West Virginia Mountaineers (CFB 25)

[superjames1992]

College Football 25 finally got me to upgrade consoles (to the Xbox Series X), so I am back with another college football dynasty! For this one, I am going back to basics and playing as my favorite team (West Virginia). I am hoping things will be interesting, even not starting from the bottom, as WVU isn't particularly elite, though the Big 12 is wide open, so the range of possibilities year 1 is very wide (from missing a bowl to winning the conference). I'll be taking over as head coach of West Virginia, Neal Brown. The game has him on a two-year contract with the expectation of making a bowl game, which should hopefully be doable.

I am still settling into settings, but I am going with 12-minute quarters, at least (EDIT: Actually, leaning towards 11 minutes now).

I was originally going to see if EA came out with a patch to fix some of the sim logic and polling issues, but that's taking a while and, to be honest, it's not really game-breaking at this point. And the gameplay in CFB 25 is too amazing to pass up! I am a little nervous that if they do eventually "fix" these issues, it will require restarting the dynasty to implement, but that's a bridge I'll cross when I need to, if I ever do.

[superjames1992]

Reserved...

[superjames1992]

Reserved....

[superjames1992]

Reserved.....

[superjames1992]

2024 West Virginia Mountaineers Season Preview

College Football Rankings - AP Top 25 - Updated: Aug 1, 2024
RK	TEAM (VOTES)	RECORD
1	Georgia (35)	0-0
2	Ohio State (26)	0-0
3	Texas (1)	0-0
4	Oregon	0-0
5	Ole Miss	0-0
6	Alabama	0-0
7	Penn State	0-0
8	Notre Dame	0-0
9	Michigan	0-0
10	Missouri	0-0
11	Florida State	0-0
12	Utah	0-0
13	LSU	0-0
14	Oklahoma	0-0
15	Tennessee	0-0
16	Arizona	0-0
17	Clemson	0-0
18	Oklahoma State	0-0
19	Kansas State	0-0
20	Louisville	0-0
21	Kansas	0-0
22	NC State	0-0
23	Miami	0-0
24	Texas A&M	0-0
25	USC	0-0

2024 West Virginia Mountaineers Offensive Roster
#	NAME (OVERALL RATING)	POS	HT	WT	CLASS	HOMETOWN
6	Garrett Greene (88)	QB	5'11"	201	Sr	Tallahassee, FL
8	Nicco Marchiol (78)	QB	6'1"	223	RSo	Chandler, AZ
18	Ryder Burton (73)	QB	6'2"	205	RFr	Springville, UT
17	Khalil Wilkins (67)	QB	6'3"	190	Fr	Upper Marlboro, MD
15	Scott King (59)	QB	6'2"	203	RSo	Weston, FL
4	CJ Donaldson Jr. (84)	HB	6'2"	238	Jr	Miami, FL
22	Jahiem White (84)	HB	5'7"	195	So	York, PA
26	Trae'von Dunbar (67)	HB	5'10"	205	Fr	Graniteville, SC
43	Colin McBee (74)	FB	6'0"	239	RSo	Morgantown, WV
84	Hudson Clement (82)	WR	6'1"	198	RSo	Martinsburg, WV
3	Justin Robinson (80)	WR	6'4"	220	Sr	McDonough, GA
5	Jaden Bray (78)	WR	6'2"	205	RJr	Norman, OK
7	Traylon Ray (77)	WR	6'1"	195	So	Tallahassee, FL
29	Preston Fox (76)	WR	5'10"	191	RJr	Morgantown, WV
2	Rodney Gallagher II (73)	WR	5'10"	178	So	Uniontown, PA
10	Jarel Williams (71)	WR	6'2"	204	RSo	Saraland, AL
19	Ric'Darious Farmer (68)	WR	5'11"	160	Fr	Melbourne, FL
25	Keyshawn Robinson (66)	WR	5'11"	175	Fr	Shenandoah Junction, WV
83	C.J. Cole (58)	WR	6'4"	206	RJr	Washington, PA
81	Treylan Davis (79)	TE	6'3"	265	RJr	Jackson, OH
34	Quinnen Hinton (74)	TE	6'6"	255	Sr	Bluefield, WV
89	Garrett Morton (72)	TE	6'6"	260	So	Huntington, WV
86	Will Dixon (70)	TE	6'5"	244	RSo	Hillsborough, NJ
80	TJ Johnson (70)	TE	6'3"	223	RFr	Chesapeake, WV
88	Jack Sammarco (67)	TE	6'5"	238	Fr	Cincinnati, OH
43	Austin Brinkman (59)	TE	6'4"	241	Sr	Bel Air, MD
74	Wyatt Milum (90)	LT	6'6"	317	Sr	Kenova, WV
60	Johnny Williams IV (70)	LT	6'7"	315	RFr	Macon, GA
70	Lucas Austin (68)	LT	6'7"	265	Fr	Sterling, IL
55	Tomas Rimac (82)	LG	6'6"	318	RJr	Brunswick, OH
56	Sullivan Weidman (75)	LG	6'5"	318	RSo	Franklin, MA
63	Bryce Biggs (69)	LG	6'4"	305	RJr	Ashland, KY
50	Brandon Yates (81)	C	6'4"	310	RSr	Middletown, DE
67	Landen Livingston (76)	C	6'4"	295	RSo	Leo, IN
59	Kyle Altuner (70)	C	6'3"	290	Fr	Olney, MD
66	Ja'Quay Hubbard (83)	RG	6'5"	322	RSr	Hermitage, PA
71	Maurice Hamilton (74)	RG	6'3"	340	RSo	Cleveland, OH
64	Cooper Young (69)	RG	6'5"	319	RFr	Downingtown, PA
78	Xavier Bausley (76)	RT	6'4"	308	RSo	Dunbar, WV
58	Nick Malone (75)	RT	6'5"	298	RSr	Morgantown, WV
52	Nick Krahe (67)	RT	6'6"	304	RFr	Erie, PA

