The Duke’s Mayo Classic truly was a classic.
WVU Football (3-0) defeated No. 25 Virginia (2-1) in Charlotte, North Carolina, Saturday night, 38-27. Read more: WVU Football wins Duke’s Mayo Classic over Virginia in Charlotte, 38-27.
Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. had an explosive game, throwing and rushing for five touchdowns.
Overall, WVU had 437 total offensive yards against Virginia’s 354. The rush game was alive, with Virginia allowing triple digits in rushing for the first time this season.
Related: WVU fans arrive in Charlotte: Tailgates, Duke’s Mayo Fanfest, and a shovel
First quarter
Virginia started the game in similar fashion to its first two games of the season: establishing a lead by putting at least two scores on the board through the first quarter.
However, the difference was that prior to today’s game, the Cavaliers had not allowed its opponent to score in the first quarter. WVU kept the first quarter close despite Virginia’s strong showing.
The Cavaliers got the first score of the game in their first offensive drive. Running back Jekail Middlebrook broke through the middle, finding the end zone on an eight-yard rush. The extra point made it 7-0 in favor of UVA.
Virginia had 12 total plays in the drive, eating up a total of six minutes and 58 seconds on the game clock.
WVU would respond with a touchdown of its own on the next drive. Hawkins showed his mobile ability in the drive, picking up a first down on a 17-yard keeper and then the touchdown on a 13-yard keeper. The kick tied it up at 7-7.
“Mike is, you know, he’s a dynamic player,” head coach Rich Rodriguez said. “He’s gonna keep getting better. It’s just his third game in the system.”
At the end of the quarter, Virginia was able to regain the lead on its second touchdown. Running back Xavier Brown took off down the middle of the field for a 47-yard touchdown, eventually taking a 14-7 lead.
Overall, the Mountaineers struggled to have an effective drive on offense outside of he touchdown. Two of its drives ended in three-and-outs and -2 yards.
Second quarter
The Mountaineers flipped the script on the Cavaliers in the second quarter, gaining their first lead by shutting them out in the period.
WVU began its first drive of the second quarter with an answer to the previous Virginia touchdown to tie it at 14.
Hawkins found wide receiver DJ Epps in the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown.
“I just try and make plays when my name is called,” Epps said. “You see the coverages, and you just try to take advantage of it. It’s something me and Mike work on in practice.”
Both teams exchanged short drives, but right before the end of the second quarter, WVU scored big again.
Hawkins, on another keeper, ran 15-yards for his second rushing touchdown of the day.
Overall, the Cavaliers gave up a few costly penalties. WVU took advantage and led at halftime, 21-14.
Third quarter
Coming back from halftime, the third quarter started slow for both teams. Big defensive stops led to a rough start for both offenses.
Virginia was able to attack offensively first to tie the ballgame at 21 apiece, about halfway through.
In the scoring drive, the Cavaliers faced fourth and 10. Instead of going for the 50+ yard field goal or punting, it went for it. Pribula found wide receiver Rico Flores Jr. for a huge 26-yard completion to keep the drive alive.
Pribula eventually dumped the ball off to Middlebrook for a 1-yard touchdown, tying the game.
WVU proved that its first half momentum was still strong by scoring a touchdown on the next drive.
The Cavaliers had another costly penalty, and Hawkins eventually found Epps for another touchdown to regain the lead. The Mountaineers converted to make it 28-21.
“I seen they went down a single high on man coverage. They been showing it all game,” Hawkins said. “When they finally did it again, we kind of took advantage of it. I knew I would have to get it out quick.
Fourth quarter
The Mountaineers dominated the final quarter to lead it to victory.
Hawkins had another rushing touchdown for five yards, his third of the night. With the touchdown, he became the first WVU QB with 3+ rushing touchdowns and 2+ passing touchdowns since Pat White in 2008.
WVU kicker Jack Cassidy then scored a field goal to extend the Mountaineers’ lead to 17 points.
Virginia would put together one more scoring drive towards the end of the quarter, a two-yard pass to John Rogers. The Cavaliers failed a two-point conversion following the touchdown.
After a failed onside kick attempt from Virginia, West Virginia was able to take victory formation and win the game 38-27, shocking the nation’s No. 25 team.
“I think we always played hard and I’m really proud,” coach Rodriguez said. “We knew they were going to make plays. We got a good football team. A very experienced football team.”
Coming up
WVU is now 3-0 and perfect in non-conference play for the first time since the 2018 season.
The Mountaineers cary a lot of momentum into conference play after being picked to finish in 13th in the Big 12 conference.
WVU faces its first conference opponent, Oklahoma State, at Milan Puskar Stadium this coming Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
WV Sports Nation Staff Writer Quinn Robie will be on-site, and the rest of the crew will have The Mountaineer Tailgate show on the John Fredericks Media Network, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Stay up to date with WV Sports Nation for more WVU Athletics coverage by downloading the WV Sports Nation app.
