Countdown to Kickoff
November 09, 2005 09:59 AM | General
November 9, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia (7-1, 4-0) takes on Cincinnati (4-4, 2-2) Wednesday night in a Big East Conference game at Nippert Stadium (35,000) in Cincinnati. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2 (Dave Barnett, Craig James and Holly Rowe).
The No. 15-rated Mountaineers bused to Cincinnati on Tuesday in time for a brief workout and will bus back to Morgantown following the game.
Here is tonight’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez has won TEN of 15 Big East conference road games since taking over the Mountaineer job in 2001.
9 – Phil Brady has pinned NINE punts inside the opponents’ 20 yard line so far this year. Including four by quarterback Adam Bednarik, West Virginia’s punting game has accounted for 13 kicks inside the opponents’ 20 yard line.
8 – The last time these two teams met in Morgantown in 2003, there were EIGHT combined fumbles in a 15-13 Bearcat win. In all, 10 turnovers were committed by both teams.
7 – Wide receiver Brandon Myles has caught at least two passes in SEVEN of eight games this season. The only game Myles failed to catch at least two passes was against Rutgers when he caught one for 21 yards and a touchdown. Myles’ best game was a six-catch, 81-yard effort earlier in the season against East Carolina.
6 – SIX of freshman Pat McAfee’s eight field goals this year have come from between 20 and 39 yards. McAfee is two of five in field-goal tries from 40 yards or longer. He has yet to attempt a field goal inside of 20 yards.
5 – The Mountaineers have had just FIVE scoring plays covering 27 yards or longer. West Virginia longest scoring play from scrimmage was a Pat White 48-yard touchdown run against Wofford.
4 – Senior strong safety Mike Lorello leads the team with FOUR forced fumbles so far this year. Lorello is also tied with Dee McCann for the team lead with three interceptions and shows three sacks and six tackles for losses.
3 – West Virginia quarterbacks have passed for more than 100 yards in a game just THREE times this year. Adam Bedarnik did it twice against Syracuse (104) and East Carolina (116) while Pat White threw for 106 yards in his last outing against Connecticut.
2 – Freshman running back Steve Slaton has scored seven of his eight touchdowns so far this season in his last TWO games against Louisville and Connecticut.
1 – The West Virginia defense has only allowed ONE 100-yard rusher through eight games this year in Louisville’s Michael Bush (159 yards). The Mountaineer run defense is giving up 94.9 yards per game.
Enjoy the game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete post-game coverage.
