Compiled by Sports Communications
October 13, 2004
EAST HARTFORD, CONN. – Post-game notes following West Virginia’s 31-19 victory over Connecticut Wednesday night at Rentschler Field.
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Freshman Pernell Williams runs 13 yards for his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's game against UConn.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
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West Virginia game captains against Connecticut were Adam Lehnortt, Michael Watson, Hikee Johnson and Lawrence Audena. Coach Rich Rodriguez selects game captains each week. Team captains will be elected at the end of the season.
First-time starters for West Virginia were Dwayne Thompson (wide receiver), Keilen Dykes (defensive end) and Jeff Noechel (linebacker). The Mountaineers now have a total of 37 players with at least one game of starting experience. Noechel was starting at outside linebacker in place of Boo McLee.
“We had a lot of new guys play tonight,” said West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez. “Jeff Noechel on defense and Brad Palmer on offense. The walk-on program is paying dividends big-time right now.”
West Virginia has now won 27 games in a row when scoring 30 or more points in a game. Dating back to 1980, WVU is 106-6-1 when scoring 30 or more in a contest.
Jason Colson’s one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was his fifth career rushing touchdown of the season and eighth of his career.
With a 7-3 lead after one quarter, West Virginia has now outscored the opposition, 42-9, this season in the first quarter.
Quarterback Rasheed Marshall moved into fourth place in career pass completions at WVU, showing 357 for his career. Marc Bulger (1996-99) is WVU’s all-time leader with 630 pass completions.
Jason Colson’s 48-yard run in the second quarter was a career long.
Mike Lorello’s interception for a touchdown was his first interception of the season and second of his career. The touchdown was the first of his career. The West Virginia defense has now scored a touchdown in three consecutive games.
“That was the turning point. We were kind of stuck in a rut and we were doing okay at times but we needed a spark. I think before that getting the ball down on the one yard line was a big play for us and then Mike just got a lucky break, the ball kicked off his foot, and we took it in there,” said Rodriguez. “From that point on we felt like we had control of the game.”
Lorello added another interception, a 25-yard return, in the fourth quarter.
Chris Henry’s 49-yard touchdown reception was his seventh of the season and 17th of his career.
With his 248 yards of total offense, Rasheed Marshall notched his 12th career 200 yard game of total offense. He is third all-time behind Marc Bulger (1996-99) who tallied 21 200 yard games of total offense.
“We did some different stuff,” said Rodriguez. “We were running a little bit of option that we haven’t done and getting Rasheed loose a little bit on the perimeter. He felt good running. I still think there were a couple of runs that he’d probably take back because he could have got more yards but he’s a weapon and we’d be foolish not to use him as a runner.”
Jason Colson rushed for a career-high 111 yards marking his second 100-yard game of the season and third of his career.
When Connecticut scored in the fourth quarter it snapped a 12 quarter (plus one overtime period) that the Mountaineer defense had not allowed an opponent offensive touchdown. Prior to the Huskies’ score West Virginia last gave up an offensive touchdown in the third quarter of WVU’s 19-16 overtime win over Maryland.
Rasheed Marshall rushed for 110 yards, marking the first time a Mountaineer quarterback rushed for 100 or more yards since Major Harris rushed for 163 yards on 16 carries against Rutgers in 1989.
With his 110 yards rushing and 138 yards passing, Rasheed Marshall became the first Mountaineer quarterback to pass and rush for 100 yards since Major Harris tallied that mark with 108 yards rushing and 196 yards passing against Rutgers in 1987.
Some were billing Wednesday night’s game as a duel between the Big East’s top two quarterbacks: Dan Orlovsky and Rasheed Marshall. Orlovsky, rated by some to be the top senior quarterback in the country, finished the evening 24 of 47 for 268 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. West Virginia’s defense only sacked Orlovsky once, but was able to keep constant pressure on him all evening.
“There were times when he was getting rid of the football quick and the receiver wasn’t quite into his route and that was due to pressure,” said Rodriguez. “It was something that we need to get more of as the season goes along.”
The last time WVU posted two 100 yard rushers in the same game was in 2002 when Avon Cobourne (138) and Quincy Wilson (100) achieved the feat against Boston College.
“We wanted to make sure we took what they gave us and then mix it up early,” said Rodriguez. “In the fourth quarter I don’t know if they got tired but our guys felt really fresh. We needed to run the ball and kill some clock and the offensive line did a great job.”
Pernell Williams’ 13-yard touchdown run was the first of his career. Williams is also the first true freshman running back to carry the ball for the Mountaineers since Quincy Wilson in 1999.
“He runs behind his pads,” said Rodriguez. “He stays down low and he’s really a heady player for a freshman. He did some things out there as true freshman in his first action that I’ve never seen and I’m really proud of him.”
Jeff Noechel’s 10-yard interception return in the fourth quarter was the first interception of his career.
With WVU’s victory over Connecticut, the Mountaineers have now won seven consecutive BIG EAST games dating back to a 22-20 loss at Miami last season. Over the last two plus seasons, WVU is now 13-2 in league play.
Connecticut’ sold-out crowd made its way to the exits midway through the fourth quarter despite the Huskies still being within two touchdowns of the Mountaineers.
