Game Preview: WVU vs. Oklahoma State
Series: Tied 4-4
Last meeting: 2016: WVU 20 Oklahoma State 37
Television: 12 p.m. ABC, Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline)
No. 22 West Virginia (5-2, 3-1) is back at home and will look for a second consecutive victory over a ranked team when No. 11/12 Oklahoma State (6-1, 3-1) travels to Morgantown for a key Big 12 game.
The Mountaineers have won consecutive games after knocking off then No. 24 Texas Tech at home and surviving a furious Baylor comeback attempt a week ago as the Bears rallied from 23-points down to only be stopped on a game tying two-point conversion for the first win for the program in Waco.
This will be a meeting of two of the nation’s top offenses as West Virginia rolls in averaging 43.3 points and 539 yards per contest, good for fourth and fifth nationally in those categories. The Cowboys offense is tops in the nation in total offense at 584.6 yards per game while the Pokes are third in scoring pacing just ahead of the Mountaineers at 43.7 points per contest through seven games.
This will be the ninth all-time meeting between the two schools with the series currently split 4-4, although the Mountaineers have won two of the three meetings in Morgantown. However, the Cowboys did win the last meeting between the two in Morgantown a 33-26 overtime game.
There are obvious connections between the two programs as Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is in his 13th season atop the Cowboys football program and is the fourth tenured coach in the nation. Gundy has led the Pokes to four New Year’s Six Bowls since 2010 and has won at least ten games five times during that span with an outright Big 12 championship during the 2011 campaign.
The Oklahoma State graduate has amassed an overall record of 110-51 during his tenure in Stillwater and the Cowboys have made a bowl in 11 straight seasons, the best mark of all-time in the program.
Gundy was the head coach that hired West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen as his offensive coordinator prior to taking his current post in Morgantown where he spent one season. The two have squared off five times now since Holgorsen arrived at West Virginia, with Gundy holding a 3-2 edge.
Both teams have lost to TCU in Big 12 Conference play this season and while there are still games left on the schedule this could be looked at as a de-facto playoff game in the regards to securing a spot in the inaugural Big 12 Championship game in December.
The Oklahoma State offense is triggered by senior quarterback Mason Rudolph, who has amassed a 28-7 mark as a starting quarterback for the Cowboys in his career including winning both meetings against the Mountaineers. Rudolph will test the West Virginia secondary as he currently sits atop the nation in passing yards with 2,650 through seven games to go along with 19 touchdowns and only four picks.
Rudolph doesn’t lack in the weapons department either as senior James Washington is one of the best wide receivers in the nation with 38 catches for 914 yards and six scores, while fellow senior Marcell Ateman has hauled in 33 passes for 655 yards and four touchdowns. The third member of the pass catching trio is junior Jalen McCleskey with 33 catches for 433 yards and five touchdowns. Four others have caught at least nine passes as well for the Cowboys potent passing attack.
The Pokes aren’t just an aerial attack as well, as sophomore Justice Hill is averaging 107 yards per contest, with 750 yards and five scores. That balance has made the Cowboys one of the more difficult teams to defend in the nation behind a big and experience offensive line unit.
The Cowboys defense is coming off its best performance of the season holding Texas to 10-points in an overtime win but the Oklahoma State unit is rated as the 41st unit in the nation allowing 359.7 yards per contest and only 22.3 points per game, ranking it inside the top 50 as well.
The unit has allowed only four passing touchdowns in seven games and will square off against the nation’s leader in that department in redshirt junior quarterback Will Grier. The group is a mix of experience as well as talented options both up front and in the back end of the defense.
Kickoff is set for noon with the game televised by ABC.
West Virginia Depth Chart:
OFFENSE:
QB: 7 Will Grier, (r-Jr.), 11 Chris Chugunov, (r-So.)
RB: 25 Justin Crawford, (Sr.), 4 Kennedy McKoy, (So.), 32 Martell Pettaway, (So.)
HB: 28 Elijah Wellman, (r-Sr.), 81 Trevon Wesco, (r-Jr.)
X WR: 13 David Sills, V, (Jr.), 8 Marcus Simms (So.)
Y/H WR: 12 Gary Jennings, Jr., (Jr.), 85 Ricky Rogers, (r-Jr.)
Z WR: 2 Ka'Raun White, (r-Sr.), 6 Reggie Roberson, Jr., (Fr.)
LT: 55 Yodny Cajuste, (r-Jr.), 72 Kelby Wickline, (r-So.)
LG: 62 Kyle Bosch, (r-Sr.), 56 Grant Lingafelter (r-Sr.)
C: 79 Matt Jones, (r-So.), 58 Ray Raulerson, (r-Jr.)