2024 West Virginia Mountaineers Defensive Roster
#	NAME (OVERALL RATING)	POS	HT	WT	CLASS	HOMETOWN
5	Sean Martin (79)	LE	6'5"	295	Sr	Bluefield, WV
11	T.J. Jackson (77)	LE	6'1"	282	Sr	Millbrook, AL
95	Zachariah Keith (73)	LE	6'6"	265	RFr	Atlanta, GA
38	Makai Byerson (68)	LE	6'4"	235	Fr	Midlothian, VA
97	Elijah Kinsler (66)	LE	6'3"	260	Fr	Oradell, NJ
8	Tyrin Bradley (79)	RE	6'2"	255	Sr	Lubbock, TX
47	Ty French (78)	RE	6'1"	225	Sr	Moultrie, GA
45	Taurus Simmons (76)	RE	6'2"	250	Sr	Savannah, GA
31	Obinna Onwuka (69)	RE	6'4"	233	Fr	Upper Marlboro, MD
54	Fatorma Mulbah (83)	DT	6'4"	306	RSr	Harrisburg, PA
96	Edward Vesterinen (78)	DT	6'3"	285	Sr	Helsinki, Finland
99	Hammond Russell IV (74)	DT	6'3"	308	RJr	Dublin, OH
92	Asani Redwood (72)	DT	6'3"	290	RSo	Suwanee, GA
53	Markeese Moore (68)	DT	6'3"	307	Fr	Chantilly, VA
69	Nate Gabriel (66)	DT	6'3"	315	Fr	Auburndale, FL
48	Rickey Williams (68)	LOLB	6'2"	215	Fr	Akron, OH
15	Ben Cutter (74)	MLB	6'0"	225	So	Denver, NC
40	Josiah Trotter (73)	MLB	6'2"	238	RFr	Philadelphia, PA
36	Caden Buser (72)	MLB	6'0"	232	RJr	Keyser, WV
4	Trey Lathan (78)	ROLB	6'1"	226	RSo	Goulds, FL
35	Reid Carrico (77)	ROLB	6'2	232	RJr	Ironton, OH
33	Jairo Faverus (67)	ROLB	6'0"	224	RJr	Amsterdam, Netherlands
7	Kekoura Tarnue (82)	CB	6'1"	195	Sr	Monrovia, Liberia
20	Ayden Garnes (80)	CB	6'0"	175	RJr	Philadelphia, PA
6	Jacolby Spells (79)	CB	5'11"	186	Jr	Fort Lauderdale, FL
23	TJ Crandall (79)	CB	6'0"	181	So	Sammamish, WA
5	Dontez Fagan (75)	CB	6'0"	175	Jr	Ardmore, OK
25	Jordan Jackson (73)	CB	5'11"	183	RFr	Fairfield, OH
1	Garnett Hollis Jr. (72)	CB	6'1"	201	RSr	Nashville, TN
46	Keon Wingate (67)	CB	5'9"	174	Fr	Huntington, WV
18	Israel Boyce (67)	CB	5'11"	190	Fr	Douglasville, GA
2	Aubrey Burks (87)	FS	5'11"	209	Sr	Oakridge, FL
22	Josiah Jackson (73)	FS	6'0"	190	RFr	Fairfield, OH
29	Marcus Murantt (69)	FS	6'1"	194	So	Charleston, WV
39	Jason Cross (69)	FS	6'2"	165	Fr	Pittsburgh, PA
12	Anthony Wilson (79)	SS	5'9"	199	RSr	Columbia, SC
32	Raleigh Collins III (74)	SS	6'3"	208	RSo	Newark, DE
34	Avery Wilcox (70)	SS	6'0"	207	RJr	Ft. Mill, SC
17	Zae Jennings (69)	SS	6'0"	185	Fr	Cincinnati, OH
28	Aden Tagaloa-Nelson (65)	SS	6'1"	200	RFr	Lexington, KY

