Final game of the regular season for the Mountaineers as they will await their bowl assignment after this one. The WU players will take a shot today at trying to play themselves into a Holiday Bowl spot in California.
–Great start for the offense as Geno Smith hit Stedman Bailey on a deep post pattern for a 45-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. The Mountaineers would finish the drive off on a short run by Andrew Buie.
–Dayne Crist is the starter at quarterback for Kansas as the Jayhawks hope to be able to throw the ball on WVU today. Redshirt freshman Michael Cummings had started the last five games at quarterback for Kansas. Kansas had relied primarily on its ground game in recent weeks.
–Another big play for the Mountaineer passing game. This time the senior Smith hooks up with senior J. D. Woods for a 50 yard gain to the Kansas 30. Woods made a great catch after being bumped by the Kansas defender who had stumbled and was falling down. Woods twisted his body and reached back to make the grab. The play occured following a personal foul penalty for a chop block against Mountaineer lineman Josh Jenkins that had put the Mountaineers into a 2nd-and-24 situation. The Mountaineers overcame another offensive line penalry on the drive. Following a hold, Tavon Austin made a catch on a crossing route down to the three yard line. Alston would score the touchdown from two yards out. That drive started after the defense came up with a turnover. Freshman Karl Joseph got an interception on a tipped ball down near the WVU goal line.
–First big play on the ground came on WVU’s first possession of the 2nd quarter. Tavon Austin gained 31 yards on the first play of the drive. The Mountaineers also got a 19-yard completion from Smith to Bailey down to the Kansas 11. Bailey would get the touchdown on a short pass play to make it 21-0.
–Austin had another big play on a 44-yard gain to the Kansas 15. That play set up WVU’s fourth touchdown of the day. The big catch and run came on the play following a sack. Austiin got ten more on an end-around to the Kansas 5-yard line. Alston would get his second touchdown of the day on a 1-yard run.
–Geno Smith has thrown for over 200 yards in the first half. He hit Bailey for a 25 yard gain. Smith then hit Austin for a 32-yard gain to the Kansas ten. Woods got his fourth touchdown reception of the season on the drive to put the Mountaineers up 35-7 in the second quarter. Woods has had a very productive senior season as he has three catches today in the first half to give him 55 on the season. Woods had 25 catches combined over the previous two seasons.
–Smith is 14-15 passing for 279 yards in the first half.
–Redshirt junior Nick Kindler has played most of this half at right tackle. Kindler replaced Curtis Feigt who committed a holding penalty. Feigt had started five consecutive games at that position.
–The Mountianeers have gone with their veteran corners in this game. Broderick Jenkins is back from an injury as he started the game and played the entire first half. Jenkins had not started a game since Texas Tech. He had missed completely the Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Iowa State games. The Mountaineers have also used freshman Garrett Hope a good bit an an outside linebacker position.
–Halftime stats: The Mountaineers have outgained Kansas 390-170. WVU is 5-6 on third down plays and they are 5-5 scoring touchdowns when getting into the red zone. The only Smith incompletion was an intercepted pass. Kansas has rushed for only 85 yards as it came into the game with the #2 ranked rushing offense in the conference at 217 yards per game. Kansas passers are a combined 3-10.
–The Mountaineers have outscored Kansas 10-0 so far in the second half as Geno Smith threw yet another touchdown pass to Stedman Bailey to cap a three play drive full of big plays. The WVU defense is having one of its best games of the season as it has held Kansas to four consecutive three-and-outs. Karl Joseph just missed his second interception of the game as a pass went through his hands. He likely would have returned it for a touchdown.