West Virginia was one Hail Mary away from a 5-1 begin to the season. Quick-forward one week and the Mountaineers now sit at a disappointing 4-3.
For the second week in a row, West Virginia gave away a sport they had been greater than able to successful, shedding 48-34 to Oklahoma State at dwelling Saturday night.
In each losses, the Mountaineers did not ever seize momentum regardless of having a number of alternatives to take action and, within the course of, have wasted their once-promising begin to the season.
Every part was nice when WVU was 4-1 simply two weeks in the past. Followers had been excited, the workforce was on the cusp of coming into the top-25 and there was even discuss of the Mountaineers having an out of doors probability of creating the Massive 12 championship sport. That’s all gone now.
Every part the Mountaineers had been doing proper throughout their four-game successful streak — taking part in good protection, avoiding errors and never drawing penalties — has disappeared the final two weeks.
The protection has reverted to its 2022 type, when groups scored seemingly at will, and WVU’s particular groups have performed its worst in 5 seasons beneath head coach Neal Brown.
It was a particular groups blunder — Andrew Wilson-Lamp working into Preston Fox on a punt return — that flipped Saturday’s sport into the Cowboys’ favor Saturday.
WVU was main 24-20 on the time about to get the ball again. The Cowboys transformed that mistake in a rating that gave them the lead they by no means relinquished.
“I can’t clarify it, I can’t clarify that one,” Brown stated. “We work that twice every week, that very state of affairs. That’s a tough one for me to clarify.”
The protection crumpled within the fourth quarter, giving up over 100 yards and three touchdowns to OSU working again Ollie Gordon. The Cowboys scored 4 touchdowns within the fourth quarter, outscoring WVU 28-10.
“I don’t assume I’ve ever been part of a sport like that,” Brown stated. “This one stings much more than the one final week.”
All the great emotions from the 4-1 begin are gone now. The remainder of the season will likely be an up-hill battle for the Mountaineers to win the fanbase again over.
Issues are worse for Brown. Even when the workforce was successful, there have been nonetheless some followers calling for his job. These calls will solely get louder this week.
“It was actually simply self-inflicted issues we all know we might’ve carried out higher,” security Anthony Wilson stated. “We’ve obtained to wash up, that’s the most important factor.”
There are nonetheless 5 video games left within the season and West Virginia very nicely might end the yr with a superb report and a bowl sport look. However failing to capitalize on the perfect begin the workforce has had in years goes to show lots of people away from the ultimate 5 video games of this season, whether or not WVU can clear up its errors or not.
More Stories
Trinity boys’ out to show they’re higher than its state rating, open by beating Braxton County
West Virginia was more than pleased to take the SEC’s spot within the Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Ofri Naveh will play in his first Yard Brawl, however has lived by The Derby