2024 West Virginia Mountaineers Special Teams Roster
#	NAME (OVERALL RATING)	POS	HT	WT	CLASS	HOMETOWN
22	Michael Hayes (70)	K	5'9"	185	RSr	Florence, SC
42	RJ Kocan (61)	K	5'10"	236	RSo	West Islip, NY
41	Oliver Straw (80)	P	6'2"	210	Jr	Melbourne, Australia

West Virginia Mountaineers 2024 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Aug 31	vs #7 Penn State Nittany Lions
Sep 7	vs Albany Great Danes
Sep 14	at Pittsburgh Panthers
Sep 21	vs #21 Kansas Jayhawks
Oct 5	at #18 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oct 12	vs Iowa State Cyclones
Oct 19	vs #19 Kansas State Wildcats
Oct 26	at #16 Arizona Wildcats
Nov 9	at Cincinnati Bearcats
Nov 16	vs Baylor Bears
Nov 23	vs UCF Knights
Nov 30	at Texas Tech Red Raiders

Season Outlook

The 2024 season is set to be a defining one for the West Virginia Mountaineers. Coming off an impressive 9-4 campaign and bowl win, and with a mix of seasoned veterans and promising young talent, Head Coach Neal Brown is poised to lead this team through a challenging schedule and into the national spotlight.

Offense

Quarterbacks
Leading the charge for the Mountaineers is senior quarterback Garrett Greene. Greene, a dynamic and versatile player, brings experience and a dual-threat capability that will keep defenses on their toes. Backing him up is redshirt sophomore Nicco Marchiol, who has shown glimpses of his potential and is ready to step in if needed.

Running Backs
The backfield duo of CJ Donaldson Jr. and Jahiem White promises to be a formidable force. Donaldson Jr., a bruising runner with the ability to break tackles and gain tough yards, will be complemented by the explosive speed and agility of White, who emerged as a key playmaker last season.

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
At receiver, the Mountaineers are anchored by Hudson Clement and Justin Robinson. Clement, with his reliable hands and route-running precision, is set to be Greene's go-to target, while Robinson’s size and athleticism make him a deep threat. Tight end Treylan Davis will provide a big target over the middle, crucial for both blocking schemes and the passing game.

Offensive Line
The offensive line is anchored by senior left tackle Wyatt Milum, whose protection of Greene's blindside will be pivotal. The line's experience and cohesion, featuring standout performers like Tomas Rimac at guard and Brandon Yates at center, will be key in both pass protection and opening up lanes for the running backs.

Defense

Defensive Line
The defensive front is highlighted by the presence of Sean Martin and Tyrin Bradley on the ends. Martin’s ability to disrupt the backfield and Bradley’s consistent pressure off the edge will be crucial in setting the tone. Inside, Fatorma Mulbah provides a strong presence at defensive tackle, clogging up running lanes and collapsing the pocket.

Linebackers
At linebacker, Trey Lathan and Reid Carrico lead the charge. Lathan’s athleticism and ability to cover ground make him a playmaker, while Carrico’s football IQ and tackling prowess are vital for the defense's success.

Secondary
The secondary is anchored by senior free safety Aubrey Burks, whose leadership and ball-hawking skills are indispensable. Cornerbacks Kekoura Tarnue and Ayden Garnes provide solid coverage and physicality, while strong safety Anthony Wilson rounds out the group with his ability to step up in run support and cover tight ends and slot receivers.

Special Teams

On special teams, punter Oliver Straw, known for his strong leg and precision, will be a key asset in flipping field position. Kicker Michael Hayes will be relied upon for consistency in scoring opportunities, particularly in close games.

Schedule Overview

The Mountaineers' 2024 schedule is a gauntlet that will test their mettle from the outset. They kick off the season against the #7 Penn State Nittany Lions, a game that will provide an early measure of where this team stands. Key matchups include home games against #21 Kansas and #19 Kansas State, as well as tough road tests at #18 Oklahoma State and #16 Arizona. The third game of the season, at Pittsburgh, will also be a big one as the Mountaineers hope to win their second in a row over hated Pitt.

