On a gloomy and wet Saturday evening, West Virginia held its first spring game as a member of the Big 12 Conference. While it wasn’t filled with the offensive fireworks of last season’s Gold-Blue Spring Game, there were still some exciting moments in the Blue team’s 43-34 victory.
The scoring setup for the game was typical with Gold-Blue Games of the past; the offense recorded points the same way as always, while the defense scored 3 points for each drive stop, fumble recovery and interception as well as 5 points for limiting the offense to a three-and-out.
While many fans have the Orange Bowl victory fresh in their minds, Holgorsen reminded everyone this team is still only about a third of the way to being ready for the start of the regular season.
“We’re about 33 percent into where we’re going to be before we have to play the first game,” he said. “We’ll add about 30 teammates at various times in the summer, and they’re all important. Our depth is not very good right now, but that will change when we get a whole bunch more kids on your team.”
While more freshmen will be added to the team before the start of fall camp, some of those who enrolled early have already begun to make an impact.
True freshman wide receiver Jordan Thompson led all players in receptions and receiving yards; the Katy, Texas, native recorded eight catches for 66 yards and a score.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Dante Campbell also found his way into the end zone, and he finished the game with four catches and 45 yards.
In Holgorsen’s opinion, watching the freshman develop in the spring game is one of the primary benefits of the contest.
“It’s a lot (about) the younger kids (and) watching those guys develop,” he said.
“Dante Campbell made some plays today; K.J. Myers has made a few plays. All those young guys, they just have to keep coming. They made a play here and there, but whether we can really rely on them to do it in a game or not, time will tell.”
Redshirt junior wide receiver Stedman Bailey scored the first touchdown of the game on a two-yard pass from senior quarterback Geno Smith. All in all, the Gold team found the end zone four times.
Senior Shawne Alston led the Mountaineers’ running attack, compiling 52 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
While many fans came out to watch the offense pick up from where it left off last season, they were perhaps more pleased with the play of the defense.
Though the offense made a few electrifying plays, such as redshirt sophomore wide receiver Terrence Gourdine’s 82-yard reception late in the fourth quarter, the defense did a solid job of limiting mistakes and forcing turnovers.
The defense finished the game with five sacks and four forced turnovers.
Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson felt the offense’s fast start ended up creating a false sense of confidence that took a little while to recover from.
“We were hitting some big chunks, and so we just started getting lined up quick. Those first two drives were pretty good,” he said.
“Inevitably, it happens a lot when you have success early. I think kids think this is easy, and it’s hard to get back going again, so I think that’s what happened.”