RG: 73 Josh Sills, (r-Fr.), 65 Isaiah Hardy (Jr.)
RT: 53 Colton McKivitz, (r-So.), 72 Kelby Wickline, (r-So.)
DEFENSE:
DE: 88 Adam Shuler, (r-So.), 92 Jon Lewis, (r-Sr.)
NT: 49 Lamonte McDougle (Fr.), 99 Xavier Pegues, (r-Sr.),
DE: 46 Reese Donahue, (So.), 93 Ezekiel Rose, (Jr.)
SAM LB: 5 Xavier Preston, (Sr.), 33 Quondarius Qualls (Jr.)
MIKE LB: 3 Al-Rasheed Benton, (r-Sr.), 45 Adam Hensley (So.)
WILL LB: 11 David Long, Jr. (r-So.), 10 Dylan Tonkery, (r-Fr.)
SPUR: 8 Kyzir White, (Sr.), 18 Marvin Gross, Jr., (r-Sr.)
BS: 16 Toyous Avery, (r-Jr.), 1 Derrek Pitts, Jr., (Fr.)
FS: 6 Dravon Askew-Henry, (r-Jr.), 9 Jovanni Stewart, (So.)
LCB: 2 Kenny Robinson, (Fr.), 19 Elijah Battle, (Sr.)
RCB: 4 Mike Daniels, Jr., (Sr.), 24 Hakeem Bailey, (r-So.)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
K: 48 Mike Molina, (r-Sr.), 30 Evan Staley (r-Fr.)
P: 15 Billy Kinney, (r-Jr.), 43 Luke Hogan, (r-Fr.)
LS: 52 Nick Meadows, (r-Sr.), 64 Rex Sunahara, (r-So.)
H: 15 Billy Kinney, (r-Jr.), 43 Luke Hogan, (r-Fr.)
KO: 30 Evan Staley, (r-Fr.), 43 Luke Hogan, (r-Fr.)
PR: 8 Marcus Simms (So.), 13 David Sills, V, (Jr.)
KOR: 8 Marcus Simms (So.) 12 Gary Jennings, Jr., (Jr.)
NOTES:
--This year marks the 126th year of West Virginia football with the Mountaineers currently sitting in 14th place all-time in wins in college football.
--WVU is 25-24 in Big 12 Conference Games, 13-11at home. Head Coach Dana Holgorsen is 2-3 all-time against Oklahoma State with an even 1-1 record in Morgantown.
--Since 2000, West Virginia is 112-14 when scoring more than 30 points and 57-4 when scoring more than 40 points in a game. West Virginia has won 16 straight games when scoring 30 points or more.
--The Mountaineers are 83-11 since 2002 when winning the turnover battle.
--West Virginia is ranked fourth nationally in scoring offense at 43.3 points per game and fifth nationally in total offense averaging 539 yards through seven games on the season. The offense has had 24 scoring drives of 70 yards or more, all of which have resulted in touchdowns.
--In the Holgorsen era, WVU has produced 80 games with 300 or more yards, 61 games with 400 or more yards, 33 games with more than 500 yards and 17 with more than 600 yards.
--Junior David Sills 15 touchdown catches now stands alone as second place all-time in a single season at West Virginia. He trails only the 25 touchdown grabs by Stedman Bailey during the 2012 campaign.
--Under Holgorsen West Virginia has scored 30 or more points in 56 games, 40 or more points in 29 games, 50 or more points in 10 games and 60 or more points three times.
--The 2017 roster consists of 121 players from 20 different states.
--Coaching staff assignments: AHC/DC/LB Tony Gibson (field), OC/QB Jake Spavital (field), CB Doug Belk (press box), WR Tyron Carrier (field), S Matt Caponi (field), RB Tony Dews (field), LB/ST Mark Scott (press box), DL Bruce Tall (press box), OL Joe Wickline (field)
--There are 33 Mountaineers who have seen their first WVU action during the 2017 season: Hakeem Bailey (CB), Chase Behrndt (OL), Dante Bonamico (S), Druw Bowen (WR), Tevin Bush (RB), Mitch Chugunov (WR), Elijah Drummond (FB), Brendan Ferns (LB), Will Grier (QB), Isaiah Hardy (OL), Jalen Harvey (DL), Osman Kamara (S), Jake Long (CB), Sean Mahone (CB), Dominique Maiden (WR), Alejando Marenco III (WR), Lamonte McDougle (DL), Quondarius Qualls (LB), Xavier Pegues (DL) Derrek Pitts Jr. (S), Jeffery Pooler (DL), Ray Raulerson (OL), Reggie Roberson Jr (WR), Kenny Robinson (CB), Ezekiel Rose (DL), Josh Sills (OL), Evan Staley (K), Darius Stills (DL), Rex Sunahara (LS), Dylan Tonkery (LB), Kelby Wickline (OL), Corey Winfield (CB) and Jonn Young (P).
