By Bill Nestor
West Virginia’s football team kept its bowl hopes alive with a double-digit Senior day defeat of the University of Central Florida at Milan Puskar Stadium. The 31 to 21 win was powered primarily by a rushing attack that went after a defense that hung its hat on stopping the run.
Going into the lock up, the Knights were ranked 31st against the rush, only allowing 115 yards per game. The Mountaineers garnered 200 yards on the ground, led by the combination of C. J. Donaldson Jr. and Jahiem White. Donaldson Jr. earned 96 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns while White picked up 54 yards to go with a score.
The defense also helped WVU flip the script on UCF. The Knights offense was ranked second with an average of 262 yards of rushing offense per outing, but on Saturday were held to 176 yards.
Mountaineer signal caller Garrett Greenedidn’t put up big numbers, but he didn’t do anything to hurt the cause. He threw for 118 yards while completing 13 of 21 passing. Greene did have a touchdown toss to Rodney Gallagher from 12 yards out to help his team to a two score halftime lead. He also picked up 49 yards on the ground on 18 attempts.
The victory gave WVU a record of six and five and qualified them to play a bowl game in the postseason. This Saturday, a visit to Texas Tech will be the difference maker for this year’s edition. The Red Raidrs are seven and four and are coming off a 56 to 48 win over Oklahoma State. Tech has won two of its last three tilts, including a 23 to 22 triumph over number 10 Iowa State at their place. The Red Raiders have lost their last tilt in Lubbock and Mountaineer Nation is hoping for a third to possibly get the squad into a bigger and better bowl matchup.
High school football had been on hold white the court system sorted out all of the injunctions that held the playoffs hostage. This past weekend, the playoffs began and one Harrison County team felt the sting of the new system.
South Harrison had an incredible season, going eight and two with their only losses coming at Doddridge County and Wahama. The Hawks would garner the number nine seed in Class AA and travel during the opening round of the playoffs.
The opponent would be Bluefield. The BEavers finished the regular season below .500 with a four and five mark. Bluefield was the benefactor of a large dose of bonus points brought about this year in the new system that rewarded teams for their strength of schedule. Lock ups with Class AAA Oak Hill and Princeton, along with Class AAAA Woodrow Wilson helped them to host this matchup.
Due to a Scheduling conflict at Mitchell Stadium in Bluefield, the game was moved to Anne S. Hunnicutt Stadium in Princeton. The 166 mile, two hour and 37 minute drive (by car, not bus) is quite substantial. It is a difference maker on many levels.
The Beavers won a nail-biter, 20 to 18, in the snow and wind last Friday evening. South Harrison held the lead twice six to nothing in the first quarter and 18 to 14 in the third period. The Hawks also had an opportunity in the final frame, but fumbled on the Bluefield one-yard line.
If you took a poll, Hawk Nation would have rather played the game at Gary Barnette Field in Lost Creek. Most of them feel like they should have been there to begin with, but they were forced to play the cards they were dealt. Look for some modifications to be made during the offseason because there are many more stories like this one taht have left room for adjustments and fine tuning.
That will do it for now! Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!!!