Mountaineers shed turnover fight, video game in discouraging beginning to 2021 project
by:
Published: Sep 4, 2021/ 07:22 PM EDT
/ Updated: Sep 4, 2021/ 08:30 PM EDT
Neal Brown desired his group in its opening video game of the 2021 season.
The Mountaineers went winless when driving last season, and also had an opportunity to knock off a nonconference opponent to start a brand-new project.
However rather than making a declaration, WVU generated more of the exact same, being up to Maryland 30-24 after surrendering a one-point lead in the 4th quarter.
WVU committed four turn overs in the game, including 2 in the last duration that caused 10 Terrapin factors. That was enough to doom head trainer Neal Brown’s Mountaineers
“The most significant stat in football that tells whether you win or shed is turnovers,” Brown stated. “We had 4, they had no. It’s not made complex.”
Late in the 3rd quarter, WVU started a drive in adversary territory after a punting out of bounds, leading 21-20. Yet running back Leddie Brown stumbled on a 3rd as well as brief, removing a prime chance for West Virginia to include to its narrow lead.
That lead soon vanished. Maryland booted a basket with 9:16 continuing to be in the video game, obtaining a 23-21 benefit.
An extremely similar circumstance unravelled on West Virginia’s ensuing ownership: return male Winston Wright offered West Virginia excellent area position near midfield after a 48-yard kick return, and afterwards the Mountaineers marched right into the red area, where they had actually been 3-3 with a triad of goals to that factor.
They could not pay in on their 4th red area trip. Instead, quarterback Jarret Doege threw his second interception of the video game ultimately area, noting West Virginia’s 4th turnover of the day.
It took Maryland 5 plays to go 80 backyards for another touchdown that sealed West Virginia’s fate. Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa struck broad receiver Rakim Jarrett for a 60-yard touchdown strike, giving the Terps a 30-21 lead after the additional point.
That touchdown was Maryland’s second racking up play of at the very least 60 lawns. The various other came in the first quarter when Tagovailoa struck Dontay Demus for a 66-yard conclusion, the lengthiest play from scrimmage of the game.
West Virginia reacted to the Jarrett TD with an area objective, making ball game 30-24. They never restored possession.
Tagovailoa passed for 332 lawns and three goals against WVU, which sported the top total defense and passing protection amongst Power 5 programs last period. He finished 26 of his 36 tosses.
Doege, that obtained throughout the preseason for his improvement, went 24-40 for 289 yards. While he finished 9 passes of 15 yards or more, he threw two interceptions contrasted to simply one touchdown.
Neal Brown identified the initial of Doege’s two interceptions, which was available in the second quarter, as a “truly bad choice.”
Leddie Brown was the brilliant place of the violation for WVU, acquiring 120 backyards of overall violation– 77 hurrying yards on 16 hurrying attempts and 43 getting backyards on 4 catches. He additionally logged three overall touchdowns.
Yet after scoring three touchdowns on its first four properties, West Virginia went scoreless on its next 8 drives, summoning simply 3 points in the last 41:30 of the game.
The Mountaineers likewise failed to require a turn over, ending up the game with a minus-four turnover margin.
On defense, security Sean Mahone led the Mountaineers with 11 total deals with, and also linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo made 10 quits. Protective lineman Akheem Mesidor additionally logged nine deals with, including one and a fifty percent deals with for loss.
West Virginia (0-1) drops its first period opener because 2017, when it shed to Virginia Technology by a goal. The Mountaineers play their home opener Sept. 11 vs. Long Island.
Extra on the Mountaineers.