West Virginia defeated Cincinnati 31-24 on Saturday to improve to 5-4 on the season and 4-2 in conference play.
It was the second straight start and won for redshirt sophomore quarterback Nicco Marchiol. The Mountaineers kept their Big 12 championship hopes alive and have three more games left this season.
Here’s what can be taken away from the road victory:
Defense Can Win Games
Under the direction of new defensive coordinator Jeff Koonz, West Virginia’s defense played a huge role in the outcome. They forced three turnovers, two of which were returned for touchdowns and the other converted to a field goal. They also got to the quarterback three times. Without the defense, WVU would not have won the game due to offensive production. If the Mountaineer defense can continue to create turnovers, it will be an extremely positive benefit in this final stretch of the season.
Offensive Production
It was not West Virginia’s best offensive performance Saturday by any means. The Mountaineers got just nine first downs in the game, a recipe that usually doesn’t lead to success. They were three-for-11 on first downs and struggled to move the ball effectively at times. Their rushing attack did not look as sharp as it usually does. They rushed for under 100 yards with Jahiem White leading the way with 64 yards on 13 carries. The passing game wasn’t too productive either gaining 156 yards on 15 attempts. Cincinnati ran close to double the amount of plays West Virginia did. West Virginia will have to go back to the drawing board in an attempt to get things going offensively in these final three games.
Marchiol’s Favorite Targets
In his second straight start, Marchiol has targeted the same guys the most. Kole Taylor can sometimes act as a safety blanket for Marchiol. He caught all five targets for 30 yards on Saturday. Traylon Ray, who caught a long touchdown against Arizona, was targeted three times and caught one for 38 yards. Justin Robinson is another deep threat but also a physical, high-point target for Marchiol. He caught both of his targets for 60 yards, one a 50-yard reception and the other a 10-yard touchdown.
What’s Next?
As mentioned previously, West Virginia has three more games. They are technically still in contention to play for the Big 12 championship but will need many other outcomes not in their control. They need just one more win to become bowl-eligible. One question that lingers is whether Marchiol will remain the starter. Fans may find that answer out early this week. Another question is, can the WVU defense continue creating turnovers? In the final three games, WVU plays two at home back-to-back and then travels to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech. In those final three games, there is little margin for error. So, what’s next?