Final Thoughts

This season holds significant promise for the Mountaineers. With a balanced team of experienced leaders like Garrett Greene and emerging stars like Jahiem White, West Virginia is well-positioned to compete in the Big 12. The key will be staying healthy and executing consistently against a very formidable schedule. If the Mountaineers can rise to the occasion, competing for a conference title and maybe even a playoff berth is not out of the cards. But if they falter, with their grueling schedule even a bowl appearance could slip away.

[Deuce2223]

Re: West Virginia Mountaineers (CFB 25)

Good to see you my friend. You know I will be following... Rebuilds are fun, but playing with your favorite team has alot of perks as well.

[superjames1992]

Re: West Virginia Mountaineers (CFB 25)

Good to see you my friend. You know I will be following... Rebuilds are fun, but playing with your favorite team has alot of perks as well.

Yes, good to see you, as well! I need to catch up on all the other dynasties on here!

I played a test season with WVU on a modified AA set I found on here and won a National Championship with WVU in my first season (though I did lose three games still), so I think I'm going to have to go with a Heisman set. It was really a blast playing, but winning every game gets old eventually, especially with a team that shouldn't be winning so much.

There's enough parity in the Big 12 that WVU competing for, or even winning, the Big 12 Title is very plausible, but this team shouldn't be winning a natty.

I definitely always enjoy a good rebuild, but it's been so long since this game has been out that I figured I'd just roll with WVU for now, at least. And WVU isn't a powerhouse by any means, so there should be some amount of building to do here, anyways.

[Deuce2223]

Re: West Virginia Mountaineers (CFB 25)

Yes, good to see you, as well! I need to catch up on all the other dynasties on here!

I played a test season with WVU on a modified AA set I found on here and won a National Championship with WVU in my first season (though I did lose three games still), so I think I'm going to have to go with a Heisman set. It was really a blast playing, but winning every game gets old eventually, especially with a team that shouldn't be winning so much.

There's enough parity in the Big 12 that WVU competing for, or even winning, the Big 12 Title is very plausible, but this team shouldn't be winning a natty.

I definitely always enjoy a good rebuild, but it's been so long since this game has been out that I figured I'd just roll with WVU for now, at least. And WVU isn't a powerhouse by any means, so there should be some amount of building to do here, anyways.

Have you tried Armor and Swords 12 minute AA Sliders. So far I have had had lot of close games, but moving BSU to the Pac-12/14 has also basically made every game a challenge. My Ranking is 86/84/86. Washington and Utah are 85, USC is 86, Oregon is a 89, Cal and UCLA 84, Stanford 83, BYU, Washington State and Oregon State all 81, so I have had alot of close games, but at the same time and okay with winning. I made my coach a OC, so at some point in my Dynasty I will look at going somewhere and rebuilding but for now my quest is a Natty.

[superjames1992]

Re: West Virginia Mountaineers (CFB 25)

Have you tried Armor and Swords 12 minute AA Sliders. So far I have had had lot of close games, but moving BSU to the Pac-12/14 has also basically made every game a challenge. My Ranking is 86/84/86. Washington and Utah are 85, USC is 86, Oregon is a 89, Cal and UCLA 84, Stanford 83, BYU, Washington State and Oregon State all 81, so I have had alot of close games, but at the same time and okay with winning. I made my coach a OC, so at some point in my Dynasty I will look at going somewhere and rebuilding but for now my quest is a Natty.

Yeah, Armor and Sword's AA sliders were actually the ones I was using. I tried toughening them up a bit as the season progressed, but that seemed to be a losing battle. It is unfortunate as the games were really fun and they played very well, so hopefully they work with a lot of folks (as they seem to be)!

I ended up opting for Canes21's latest set. They may be nearly too tough for me, but I'd prefer that than too easy for this dynasty, I think.

I've never been able to do the OC thing in this game (or NCAA 14) because I hate super simming, haha.

[superjames1992]

Re: West Virginia Mountaineers (CFB 25)

By the way, I will do "Around College Football" recaps periodically with top 25, standings, etc., but I don't think I am going to do them every week. It's kind of nice to, but it makes doing the seasons a bit too much of a grind for my tastes...and I've done enough seasons of dynasties to get a feel for how much is too much for me, haha...I've done 'too much' in the past and flamed out...I now have 17 years of experience doing this...that feels so weird to say.

[superjames1992]

Turnovers Prove Costly in Mountaineers’ Heartbreaking Loss to No. 7 Penn State

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In a game that showcased the heart and resilience of the West Virginia Mountaineers, costly turnovers ultimately paved the way for No. 7 Penn State's 45-35 victory at Milan Puskar Stadium on Saturday in both teams' season openers.

The Mountaineers (0-1) started strong, with CJ Donaldson Jr. punching in a 2-yard touchdown run to put West Virginia on the board first. Penn State (1-0) quickly responded, and the first quarter ended in a 7-7 deadlock.

