Eers tame Bulls, 30-27, claim share of Big East
By Editorial Staff
Last night was in 2 words, exhausting & exhilarating.
WVU, after being ahead for most of the game, blew their lead, and at one point was down by 7. However, the team put together some 4th quarter heroics that allowed Tyler Bitancurt (*gasp!*) to nail a 28 yard field goal with :03 to go in regulation, sealing WVU’s share of the Big East title.
WVU now awaits the fate of the Connecticut-Cincinnati game. Despite Cincinnati being out of BCS contention, this is their opportunity to keep their rivals (Louisville) out of the BCS. [Keg of Nails rivalry]
Now, follow me as we break down the numbers.
The catch that sealed the game, & USF’s post-season fate
Geno Smith 23/35 237 yds
Dustin Garrison 87 yds rushing
Stedman Bailey 7 catches 80 yds
Tavon Austin 7 catches 54 yds
JD Woods 4 catches 38 yds
Pat Miller 1 INT, 1 DEF TD
Tavon Austin 90 yd Punt Ret TD
No, that was not a typo… Pat Miller DID have a 52 yard pick-6. Being much criticized all season, Miller steps up on that critical play. Also, last night, Tavon Austin had his 2nd PR TD of the season (first one came against Marshall).
Team Stat Comparison
| West Virginia | South Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 17 | 24 |
| Total Yards | 364 | 397 |
| Passing | 237 | 226 |
| Rushing | 127 | 171 |
| Penalties | 8-79 | 9-65 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 2-14 | 10-19 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 3-3 | 0-0 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Possession | 28:33 | 31:27 |
WVU stat leaders
| Passing | C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geno Smith | 23/35 | 237 | 6.8 | 0 | 2 |
| Rushing | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrison | 16 | 87 | 5.4 | 1 | 16 |
| Smith | 5 | 20 | 4.0 | 0 | 20 |
Next game: WVU awaits their post-season fate… which lies in the hands of the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday. If Cincinnati wins, it creates a 3-way tie in the Big East (WVU, Cincy, and UofL) and the tiebreaker is determined by highest rank in the BCS (which favors WVU.) If Cincinnati loses, Louisville goes to the BCS by way of their head-to-head victory over WVU. So, everyone in Mountaineer Nation is saying, “Go, Bearcats!”
/throws up in mouth
FACTS
WVU is 1 of 3 programs in college football to have won at least nine games seven straight years.
WVU is also the 14th program in the history of Division 1 FBS football to win 700 games.
Finally, to close out this season, is a video where Dana Holgorsen had a shower with Jenn Brown. Lucky b*stard.