By the Numbers
December 10, 2002 11:56 AM | General
By John Antonik for
MSNsportsNET.com
December 10, 2002
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – From a statistical perspective, the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl pitting West Virginia against Virginia will feature two teams with different strengths and weaknesses. And that could lead to an exciting and unpredictable football game on Saturday, Dec. 28.
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| West Virginia running back Avon Cobourne ranks eighth in the nation in rushing with an average of 132.75 yards per game. (AP photo) |
West Virginia comes into the contest as the nation’s second-leading rushing team with an average of 286.9 yards per game. The Mountaineers have the nation’s eighth-leading rusher in senior Avon Cobourne, who averages 132.8 yards per game. Backup Quincy Wilson also ranks among the nation’s top 100 ball carriers at 74th with an average of 71.9 yards per game.
By comparison, Virginia’s young defense is giving up an average of 206.2 yards per game on the ground to rank 105th out of 117 NCAA Division I teams. The Wahoos surrendered 272 yards in a season-ending loss to Virginia Tech on Nov. 30. Lee Suggs rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns and Kevin Jones added 91 on 15 carries.
Virginia is slightly better in total defense ranking 99th after allowing an average of 421.9 yards per game.
Meanwhile, Virginia’s strength is a pro-style passing attack implemented by second-year coach Al Groh. Virginia quarterback Matt Schaub is completing almost 70 percent of his passes for 2,794 yards and 27 touchdowns. Virginia has the nation’s 46th-best passing attack averaging 232.8 yards per game, but Schaub is rated ninth in the country in passing efficiency with a rating of 143.5.
The junior ranks 21st in the nation in points responsible for with an average of 13.2, and 44th in total offense with an average 219.2 yards per game.
Schaub’s top two receiving targets are also in the national ratings.
Senior wide receiver Billy McMullen is 42nd in the country with 5.2 receptions per game. Freshman running back Wali Lundy is 91st in the nation with an average of 4.1 catches per contest.
McMullen is 58th in the nation with an average of 68.2 yards per game.
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| Virginia quarterback Matt Schaub ranks ninth in the country in passing efficiency. (AP photo) |
Defending Virginia’s passing game is a Mountaineer defense that has had some difficulty at times with good quarterbacks. Miami’s Ken Dorsey burned the West Virginia secondary for a season-high 422 yards and two touchdowns. Cincinnati Gino Guidugli completed 20-of-30 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
WVU ranks 56th in pass defense giving up an average of 215.1 yards per game. However, West Virginia’s total defensive average of 330.8 yards per game ranks 28th in the country.
The Continental Tire Bowl will feature two of the nation’s best teams in turnover margin.
West Virginia is second in the country behind South Florida with a plus 1.75 advantage. Virginia is 14th with a plus 1.00 average.
Virginia leads the nation with 22 fumbles recovered and is 55th in passes intercepted with 13. UVa is tied for 81st in fumbles lost with 14, but is tied for 18th with just eight interceptions thrown.
West Virginia is tied 19th in fumbles recovered with 15 and is tied for 15th in passes intercepted with 19. WVU is tied for fourth with just six fumbles lost and tied for 10th with just seven interceptions thrown.
Both teams obviously take good care of the football.
One area of concern for both West Virginia and Virginia are its punting games. West Virginia ranks 109th out of 117 teams in net punting with an average of just 30.25 yards per punt.
Virginia is actually one place lower than the Mountaineers at 110 with a net average of 30.22 yards per punt.
A missed assignment on special teams could very well decide the outcome of the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl.
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National Team Rankings Rushing Offense Passing Offense Total Offense Scoring Offense Rushing Defense Pass Defense Total Defense Scoring Defense Net Punting Punt Returns Kickoff Returns Turnover Margin |
National Individual Rankings Rushing Passing Efficiency Total Offense Receptions Per Game Receiving Yards Per Game Interceptions Punting Punt Returns Kickoff Returns Field Goals Scoring All-Purpose Running Passing
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