Countdown to Kickoff
November 08, 2007 12:52 PM | General
November 8, 2007
VIEW TONY'S GAME CHARTS
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia battles Louisville tonight at Milan Puskar Stadium in a nationally televised contest airing on ESPN (Chris Fowler, Doug Flutie, Craig James and Erin Andrews).
The Mountaineers (7-1) are looking to avenge last year’s 44-34 loss to the Cardinals that derailed their hopes of another BCS bowl berth. Louisville comes into tonight’s game with a 5-4 record, having beaten Pitt 24-17 at home on Oct. 27. Louisville is looking to become bowl-eligible for the 10th consecutive year.
Here is tonight’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – There were TEN touchdowns scored by both teams in last year’s West Virginia-Louisville game at Louisville. The Cardinals won the game 44-34.
9 – According to the WVU Sports Communications Office, senior fullback Owen Schmitt has now broken NINE facemasks for his career.
8 – West Virginia has had 32 scoring drives this year of EIGHT plays or less including 17 of five plays or less.
7 – Patrick White and Steve Slaton have run for more than 100 yards in the same game SEVEN times. The Mountaineers are 6-1 in those games – the only loss coming at Louisville last year.
6 – Quarterback Patrick White is presently SIXTH in Big East history in career touchdowns responsible for with 64. White has accounted for 18 touchdowns so far this year.
5 – West Virginia is ranked FIFTH nationally in pass defense allowing just 161 yards per game.
4 – West Virginia’s defense has allowed only FOUR 100-yard rushers in its last 33 games. The only 100-yard rusher this year was Rutgers’ Ray Rice, who gained 142 yards in a 31-3 West Virginia victory.
3 – West Virginia has only lost THREE times when out-rushing its opponents over its last 28 games. Those losses came twice against South Florida and Louisville.
2 – The Mountaineers are one of only TWO schools ranked in the nation’s Top 12 in total offense, total defense, scoring offense and scoring defense. The other school is Kansas.
1 – Heading into tonight’s game, the Mountaineers now have 41 players with at least ONE game’s worth of starting experience. Senior defensive lineman Keilen Dykes leads the way with 39 career starts.
Enjoy the game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete postgame coverage.
