Countdown to Kickoff
October 21, 2004 01:49 PM | General
October 21, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia (5-1, 1-0) plays host to Syracuse (3-3, 1-0) in a battle of unbeaten teams in Big East play Thursday night at Milan Puskar Stadium (60,000). ESPN (Mike Tirico, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Jill Arrington) will provide the national television broadcast.
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| Mountaineer coach Rich Rodriguez is looking for a large and spirited crowd Thursday night against Syracuse.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
Good tickets still remain for tonight’s contest and can be purchased by calling the Mountaineer Ticket Office toll-free at 1-800-WVU GAME or by purchasing tickets at the stadium prior to kickoff. To add to the game-night atmosphere, halftime fireworks will be presented by United Bank.
Here is tonight’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – Quarterback Rasheed Marshall became just one of TEN WVU quarterbacks since 1969 to rush for more than 100 yards in a game against Connecticut last Wednesday night. Marshall finished the game gaining 118 yards on 18 carries.
9 – West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez has won NINE of 12 night games (those starting at 5 pm or later) since 2001. Coach Rod is 4-0 in night games at Milan Puskar Stadium.
8 – Despite being hampered by various injuries, West Virginia running back Kay-Jay Harris is ranked EIGHTH in the country in rushing with an average of 137.3 yards per game. Harris ran for a school-record 337 yards in the season opener against East Carolina.
7 – West Virginia has had 20 scoring drives of SEVEN plays or fewer so far this season including nine of three plays or less.
6 – West Virginia has had SIX non-scoring plays covering 40 yards or longer so far this season. West Virginia’s longest non-scoring play was a 59-yard run by running back Bryan Wright against James Madison.
5 – Syracuse has won its last FIVE games following a loss to a Top-10 ranked team. The Orange dropped a 17-13 verdict to then No. 8-ranked Florida State in the Carrier Dome on Oct. 9. The last time SU fell following a loss to a Top 10-ranked team came in 1999 when the Orange followed up a loss to No. 2 Virginia Tech with a loss to unranked Boston College.
4 – Chris Henry has caught at least FOUR passes in each of his last 11 consecutive regular season games dating back to last year’s Virginia Tech contest when he had just two catches.
3 – West Virginia has scored THREE defensive touchdowns in three consecutive games for the first time ever. In its last outing against Connecticut, the Mountaineers got on the scoreboard via a Mike Lorello interception return for a score. Erick Wicks returned a pass for a touchdown against Virginia Tech and Adam Lehnortt picked up a fumble and returned it for a score against James Madison.
2 – West Virginia has won TWO straight against Syracuse for the first time since 1993-94. The last time the Mountaineers won three in a row against the Orange was 1972, 1973 and 1974
1 – Walter Reyes is Syracuse’s TOP-RANKED rusher all-time in the Carrier Dome with 1,995 yards including nine 100-yard games. Reyes has rushed for 1,182 yards away from the Carrier Dome with three career 100-yard efforts.
Enjoy tonight’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete post-game coverage.
