Last Saturday in a Big Twelve match-up, the West Virginia Mountaineers fell to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Cowboys pulled away late in the second half with a final score of 27-13. It was a rough afternoon for both teams to say the least. Chubba Hubbard, running back for the Cowboys had two costly fumbles which sidelined him for most of the time. In stepped L.D. Brown who rushed for an additional 103 yards and a swift score in the first half. The run game was flowing for Oklahoma State (2-0, #15 Big12). Quarterback Shane Illingworth was not so hot either. Having thrown for under 150 yards and one interception. Hubbard and the Cowboys seem like they are still knocking rust off, but when they get going on offense its fun to watch.
The Mountaineers (1-1, Big12) statistically did not even do that bad on paper but could just not make it count in the end. At the helm was Jarret Doege, throwing for just under 300 yards on 20 completions and a touchdown. Early on, Doege got sacked and fumbled the ball allowing the Cowboys to get a go-ahead scoop and score. The offensive linemen for the Mountaineers did not seem in sync. Doege was pressured a lot in the pocket so we will see if they can clean that up for next week. Sophomore receiver Winston Wright Jr. had his first career 100 yard receiving game with 127 yards on 6 catches with a touchdown to go along with it. Leddie Brown had a nice game on the ground by rushing for 104 yards.
Defensively both teams played very sound. Neither offense seemed like it could get a spark. The Cowboys and Mountaineers came up with some nice turnovers as well. Seemed like the defensive guys were ready to play on both sides that afternoon. There were two breakout plays that seemed like it would have created some rhythm, but it just was not happening. Early in the first quarter Cowboys running back L.D Brown took off for a 66-yard touchdown and then the Mountaineer answered right back with a 65-yard toss to Winston Wright Jr. We will be hearing from Head Coach of the Mountaineers later today on September 29.
Next weekend on the Saturday the 3rd, the Mountaineers head back to Morgantown and face off against the Baylor Bears (1-0 Big12). This will be another grueling test for the Mountaineers. Bears have a promising running back in Trestan Ebner, who last week returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and catching another in their blowout victory over the Kansas Jayhawks. As for the Cowboys, they look to take on the not so hot Jayhawks. Head coach Les Miles of Kansas really needs to hope for a miracle this weekend in hopes of turning that ship around in Lawrence. You can never be too sure in the Big Twelve though, given Kansas State upset #4 Oklahoman in Normandy last Saturday. A lot of things will be shifting around the conference in the next few weeks.
Tanner Halstead 