The Mountaineers’ fortunes took a turn for the worse in the second quarter. First, Kaden Saunders caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Drew Allar to put the Nittany Lions up 14-7. Then Garrett Greene threw an interception that was returned 47 yards for a touchdown by Jalen Kimber, a devastating pick-six that shifted momentum firmly in Penn State's favor and put Penn State up 21-7. The Nittany Lions capitalized on two more Mountaineer turnovers over the course of the game, both resulting in touchdown drives.

Nicholas Singleton punched in another touchdown later in the second quarter, giving Penn State a commanding 28-7 lead. West Virginia did respond before halftime, though, with Garrett Green hitting Justin Robinson for a touchdown connection in the back of the end zone to keep the game respectable at the half, 28-14.

Despite the turnovers, West Virginia's offense outgained Penn State 412 yards to 367, with Garrett Greene throwing for 271 yards and three touchdowns. The senior signal caller threw the costly interception, though, and also lost a fumble in the second half.

The Mountaineers showed their mettle in the fourth quarter, staging a valiant comeback attempt. Garrett Greene connected with Jaden Bray for a 28-yard touchdown, and then with Traylon Ray for a 15-yard score, cutting the deficit to 45-35 with under a minute to play.

West Virginia’s special teams delivered in the clutch, recovering two consecutive onside kicks to keep hope alive for the Mountaineer faithful. Yet, the offense couldn't capitalize on the final recovery, going four-and-out on their last drive. Penn State ran out the clock, sealing their victory.

CJ Donaldson Jr. was a bright spot for the Mountaineers, with two rushing touchdowns and 88 all-purpose yards, including 54 yards rushing. Jaden Bray led all receivers with 95 yards and a touchdown, while Justin Robinson and Traylon Ray each added scores through the air.

On the defensive side, Anthony Wilson recorded 13 tackles, while Aubrey Brooks and Reid Carrico contributed nine and eight tackles, respectively.

"We showed a lot of fight tonight," said head coach Neal Brown. "But against a team like Penn State, you can't afford to give them extra opportunities. We need to clean up those mistakes and focus on finishing strong."

Nicholas Singleton was the lifeblood of Penn State's offense today with 174 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Drew Allar threw for an efficient 186 yards and a touchdown, completing 20 of his 23 pass attempts. Senior tight end Tyler Warren led the Nittany Lions in receiving with 48 yards on two catches.

The Mountaineers will look to bounce back next week as they host a much easier FCS opponent as Albany will come to Morgantown. Despite the loss, the team's resilience and ability to stay relatively competitive against a top-10 opponent despite such a sloppy effort gives fans hope for the season ahead, much like last season's season-opener against Penn State in Happy Valley did.

Penn State Nittany Lions at West Virginia Mountaineers
Aug 31, 2024	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
#7 Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0)	7	21	7	10	45
West Virginia Mountaineers (0-1)	7	7	7	14	35

Team Stats Comparison
	PSU	WVU
Total Offense	367	412
Rushing Yards	181	141
Passing Yards	186	271
First Downs	20	28
Punt Return Yards	0	7
Kick Return Yards	37	0
Total Yards	404	419
Turnovers	1	3
3rd Down Conversion	6-10	7-14
4th Down Conversion	2-2	2-4
2-Point Conversion	0-0	1-2
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	7-4-1	5-4-0
Penalties	2-20	5-35
Possession Time	20:46	23:!4

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		PSU	WVU
6:23	(WVU) CJ Donaldson Jr., 2 yard run	0	7
4:04	(PSU) Kaytron Allen, 19 yard run	7	7
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		PSU	WVU
8:38	(PSU) Kaden Saunders, 4 yard pass from Drew Allar	14	7
7:16	(PSU) Jalen Kimber, returned interception 47 yards	21	7
1:56	(PSU) Nicholas Singleton, 1 yard run	28	7
0:12	(WVU) Justin Robinson, 12 yard pass from Garrett Greene	28	14
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		PSU	WVU
9:02	(PSU) Nicholas Singleton, 22 yard run	35	14
3:39	(WVU) CJ Donaldson Jr., 1 yard run	35	21
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		PSU	WVU
10:24	(PSU) Nicholas Singleton, 2 yard run	42	21
4:54	(PSU) Chase Meyer, 29 yard field goal	45	21
1:45	(WVU) Jaden Bray, 28 yard pass from Garrett Greene (2-Pt)	45	29
0:52	(WVU) Traylon Ray, 15 yard pass from Garrett Greene (2-Pt failed)	45	35

