Win number one is officially in the books for Rich Rodriguez to start off his second tenure as head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers. After four first half fumbles, three of them lost to the opponent, it is highly unlikely that Rodriguez was a happy camper in the locker room at halftime. As heavy favorites, WVU took just a 10-3 lead into the half.
However, a much cleaner second-half allowed WVU football to cover the 38.5 point spread and win by a final score of 45-3. While you can only get so much knowledge of your favorite team from a buy game against an FCS opponent, let's take a look at some of the things we did end up learning from the Week 1 victory.
Nicco Marchiol Appears To Be The Guy
One of the biggest storylines all offseason long was the WVU quarterback situation. As a matter of fact, the WVU depth chart this week didn’t even list an official starter at the position. Despite all the talk of and potential for multiple signal callers getting significant playing time against Robert Morris, it was Nicco Marchiol alone who played through three-plus quarters.
Jaylen Henderson checked in with 12 minutes to go and a 31-3 lead for WVU. Freshman Scotty Fox checked in with 4 minutes and a 38-3 lead. He then proceeded to score on a 59-yard touchdown run. Khalil Wilkins led the offense on the last drive and scampered for a 9-yard run and a 15-yard run (fumbling on the final play of the game) before the clock ran out. Interestingly, the over we set on the our over/unders for the game earlier this week was 3.5 quarterbacks seeing action. Max Brown, the Charlotte transfer quarterback also in the five-man battle, was not dressed for the game.
So is Nicco the guy? He appears to be. While it was certainly expected for Henderson to see the field, it was expected to happen earlier than it did. In addition to the limited action of the other candidates, Marchiol had a very nice day for himself that left little doubt as to his ability to lead the team. Marchiol finished the day completing 17 of his 20 pass attempts for 224 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball 13 times for 56 yards and a touchdown. On the road against Ohio next weekend, Marchiol will likely start at quarterback. Rodriguez has given us no reason to believe otherwise.
Linebackers Might Be The Most Impressive Position Group On The Team
Linebackers Chase Wilson and Reid Carrico, along with bandit Braden Siders (which is a hybrid linebacker/defensive end type of spot) were active throughout the game. Wilson totaled six tackles (1.5 TFL) and one sack. Carrico had four tackles (2 TFL) and one sack, Siders was solid in the first half with a pass deflection and a fumble recovery. On a team consisting of 81 new players, it was nice to see the continuity amongst this position group. On the day, Robert Morris had 37 carries for 53 yards, good for 1.4 yards per carry. While defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV may have had the best individual defensive performance with 2 sacks and 2.5 TFLs, it was the linebacker group that turned heads today.
West Virginia Cannot Afford To Turn The Ball Over
With all due respect to Robert Morris and their football program, if West Virginia were to cough up the football as often as they did today against Big 12 opponents, it would most likely result in losses at the end of the day. It certainly even made things a bit dicey early against the Colonials.
Losing three fumbles in the first half alone is not only bizarre but extremely costly. The WVU defense allowed just 81 yards of offense to Robert Morris in the first half, and the WVU offense gained 234 yards in the first half, and yet they only held a 7-point halftime lead. First-half fumbles by Cam Vaughn, Oran Singleton, and Grayson Barnes allowed the Colonials to stay in the ball game during the first half. West Virginia must clean this up as it prepares for stiffer competition.
Zac Alley’s Defense Will Be Fun To Watch
Zac Alley’s debut in Morgantown is in the books, and it has left West Virginia fans hungry for more. His defensive scheme with players flying around and disrupting plays in the backfield is sure to cause fits for opposing offenses, and the Mountaineers have already forced two turnovers this season. While it was against an FCS opponent, the matchup with Robert Morris offered a glimpse into why Alley is a highly-touted defensive coordinator at a young age.
Jahiem White and Cam Vaughn Will Be Of The Utmost Importance This Season
It’s no secret that Jahiem White is a star. Coming off two solid seasons in the gold and blue, everyone in the Big 12 has their eyes on what White is going to do in Rich Rod’s offense. In week 1, he finished with 18 carries, 93 yards, and twp touchdowns. The only other running backs to receive carries were Cyncir Bowers and Clay Ash. Diore Hubbard and Tye Edwards did not get carries despite seeing the field. With CJ Donaldson now at Ohio State (where he picked up 67 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries in the Buckeyes’ win over No. 1 Texas on Saturday), White is the unquestioned workhorse in this WVU offense. If the Mountaineers are able to find success this season, it is likely that Jahiem White is a major reason why.
Cam Vaughn led the Mountaineers in receptions (7) and yards today (126) and caught the game’s only touchdown through the air on a beautiful over-the-shoulder grab good for 46 yards. Coming over from Jacksonville State, expectations were high for Vaughn entering the season. After just one week, he appears to already have a good connection with Marchiol as a go-to receiver. Similar to White’s impact, more impressive outings from Vaughn could lead to wins for the Mountaineers.