MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia (1-0) came out of the gates fast Saturday afternoon, built a big lead and then had to hang on late.
The Mountaineers defeated Coastal Carolina (0-1), 31-24, at Milan Puskar Stadium to open the 2026 season, getting big performances from running back Cam Cook and quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. before watching the Chanticleers make things interesting in the second half. Read more: West Virginia holds off Coastal Carolina in season opener, 31-24.
Cook got things started on West Virginia’s first possession.
The Jacksonville State transfer broke a 72-yard run down to the Coastal Carolina three-yard line, then finished the drive on the next play with a touchdown run.
Just 47 seconds into the game, West Virginia had a 7-0 lead.
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The Mountaineer defense then forced a punt on Coastal Carolina’s opening possession, but West Virginia gave the ball right back after a punt of its own.
The defense came up with another stop on the Chanticleers’ next possession, forcing a turnover on downs and giving the offense the ball at its own eight-yard line.
Hawkins finds Weaver-Bomar for a big play
West Virginia went 92 yards on its next scoring drive, with Hawkins Jr. making the biggest play of the possession.
After short runs from DJ Epps and Cook, Hawkins found Jaden Bray for 17 yards to move the Mountaineers across midfield. He later connected with Epps for 11 yards on third down to keep the drive alive.
Hawkins eventually faced third and five from the Coastal Carolina 49.
He dropped back and went deep down the right side for Armoni Weaver-Bomar.
Weaver-Bomar caught the pass at the three-yard line and took it into the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown.
Jack Cassidy added the extra point, putting West Virginia up 14-0 with 2:14 left in the first quarter.
Cassidy adds three more
West Virginia kept the pressure on into the second quarter but could not finish the next drive with a touchdown.
A false start pushed the Mountaineers back, but Hawkins responded with an 11-yard quarterback keeper to get them back into scoring range.
Two incompletions and a two-yard loss ended the drive, leaving Cassidy with a 38-yard field goal attempt.
West Virginia extended its lead to 17-0 with 13:51 left in the half.
Coastal Carolina then appeared to have some momentum when Deuce Bailey found Cyrus Ellison for a 23-yard gain.
Mountaineer linebacker Ashton Woods punched the ball out at the CCU 38-yard line, and true freshman Matt Sieg recovered at midfield.
Cook finds the end zone again
West Virginia took advantage, putting together a 17-play, 86-yard drive that lasted 6:35.
Cook finished the possession with a one-yard touchdown run, his second touchdown of the afternoon.
The score pushed West Virginia’s lead to 23-0 with 1:18 left in the second quarter. The extra point made it 24-0.
Coastal Carolina had one more chance before halftime but could not get anything going, sending the Mountaineers into the locker room with a commanding lead.
Coastal Carolina finally gets on the board
The Chanticleers came out of halftime moving the football.
Bailey connected with wide receiver Tristian Gardner for 19 yards to start the drive, but back-to-back incompletions stalled the possession.
After another West Virginia punt, Coastal Carolina finally broke through.
Bailey connected with Clayton Coppock Jr. for a 34-yard touchdown, capping a 12-play, 99-yard drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock.
Cavanillas Alti’s extra point made it 24-7 with 3:57 left in the third quarter.
West Virginia was unable to respond with points on its next possession, giving Coastal Carolina another opportunity.
Chanticleers cut the lead to nine
Coastal Carolina needed only three plays on its next scoring drive.
Bailey hit Robby Washington for 58 yards, putting the Chanticleers at the West Virginia 13.
One play later, after an incompletion, Bailey found Colton Hinton for a 13-yard touchdown.
The extra point made it 24-14 with 12:56 left in the fourth quarter.
Hawkins puts West Virginia back in control
West Virginia needed an answer, and Hawkins provided one.
The Mountaineers kept the drive alive when Coastal Carolina was called for roughing Cassidy on a 47-yard field goal attempt. The penalty gave West Virginia a first down at the CCU 14.
Cook picked up three yards before Hawkins took off himself.
The quarterback ran 11 yards for the touchdown, and Cassidy’s extra point pushed the lead back to 31-14 with 2:58 remaining.
It looked like West Virginia might finally have the game put away.
Coppock keeps Coastal Carolina alive
Bailey and the Chanticleers answered again.
A 27-yard completion to Hinton got the drive started before Bailey found Karmello English for 11 yards on third down.
Two plays later, Bailey went back to Coppock.
The Coastal Carolina receiver took a 37-yard touchdown pass into the end zone, cutting the West Virginia lead to 31-21 with 1:51 remaining.
The Chanticleers then tried an onside kick, but West Virginia recovered at the CCU 41.
The Mountaineers could not finish the game there, going three-and-out and giving Coastal Carolina one final chance.
Coastal gets within seven, but West Virginia hangs on
Coastal Carolina moved the ball into West Virginia territory, but the drive stalled after Bailey’s fourth-down completion to Jaden Allen-Hendrix.
Cavanillas Alti came on for a 32-yard field goal and made it with 27 seconds remaining.
That cut the lead to 31-24.
Coastal tried another onside kick, but West Virginia recovered again.
This time, the Mountaineers were not giving the ball back.
West Virginia took a knee and closed out the 31-24 victory.
The Mountaineers now turn their attention to UT Martin, which comes to Morgantown next Saturday.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., with the Mountaineer Tailgate Show beginning at 11 a.m.
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