Penn State Nittany Lions PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Drew Allar 20/23 186 1 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Nicholas Singleton 26 174 6.6 3 Kaytron Allen 1 19 19.0 1 Drew Allar 2 -12 -6.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Tyler Warren 2 48 24.0 0 Harrison Wallace III 6 36 6.0 0 Julian Fleming 4 35 8.7 0 Nicholas Singleton 1 28 28.0 0 Liam Clifford 4 21 5.2 0 Kaden Saunders 2 13 6.5 1 Jerry Cross 1 5 5.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Kobe King 16 0.5 0 0 Zakee Wheatley 15 0.0 0 0 Kevin Winston Jr. 10 0.0 0 0 Tony Rojas 9 1.0 0 0 Abdul Carter 9 3.0 0 0 Jalen Kimber 5 0.0 1 1 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Chase Meyer 1/1 6/6 9 30 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Joseph Allen Jr. 1 43 43.0 0

West Virginia Mountaineers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Garrett Greene 23/39 271 3 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD CJ Donaldson Jr. 13 54 4.1 2 Garrett Greene 17 51 3.0 0 Jahiem White 9 36 4.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Jaden Bray 6 95 15.8 1 Justin Robinson 6 46 7.6 1 CJ Donaldson Jr. 3 34 11.3 0 Hudson Clement 3 34 11.3 0 Traylan Ray 2 30 15.0 1 Preston Fox 2 28 14.0 0 Treylan Davis 1 4 4.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Anthony Wilson 13 0.0 0 0 Aubrey Brooks 9 0.0 0 0 Reid Carrico 8 0.0 0 0 Raleigh Collins III 7 0.0 0 0 Ben Cutter 6 0.0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Michael Hayes 0/0 3/3 3 N/A PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Oliver Straw 1 47 47.0 0

[superjames1992]

Mountaineers Bounce Back With Dominant Win Over Albany

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After last weekend's heart-wrenching loss to No. 7 Penn State, the West Virginia Mountaineers (1-1) found their stride with a resounding 42-6 victory over the Albany Great Danes (0-1) on Saturday.

The Mountaineers’ defense, which struggled against Penn State, showed marked improvement. They limited Albany to just six points and 282 yards of total offense. The difference in competition level was evident, as the Great Danes are an FCS team, but the defensive performance provided a much-needed confidence boost.

West Virginia's offense was in full throttle from the start. Quarterback Garrett Greene led the charge, completing 20 of 26 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns before exiting the game early in the third quarter with the game already well in hand. Jaden Bray was his favorite target, hauling in two touchdown passes, including a 6-yard strike in the first quarter that set the tone for the game.

Albany managed to get on the board with a 51-yard field goal by Andy McFoles late in the first quarter after Garrett Green and Jaden Bray hooked up for a 6-yard touchdown pass on West Virginia's opening drive, but the Mountaineers responded with a dominant second quarter. CJ Donaldson Jr. powered his way into the end zone from 1 yard out, followed by a 23-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Clement and a 17-yard connection with Bray just before halftime. The Mountaineers took a commanding 28-3 lead into the locker room.

West Virginia continued to pull away in the third quarter. Garrett Greene found Treylan Davis for a 9-yard touchdown, his last play of the day, and CJ Donaldson Jr. added his second rushing touchdown of the game with a 3-yard run. Albany managed another field goal late in the third quarter, but it was little more than a consolation as the Mountaineers cruised to a comfortable victory.

CJ Donaldson Jr. led the rushing attack with 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 14 carries, while reserve tailback Trae'von Dunbar got a lot of playing time in the fourth quarter and made the most of it with 50 yards rushing on eight attempts. The Mountaineers amassed 527 yards of total offense, including 303 through the air and 224 on the ground.

The defensive standout for West Virginia was Ben Cutter, who recorded nine tackles. The Mountaineers held Albany to just one third-down conversion on nine attempts, a stark contrast to their struggles against Penn State.

"We played with a lot more discipline and focus today," said head coach Neal Brown. "It was important for us to bounce back after last week and show what we're capable of. Our defense stepped up, and our offense executed well. Now, we need to keep building on this."

Next up for the Mountaineers is a game at rival Pittsburgh in the 2024 edition of the Backyard Brawl.