--West Virginia has run a total of 541 plays with 257 coming on the ground and 284 through the air. The rushing game has totaled 1,228 yards for an average of 4.8 per carry and 13 touchdowns. The passing attack has totaled 2,548 yards, 27 touchdowns and an average of 13.6 per completion.
--The Mountaineers have gained 70 first downs via the run and 103 with the pass. West Virginia has averaged 175.4 yards per game on the ground and 364 in the air for a total of 539.4 yards per game.
Injuries/Suspensions: Redshirt freshman linebacker Brendan Ferns will miss the remainder of the 2017 season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Redshirts: Six true freshmen played in the season opener against Virginia Tech in Tevin Bush (RB), Lamonte McDougle (DL), Derrek Pitts Jr. (S), Reggie Roberson Jr. (WR), Kenny Robinson (CB) and Darius Stills (DL).
--A total of fourteen redshirt freshmen have seen action for the Mountaineers in 2017: Chase Behrndt (OL), Dante Bonamico (S), Druw Bowen (WR), Mitch Chugunov (WR), Elijah Drummond (HB), Brendan Ferns (LB), Osman Kamara (S), Jake Long (CB), Sean Mahone (CB), Jefferey Pooler (DL), Josh Sills (OL), Evan Staley (K), Dylan Tonkery (LB), and Jonn Young (P).
--Others that have played and will not redshirt: Junior offensive lineman Isaiah Hardy, Junior wide receiver Dominique Maiden.
POINTS TO CLICK:
--Keep the Pokes passing game in check. Seems simple enough, doesn’t it? Well, it certainly is much more difficult than just saying it. Oklahoma State has the top passing attack in the nation and a quarterback that can stand in the pocket and deliver the football to a collection of impressive pass catchers. Keyed by Rudolph, the Cowboys have the third most plays of 30+ yards down the field this season and are averaging close to 400-yards per contest through the air. If West Virginia is going to win this game, it’s going to have to be able to do one of two things – pressure Rudolph enough to make him uncomfortable in the pocket and force early throws or cover in the back end. It’s hard to say which route West Virginia elects to go but to prevent big plays you could see a similar style attack to last week with the defense dropping into coverage to avoid big plays. The West Virginia secondary has had its issues at times but the Mountaineers are going to need the unit to rise to the challenge against the most explosive offense it has seen to date when the ball is in the air.
--Use the atmosphere. What happens in the stands is not going to have an effect on the field but it can certainly give some motivation and energy to help the cause. West Virginia is going to have a sold out game atmosphere that should be electric. That is something that the Mountaineers can use.
--Establish the run. One way to help neutralize an explosive offense is to keep them on the sidelines. West Virginia won’t be lining up in I-formation anytime soon, but the Mountaineers are going to have to be able to run the football better than it has for the past two weeks. West Virginia will look to get running back Justin Crawford jump started after rushing for 100-yards in each of the first five games, he has only managed only 77 yards on 24 carries in the past two contests. If not Crawford, West Virginia has proven backups that can generate yards on the ground. Head coach Dana Holgorsen has referred to it simply coming down to a better mentality and finding that will be key for the upset.
--Start fast. Oklahoma State has not allowed points in the fourth quarter in four of the seven games this season and only a total of 20 on the season. In order to make the crowd a factor in this game, West Virginia is going to need to reverse that trend and get some points on the board early. This game has a high shootout appeal and it would be surprising if points aren’t coming in bunches in this one.
--Six, not three. For the first time this season, West Virginia will go against an offense that on paper is statistically better than it is in several different categories. That means the offense is going to be challenged to score points and it isn’t going to want to settle for field goals. This has definitely been the exception this season instead of the rule, but putting the ball into the end zone and taking advantage of scoring opportunities will be crucial against an offensive attack as potent as Oklahoma State.
--Special teams. Just go ahead and take out a space for this point every week, because it’s going to be there. Special teams have been a sore subject at times this year for West Virginia as the Mountaineers have struggled in different areas throughout the year. However, the unit is coming off a pair of solid performances in that area and has only continued to improve. Big mistakes have cost the program dearly in previous losses this season in the third phase and they’ll need to avoid it here.
--Turnovers. West Virginia is 83-11 since 2002 when winning the turnover battle which is a very telling sign. The Mountaineers will need to take care of the football if they want to beat a team as talented as Oklahoma State. West Virginia has been better than Oklahoma State in the turnover margin to date and that will need to continue in this one. Last season the difference in the game was the 17-points the Pokes were able to cash in on West Virginia turnovers.
