West Virginia defeated UAlbany (FCS) 49-14 Saturday, in what was an action-packed game.
WVU scored seven total touchdowns. Runningbacks Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson had one apiece and combined for over 200 yards on the ground. While quarterback Garrett Greene threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns, completing 17 passes on 23 attempts. Greene spread out the ball with six receivers having 30 or more receiving yards and each touchdown pass going to a different receiver: Hudson Clement, Justin Robinson and Kole Taylor.
Nicco Marchiol came in at quarterback toward the middle of the fourth quarter, and there were a couple of switches on the offensive line, as WVU had a comfortable lead. Marchiol was 3-3 for 12 yards and scored on a QB keeper to put the Mountaineers up 49-14 during his first drive.
Holes in West Virginia’s secondary were exposed as UAlbany racked up a few big passing plays. However, they were able to force pressure and get into the backfield to make plays with nine tackles for loss and two sacks.
The Mountaineers started with the ball after UAlbany won the toss and deferred. On WVU’s first drive, which ended with a 14-yard Jahiem White touchdown, they ran up-tempo for most of it. It was a 12-play, 90-yard drive that gave them the advantage early.
The Great Danes had good field position on their offensive drive, set up by a penalty on the kickoff (kicking out-of-bounds). However, they were unable to take advantage of it as they went three-and-out, losing two yards on the drive.
West Virginia scored on their second drive as well. Green connected with Justin Robinson for his first touchdown as a Mountaineer and WVU’s second of the game, they were up 14-0 with just under six minutes left in the first quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, West Virginia was driving, leading 14-0. On the second play of the second quarter, Greene found Kole Taylor over the middle for a 39-yard touchdown, putting them up by three scores.
After West Virginia’s first punt of the day, the Great Danes put together a very solid drive that consisted of 10 plays for 87 yards capped off by a seven-yard touchdown by Griffin Woodell. UAlbany cut the deficit to 21-7 near the end of the first half.
After Jahiem White fumbled the ball during a big run and Albany recovered, the Great Danes took advantage. They drove down the field and scored their second touchdown of the game to cut West Virginia’s lead to one possession. It was a Jacari Carter 33-yard touchdown reception.
Looking to put another score on the board before halftime, Greene took it himself for a 40-yard touchdown with less than a minute remaining in the first half. The Mountaineers went back up by multiple possessions and led 28-14 right before heading to the locker rooms.
UAlbany opened up the second half with a 41-yard gain on a pass caught by Seven McGee. They then faced third and long and moved the chains with another massive gain that put them in the red zone. The Mountaineers made a goalline stand and kept Albany out of the endzone on fourth and goal from the one.
On their first offensive drive of the second half, the Mountaineers gradually drove 99 yards down the field and were set up in the red zone after a horse collar tackle. Greene connected with Hudson Clement for a 10-yard touchdown. WVU was up 35-14 with roughly five and a half minutes left in the third.
Nearing the end of the third quarter, WVU would score again. The drive was highlighted by a big 42-yard reception with a roughing the passer penalty on UAlbany during the same play, setting the Mountaineers up in a great position to score. Eventually, CJ Donaldson punched it in from the one to put West Virginia up 42-14.
With Marchiol and a couple of backups in the game, West Virginia extended its lead. After the PAT, Marchiol took it himself up the middle to make the game 49-14.
West Virginia improves to 1-1 on the season. They will face Pitt in the Backyard Brawl next week at Acrisure Stadium.
