For Michael Hawkins Jr., it was a chance to finally get back on the field.
For Cam Cook, it took just one play to make his presence felt.
The two offensive weapons helped set the tone Saturday, as the Mountaineers (1-0) opened the season with a win over Coastal Carolina (0-1). Cook broke loose for a 72-yard run on his first touch and Hawkins settled into his first start at quarterback. Read more: Hawkins Jr., Cook provide early spark.
For Hawkins, the feeling of finally getting the opportunity was just as important as the result.
“It was great just being able to get back on the field and be out there with my guys and just us playing together,” Hawkins said. “It just was a good feeling for me. It’s been a long time.”
Hawkins had been in a competition with Scotty Fox Jr. throughout the offseason for the starting job, with head coach Rich Rodriguez saying the decision was a close one.
Hawkins said Rodriguez let him know during the week that he would get the start.
Once the game arrived, the nerves never became a major issue.
“I wasn’t as nervous just because I’ve been in it,” Hawkins said. “I always had butterflies going in before a game. But I felt pretty confident going out there with my guys.”
Wasting no time
If Hawkins needed any help settling into the game, Cook provided it immediately.
Related: West Virginia holds off Coastal Carolina in season opener, 31-24
On his first carry, Cook found room and turned loose for 72, giving West Virginia an explosive play right out of the gate.
Cook said he was not expecting to break a run that big.
“I’m expecting to go in there and just pound away, get four yards,” Cook said.
Instead, the play unfolded exactly the way he had prepared for it to.
“We had seen what they were running. So it looked exactly what I was in,” Cook said. “Like, I was prepared for that.”
Once Cook got through the offensive line, his mindset changed.
“As soon as I make it past the O line, I need to make someone miss,” Cook said. “I can make someone miss. So after that, I make someone miss, I’m trying to make a house call, go finish in the end zone.”
The play also gave Hawkins an early boost.
“Yeah, that’s every quarterback’s,” Hawkins said. “Your running back just makes a huge play.”
The Oklahoma transfer did not have to wait long to make one of his own.
Hawkins showed his explosiveness
Hawkins eventually found Armani Winfield for a 49-yard touchdown, a play that Hawkins said came down to simply working through his reads and giving his receiver a chance.
“I just kind of went through my reads. And I seen him get over the top and just give him a chance,” Hawkins said. “And he made the play.”
For Hawkins, the touchdown was another moment where the game began to feel comfortable.
He said he felt efficient and confident throwing the football, while also crediting the run game for helping the offense establish itself.
The quarterback also found the end zone himself, something that carried a little extra meaning after spending time away from the field.
“It’s been a while,” Hawkins said. “So just getting in the end zone was a great feeling and celebrating with my teammates.”
The run game gives Hawkins a foundation
The Mountaineers finished with more than 280 rushing yards, giving Hawkins a strong foundation in his first game as West Virginia’s starting quarterback.
Hawkins pointed directly toward the offensive line when asked what made the rushing attack work.
“You got to win the trenches. That’s the main part,” Hawkins said.
Cook echoed that sentiment.
“We were able to put the ball in multiple people’s hands and go get yards,” Cook said. “That’s a credit to the O-line, just coming off the ball.”
Coastal Carolina eventually adjusted, bringing more defenders into the box and making it harder for Cook to find the same type of running lanes he had early in the game.
Cook said the Mountaineers have to be ready to adjust when opponents make those changes.
“They definitely put more. They had more people in the box towards the end of the game, which is understandable,” Cook said. “We just got to be able to adjust.”
That became one of the bigger lessons from the game.
Plenty to clean up
While the win gave West Virginia a positive start, neither player walked away believing the offense was perfect.
Hawkins pointed to penalties and mental mistakes, particularly in the second half.
“When the second half hit, we just had a lot of mental errors, too many penalties as a team,” Hawkins said.
Cook had a similar assessment.
“Definitely happy with a win,” Cook said. “It’s not easy to win in college football, but definitely had a lot of mistakes. We could be a lot more disciplined as a team.”
That lines up with Rodriguez’s own frustration following the game.
Related: Rich Rodriguez pleased with the win, but far from satisfied with WVU’s second half
The head coach said West Virginia played good football in the first half but failed to execute after halftime.
For Hawkins, the next step is simple; watch the film, fix the mistakes, and get everyone moving in the same direction.
“Sunday is a big day for us, just eliminating those mistakes, watching it on tape, and seeing what we could do better,” Hawkins said.
Cook is ready for the same challenge.
After his explosive first touch and a heavy workload to close out the game, the running back said the priority now is getting better.
The Mountaineers got the first one out of the way.
Now Hawkins, Cook and the rest of the offense have a week to clean up what went wrong before getting back on the field.
And after the way the two opened Saturday, West Virginia has plenty of reason to believe the offense can build on it.
Stay up to date with WV Sports Nation for more WVU Athletics coverage.
