On Saturday, over 18,000 fans poured into Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown to get a glimpse of West Virginia football following spring practices during the 2024 Gold-Blue Spring Game, with the Gold squad capturing a 34-24 victory.
In an affair that combined an organized scrimmage and individual player competitions to determine the final point total, the Mountaineers had a number of impressive moments that added to the buzz surrounding a WVU program that finished 9-4 last season and returns a number of crucial pieces.
Perhaps the biggest piece of the offense will be returning starting quarterback Garrett Greene -- Greene capped his final spring game by leading the winning Gold team, going 8-of-13 in the passing game for 79 yards and breaking numerous scrambles and designed runs for into open field.
Backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol, who also saw action as a starter while Greene was injured last fall, finished 10-of-19 for 82 yards.
A pair of offensive touchdowns were also recorded on Saturday, with Martinsburg, W.Va-native and last season's breakout star Hudson Clement hauling in a seven-yard pass from Marchiol, while Morgantown, W.Va-native Preston Fox reeled in a highlight reel worthy 11-yard reception from reserve quarterback Jackson Crist.
Morgantown H.S. graduate Preston Fox reels in the final touchdown in the Gold-Blue Game: #wvprepfb pic.twitter.com/XDRJIxgjjk
— MetroNews HS Sports (@MetroNewsPrep) April 27, 2024
Returning starter Traylon Ray was the top receiver on the day with four catches for 55 yards while early enrollee freshman Clay Ash gained some buzz as the top ball carrier, tallying 26 yards on six attempts.
Defensively, returning linebacker Josiah Trotter -- who redshirted last fall -- reeled in a huge interception for the Blue team that he returned to inside the Gold team's 10-yard line. Cornerback and Duquesne transfer Ayden Garnes picked off a pass in the endzone to close the first half of play, and dual-sport athlete Aden Tagaloa-Nelson nabbed an interception off a Hail Mary attempt to conclude play for the day. Early enrollee and freshman Zae Jennings also made a stunning play as he intercepted a two-point conversion, aggressively ripping the ball from a receiver's hands.