Albany Great Danes at West Virginia Mountaineers
Sep 7, 2024	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Albany Great Danes (0-1)	3	0	3	0	6
West Virginia Mountaineers (1-1)	7	21	14	0	42

Team Stats Comparison
	ALBY	WVU
Total Offense	282	527
Rushing Yards	179	224
Passing Yards	103	303
First Downs	11	33
Punt Return Yards	0	9
Kick Return Yards	46	0
Total Yards	328	536
Turnovers	0	0
3rd Down Conversion	1-9	7-15
4th Down Conversion	0-0	6-7
2-Point Conversion	0-0	0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	0-0-0	6-5-0
Penalties	3-23	4-45
Possession Time	15:22	28:38

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		ALBY	WVU
5:37	(WVU) Jaden Bray, 6 yard pass from Garrett Greene	0	7
2:36	(ALBY) Andy McFoles, 51 yard field goal	3	7
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		ALBY	WVU
8:56	(WVU) CJ Donaldson Jr., 1 yard run	3	14
3:35	(WVU) Hudson Clement, 23 yard pass from Garrett Greene	3	21
0:11	(WVU) Jaden Bray, 17 yard pass from Garrett Greene	3	28
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		ALBY	WVU
9:19	(WVU) Treylan Davis, 9 yard pass from Garrett Greene	3	35
5:28	(WVU) CJ Donaldson Jr., 3 yard run	3	42
0:08	(ALBY) Andy McFoles, 45 yard field goal	6	42

Albany Great Danes PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Brock Ladler 5/12 103 0 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Jarvis May 9 56 6.2 0 Dorian O'Neal 6 40 6.6 0 Will McKelvin Jr. 3 33 11.0 0 Brock Ladler 9 30 3.3 0 Noah Schwartz 1 11 11.0 0 Gartrell Broussard 2 7 3.5 0 Matthew Millard 1 1 1.0 0 Cooper York 1 1 1.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Marcel Matthews 1 40 40.0 0 Jarvis May 1 32 32.0 0 Kyle Coats 1 16 16.0 0 Gartrell Broussard 2 15 7.5 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Kevin Goodley 13 0.0 0 0 Rashaad West 12 0.0 0 0 Brevin Daniels-Waters 11 0.0 0 0 Dre Leverette 8 0.0 0 0 B.B. Baldwin 6 0.0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Andy McFoles 2/2 0/0 6 52 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Andy McFoles 6 196 32.6 1

West Virginia Mountaineers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Garrett Greene 20/26 226 4 0 Nicco Marchiol 4/6 62 0 0 Ryder Burton 2/4 15 0 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD CJ Donaldson Jr. 14 96 6.8 2 Trae'von Dunbar 8 50 6.2 0 Jahiem White 9 34 3.7 0 Jaylen Anderson 6 33 5.5 0 Garrett Greene 4 19 4.7 0 Ryder Burton 2 -8 -4.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Jaden Bray 5 70 14.0 2 Hudson Clement 4 60 15.0 1 Justin Robinson 3 37 12.3 0 Preston Fox 4 36 9.0 0 Jahiem White 2 26 13.0 0 Treylan Davis 3 23 7.6 1 Quinnen Hinton 1 16 16.0 0 Garrett Morton 1 12 12.0 0 Jaylen Anderson 1 12 12.0 0 Ric'Darious Farmer 2 11 5.5 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Ben Cutter 9 0.0 0 0 Aubrey Burks 7 0.0 0 0 Tyrin Bradley 6 0.0 0 0 Sean Martin 5 0.0 0 0 Reid Carrico 4 0.0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Michael Hayes 0/0 6/6 6 N/A PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Oliver Straw 2 95 47.5 1

[superjames1992]

Michael Hayes' Leg Wins Backyard Brawl for West Virginia in Rainy Conditions

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — In a gritty and rain-soaked edition of the Backyard Brawl, the West Virginia Mountaineers (2-1) came out on top of the Pittsburgh Panthers (1-2) with a thrilling 16-14 victory, thanks to a last-second field goal by Michael Hayes at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday.

The Mountaineers, who bested the Panthers 17-6 in Morgantown last year, faced another defensive slugfest this season. The relentless rain added to the intensity, making every yard and point hard-fought.

After a scoreless first quarter, West Virginia broke the deadlock early in the second quarter with a 38-yard field goal by Michael Hayes. As the half drew to a close, quarterback Garrett Greene found Hudson Clement for a 4-yard touchdown pass, giving the Mountaineers a 10-0 lead at halftime.

Pittsburgh struggled to move the ball against a staunch West Virginia defense that allowed just 233 total yards and stifled the Panthers’ rushing attack to a mere 62 yards. The Mountaineers, meanwhile, controlled the ground game, racking up 216 rushing yards, with Jahiem White leading the charge with 100 yards on 22 carries.

In the third quarter, Michael Hayes added another field goal, this time from 34 yards, extending West Virginia's lead to 13-0. However, the Panthers mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, with Rodney Hammond Jr. punching in a 2-yard touchdown run and Eli Holstein connecting with Raphael Williams Jr. for a 7-yard touchdown pass, giving Pittsburgh a 14-13 lead with just under two minutes left.

With the game on the line, the West Virginia offense, which had been shut down for much of the second half, displayed remarkable poise. Garrett Greene orchestrated a methodical drive, mixing short passes and effective runs to move the Mountaineers into field goal range. Despite the wet conditions, Michael Hayes remained unfazed, nailing a 26-yard field goal as time expired to secure the victory.

