Countdown to Kickoff
October 22, 2003 09:52 AM | General
October 22, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia (2-4/1-1) plays host to No. 3-ranked Virginia Tech (6-0/2-0) for a 7:30 pm Big East game at Mountaineer Field (63,500) in Morgantown on Wednesday, Oct. 22. The game will televised by ESPN (Sean McDonough, Rod Gilmore, Craig James and Sam Ryan).
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| Sophomore Chris Henry is looking for his fifth TD catch of the season. Four of Henry's 11 receptions so far have gone for scores. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
The winner of the West Virginia-Virginia Tech game receives the Black Diamond Trophy, first presented in 1997. Sponsored by Rish Equipment Company, the Black Diamond Trophy refers to the region’s history with the coal industry; Rish provides scholarship funds to both schools to be used by student-athletes majoring in mining engineering.
Tickets still remain for the contest and can be purchased at the Mountaineer Ticket Office by calling 1-800-WVU GAME. The ticket office will remain open until 6:30 pm today.
Here is tonight’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – West Virginia ranks TENTH this week in turnover margin at plus-1.17. WVU has claimed 10 fumbles and picked off seven passes.
9 – It has been NINE seasons since West Virginia has defeated Virginia Tech in consecutive years. The last time WVU managed back-to-back wins against Tech came in 1992-93.
8 – Virginia Tech’s EIGHT interceptions this season have come from eight different players. And three of those picks have gone for touchdowns.
7 – West Virginia has had SEVEN plays this year covering 43 yards or more. The longest play of the year was an 84-yard pass from Rasheed Marshall to running back Kay-Jay Harris against Miami.
6 – Mountaineer running back Quincy Wilson has now run for more than 100 yards in a game SIX times for his career. His latest 100-yard effort came against Rutgers 10 days ago when he ran for 177 yards on a career-high 40 carries. Wilson has topped the 100-yard mark twice this season, and just missed it two other times with 99 yards against Wisconsin and Miami.
5 – Sophomore wide receiver Chris Henry is looking for his FIFTH touchdown catch of the season Wednesday against Virginia Tech. Four of Henry’s 11 catches this year have gone for touchdowns, including three covering 32 yards or more.
4 – Last year West Virginia snapped Virginia Tech’s FOUR-game winning streak in Blacksburg, 21-18. Prior to that, the Hokies defeated the Mountaineers by scores of 27-13 in 1998, 22-20 in 1999, 48-20 in 2000 and 35-0 in 2001.
3 – West Virginia has played just THREE previous Wednesday games and hold a 2-1 record. The first was a 13-10 victory over N.C. State in the 1975 Peach Bowl. Also, WVU dropped a 20-13 verdict to North Carolina in the 1997 Gator Bowl and defeated Virginia Tech 21-18 last year.
2 – Quarterback Rasheed Marshall has become just the SECOND quarterback in WVU history to rush for more than 1,000 yards for his career. Marshall’s 48 yards rushing against Rutgers now gives him 1,014 career rushing yards, joining Major Harris as WVU quarterbacks to do so. Harris rushed for 2,161 yards from 1987-89.
1 – West Virginia linebacker Grant Wiley is still ranked FIRST in the nation in forced fumbles with six, an average of one per game.
Enjoy tonight’s game and stop back afterward for complete post-game coverage.
