Everyone has already used the tale of two halves explanation for WVU‘s ugly 31-24 win over Coastal Carolina. I’d argue it was closer to watching two completely teams by the half.
For more than two quarters, we were subjected to an exciting offense and hard-hitting defensive line. Then, it was like everyone swapped uniforms at halftime and the Mountaineers forgot how to play football.
If you’ve ever seen the joke about the picture of the horse drawing that starts out as a work of art at the head and by the time you reach the tail, it’s a stick figure. That’s how this game felt. Read more: We watched two different WVU Football teams Saturday.
Every win is a good win. It all goes into the column the same.
But the fact this game was even remotely close down the stretch is worth pausing for concern. There’s plenty to build on.
And while I felt a sense of dread by the final fire of the musket on my TV, there was so many electric moments that give me hope for the rest of the season.
First half: proper pigskin
Fellow WV Sports Nation contributor Quinn Robie has already mentioned the hot start in all three of his analyses of the game, but it’s worth mentioning again. Not counting last year’s Backyard Brawl, that opening 72-yard run from Cam Cook is the most exciting thing we’ve seen from the program in a handful of years.
Related: Hawkins Jr., Cook provide early spark
Pair Cook’s productivity with his dual-threat quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., that duo did the heavy lifting behind a seemingly much-improved O Line.
There was the goal-line mistake from Hawkins which cost WVU a score, but it’s an easy fix moving forward.
On the other side, it was a respectable “bend, but don’t break” effort from the Mountaineer defense. Despite giving up chunk plays, they pitched a shutout going into half. The dam broke wide open after halftime, but the combined work on both sides of the ball was good enough to warrant a 24-0 lead at the break.
Then, the roles reversed.
Second half: what did WVU do with its team?
I figured a lull would come in the third before WVU took control back in the final period. That was not the case.
Coastal outscored WVU 24-7 in the second half, including a 17-point fourth. The defensive approach went out the window, and penalties weren’t helping anybody in the all-white uniforms.
Take away the easily-prevented flags on the Chanticleers’ 99-yard methodical march down the field, this game would’ve been 45-7. That spirit-crushing drive flipped the entire game.
Most of this falls on the WVU secondary, like it has for several years now. They made Deuce Bailey (who is great in his own right, but not like this) look like a surefire Heisman finalist. He was beating guys in the backfield, throwing anywhere he wanted, and making the Mountaineers pay.
The defense’s shortcomings don’t completely excuse the seven-point second half from the offense, though.
Maybe Rich Rodriguez and co. are saving their best play-calling for Virginia and beyond, but it got too close for comfort. We’ll see if they lay the hammer down on UT Martin or let them hang around toward the back end after building an early lead.
More good than bad
I’m not sure if my stance is in the majority or minority among journalism colleagues and/or the fanbase, but I saw a lot more to look forward to than to be worried about.
A second half like that can’t happen again. But if the explosive running behind a sturdy line and a defensive front that can disrupt the opposition is any indication of the season, I’m not too stressed.
We may have seen two different teams before and after halftime, but get this team to play a full 60 minutes and they’ll be a tough out. Granted, a full 60 minutes is a lot to ask around these parts, at least in the past 15 years.
Regardless of the opponent, WVU needs to establish the run like it did, and be ready to get dirty in the trenches.
What’s next
There’s no use for conservatism on the gridiron next week. It’s UT Martin, no disrespect. WVU needs to lay on the gas early, avoid stupid mistakes, and don’t fall asleep at the wheel late. It almost bit them against Coastal.
Kickoff against the Skyhawks is set for 1 p.m. at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown. Tune in across the John Fredericks Media Network starting at 11 a.m. for the two-hour program, The Mountaineer Tailgate pregame show.
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