"We showed a lot of heart and determination today," said head coach Neal Brown. "Our defense played outstanding, and our offense came through when it mattered most. Winning a game like this, especially in these conditions and against a rival, is a testament to our team's resilience."

Garrett Greene threw for just 141 yards and a touchdown for the Mountaineers. He also added 56 yards rushing. CJ Donaldson Jr. also rushed for 60 yards for the Mountaineers, and Jaden Bray was their leading receiver with 47 yards receiving.

Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein, a transfer from Alabama, threw for 171 yards and a touchdown and also added 18 yards on the ground.

The Mountaineers will open up Big 12 Conference play next week at home against Kansas.

West Virginia Mountaineers at Pittsburgh Panthers
Sep 14, 2024	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
West Virginia Mountaineers (2-1)	0	10	3	3	16
Pittsburgh Panthers (0-3)	0	0	0	14	14

Team Stats Comparison
	WVU	PITT
Total Offense	357	233
Rushing Yards	216	62
Passing Yards	141	171
First Downs	23	15
Punt Return Yards	0	7
Kick Return Yards	25	43
Total Yards	382	283
Turnovers	0	0
3rd Down Conversion	5-14	4-11
4th Down Conversion	2-2	1-1
2-Point Conversion	0-0	0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	4-1-3	2-2-0
Penalties	1-10	0-0
Possession Time	25:45	18:15

Scoring Summary
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		WVU	PITT
10:56	(WVU) Michael Hayes, 38 yard field goal	3	0
0:06	(WVU) Hudson Clement, 4 yard pass from Garrett Greene	10	0
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		WVU	PITT
5:36	(WVU) Michael Hayes, 34 yard field goal	13	0
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		WVU	PITT
10:23	(PITT) Rodney Hammond Jr., 2 yard run	13	7
1:55	(PITT) Raphael Williams Jr., 7 yard pass from Eli Holstein	13	14
0:00	(WVU) Michael Hayes, 26 yard field goal	16	14

West Virginia Mountaineers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Garrett Greene 17/26 141 1 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Jahiem White 22 100 4.5 0 CJ Donaldson Jr. 12 60 5.0 0 Garrett Greene 12 56 4.6 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Jaden Bray 4 47 11.7 0 Justin Robinson 4 42 10.5 0 Preston Fox 3 29 9.6 0 Treylan Davis 1 11 11.0 0 Hudson Clement 2 7 3.5 1 Jahiem White 3 5 1.6 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Reid Carrico 8 0.0 0 0 Jacolby Spells 8 0.0 0 0 Aubrey Burks 7 0.0 0 0 Ben Cutter 7 0.0 0 0 Anthony Wilson 7 0.0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Michael Hayes 3/4 1/1 10 38 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Oliver Straw 4 195 48.7 1

Pittsburgh Panthers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Eli Holstein 19/26 171 1 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Rodney Hammond Jr. 6 25 4.1 1 Eli Holstein 3 18 6.0 0 Desmond Reid 10 12 1.2 0 Daniel Carter 2 7 3.5 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Censere Lee 7 70 10.0 0 Raphael Williams Jr. 3 49 16.3 1 Konata Mumpfield 3 28 9.3 0 Rodney Hammond Jr. 4 12 3.0 0 Kenny Johnson 1 6 6.0 0 Daejon Reynolds 1 6 6.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Nick James 13 1.0 0 0 Donovan McMillon 12 0.0 0 0 Javon McIntyre 11 0.0 0 0 Phillip O'Brien Jr. 8 0.0 0 0 Brandon George 7 0.0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Ben Sauls 0/1 2/2 2 N/A PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 Caleb Junko 5 228 45.6 2

[Careless Whisper]

Re: West Virginia Mountaineers (CFB 25)

Glad to see a new james dynasty with the new game! Nice couple of wins after the heartbreaking opener against Penn State. I feel like with all the changes to the Big 12, the conference is pretty open so the opportunity is there for WVU to make an immediate impact.

[superjames1992]

Re: West Virginia Mountaineers (CFB 25)

Glad to see a new james dynasty with the new game! Nice couple of wins after the heartbreaking opener against Penn State. I feel like with all the changes to the Big 12, the conference is pretty open so the opportunity is there for WVU to make an immediate impact.

It's definitely open! I think every team is clustered in the 80-85 OVR range, so really anyone can win it. It makes for an interesting experience as every single game will likely be competitive one or the other, to some extent. It truly presents a wide range of possibilities for us, from winning 9 or 10 games to winning 3 or 4. The difference in play to reach those outcomes will not be very large.