here out and seemed as dominant as they need to have taking part in an opponent from a decrease division.

When play resumed with 8:14 to play within the second quarter, the Mountaineers scored on all three of their remaining possessions earlier than halftime, which didn’t embrace a break as a result of delay, whereas holding the Dukes to damaging eight yards on their remaining three drives.

“We confirmed some psychological toughness and got here out within the first 4 or 5 minutes after the lighting delays and took care of enterprise,” Brown mentioned. “There have been some dangerous issues, however I don’t essentially suppose it’s a nasty factor that they needed to overcome some adversity.”

WVU’s lead at halftime had ballooned to 35-10. Earlier than the delay, the Mountaineers gained 157 yards on 26 performs (3.8 common) and scored 14 factors. After the delay, WVU gained 195 yards on 13 performs (15 common) and scored 21 factors earlier than halftime.

“I feel the most important factor was simply me getting on web page with the wideouts,” junior quarterback Garrett Greene mentioned. “I feel the coaches did a terrific job of holding us centered with the sport plan and any additions or subtractions we made.”

Greene grew to become the primary WVU quarterback underneath head coach Neal Brown to throw for 4 touchdowns, ending with 240 yards on 10 of 18 passing with 4 scores.

Beginning operating again CJ Donaldson carried the ball 13 occasions for 56 yards. Fellow tailback Jaylen Anderson had 4 carries for 38 yards and an eight-yard landing within the first quarter.

Clement scored the primary WVU landing, a 14-yard cross from Inexperienced within the first quarter to tie the sport 7-7. Anderson’s rating made it 14-7 after which Clement scored two extra occasions, from 70 and 46 yards, respectively. Preston Fox’s 22-yard landing reception made the rating 35-10 at halftime.

West Virginia inserted the second-team offense within the second half.

True freshman operating again Jahiem White scored a 19-yard dashing landing within the third quarter to push the result in 41-10. White completed with 110 yards on 12 carries, all within the second half. 

The Mountaineers would have had a second third-quarter rating, however freshman receiver Rodney Gallagher rumbled a ball by the endzone leading to a touchback for the Dukes.

Backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol ran for a one-yard landing within the fourth quarter. The redshirt freshman completed 7 of 14 passing for 75yards. Freshman operating again DJ Oliver ran for 38 yards and a fourth-quarter landing on 10 touches.

Switch cornerback Beanie Bishop recorded WVU’s first interception of the season, selecting off a deep Perrantes cross within the first quarter. Avery Wilcox grabbed WVU’s second interception within the fourth quarter.

Duquesne opened the sport with momentum, recovering a punt that glanced off of WVU’s Jacolby Spells to arrange a 38-yard landing throw from quarterback Darius Perrantes to DJ Powell. The Dukes kicked a 39-yard discipline purpose 4 drives later however didn’t rating once more till Teddy Afful made a 16-yard landing reception late within the third quarter.

Saturday was the primary of three straight house video games for the Mountaineers, who will host rival Pitt subsequent week for the primary Yard Brawl in Morgantown since 2011.