When Dante Stills decided to come back for his fifth year, he immediately set his sights on September 1, one of the biggest games of his career.
Stills has been patiently waiting for his chance to play in the Backyard Brawl, and now that the game is here, the defensive lineman is ready battle against Pitt.
“This is a game I’ve always wanted to play in,” Stills said. “I just have to keep a level head and stay relaxed.”
While Stills is more than excited to finally face off against the Panthers, he says he takes it “day by day,” focusing on what he needs to improve leading up to the big game.
While the Fairmont native has spent the offseason preparing for September 1, he says he is not focused on making a certain number of plays against Pitt, rather focusing on being a leader for his defense.
“I’m just worried about going out there and doing my job and playing as hard as I can from the first play until the end,” Stills said.
With the anticipation of the rivalry, Stills says he has been talking to his younger teammates about the pressure many of them are facing with their Mountaineer debuts.
“You just have to make sure you’re playing at the top of your game from snap one until the end,” Stills says he tells his teammates.
Going into the game, Stills knows that Pitt’s offensive line could be a challenge. The group is experienced, but so is Stills, as September 1 will bring game 48 of his career.
“I’m not worried about how many years, because this is my fifth year also,” he said. “I just have to go out there and play hard.”
Stills’ experience allows him to focus on the details of his game, like pursuing the ball and making tackles, rather than the pressures that come with such a big rivalry.
Although this game is 11 years in the making, Stills feels as though his team is ready on both sides of the ball. He says that WVU’s offense has been “explosive” and much improved from last year.
“I feel like this year we’re a whole different team with a whole different mindset going into the season,” Stills said. “The chip on our shoulders has just gotten bigger.”
With just one more sleep until kickoff, Stills is ready to make a big impact for the Mountaineers.
