Fiesta Bowl Notes
January 03, 2008 01:20 AM | General
January 3, 2008
Game Captains
Game captains for the Fiesta Bowl were senior defensive lineman Keilen Dykes, senior linebacker Marc Magro, senior fullback Owen Schmitt and senior defensive back Vaughn Rivers.
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| Johnny Dingle gets to Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford in the first quarter of the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
The Fiesta Bowl game captains were voted on permanently by their teammates after the Mountaineers had selected game captains during the regular season.
For Starters
Junior offensive lineman Stephen Maw was WVU’s lone first-time starter in the Fiesta Bowl. A total of 43 Mountaineers have at least one game of starting experience.
Tops on that list are senior defensive lineman Keilen Dykes (44), senior safety Eric Wicks (38), junior offensive lineman Ryan Stanchek (34), junior running back Steve Slaton (33) and senior receiver Darius Reynaud (32).
Rivers’ Punt Return in First Quarter
Vaughn Rivers’ 51-yard punt return in the first quarter marked the longest return of his career. His previous long was a 50-yard touchdown return at Mississippi State in 2006.
Andrews’ First Quarter Interception
Quinton Andrews intercepted Sam Bradford in the end zone to thwart an Oklahoma drive marking his first interception of the season and fifth of his career.
It marked the 16th interception by the Mountaineer defense this season.
McAfee’s Move
Pat McAfee moved into third place on the all-time WVU kick scoring list, now boasting 303 career points, after connecting on 12 points in the Fiesta Bowl. He passed Charlie Baumann (1985-88) who had 291 career points.
First Quarter Leads
West Virginia led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter marking the ninth game this season the Mountaineers held a lead after the first stanza. Previously, WVU was 8-0 when holding a first quarter lead this season. WVU and its opponent were tied three times after the first quarter. The Mountaineers also trailed one time this season in its loss at USF.
Schmitt’s Second Quarter Touchdown Run
Schmitt’s 57-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter marked his fourth of the season and 13th of his career. It also marked his career long rush.
It then set a WVU bowl record for the longest touchdown run in school history breaking the previous long set by teammate Steve Slaton in the 2006 Sugar Bowl. Then, Slaton posted two 52-yard touchdown runs in the 38-35 victory over Georgia in the Georgia Dome. Noel Devine then broke that with his 65-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Schmitt’s run was also the eighth-longest play by the Mountaineers this season and 13th of 50 or more yards. It also marked the sixth-longest rush of the season by WVU after Devine’s 65-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
Schmitt has also posted at least a 50-yard rush in each of the last three bowl games.
Reynaud’s 21-yard TD Reception
Darius Reynaud’s 21-yard touchdown reception from Patrick White late in the second quarter marked his 12th of the season, tying him with Chris Henry (2004) for the all-time WVU single season mark.
The touchdown reception was Reynaud’s 19th of his career, moving him into a tie for third place on the all-time WVU touchdown receptions list with Khori Ivy (1997-2000).
White’s Touchdown Passes
Patrick White’s 21-yard touchdown strike to Darius Reynaud in the second quarter marked his 13th of the season and 34th of his career. He then found Tito Gonzales for a 79-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter giving him 14 on the season and 35 on his career. He is now in sole possession of sixth place on the all-time career touchdown passes list passing Mike Sherwood (1968-70).
Halftime Leads
WVU’s 20-6 halftime lead marked the 11th game this season that the Mountaineers have led at intermission. Entering the bowl game, West Virginia was 9-1 on the season with the halftime lead with its lone loss coming against Pitt.
WVU trailed at the half in its win at Marshall and its loss at USF.
Devine’s Rushing Touchdowns
Noel Devine’s 17-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter marked his fifth of the season and career. He followed that up with a 65-yard touchdown rush midway through the fourth quarter setting a new WVU bowl record (breaking Schmitt’s previous touchdown rush earlier in the game). It marked the second-longest play from scrimmage for WVU this season.
White’s 100-yard Rushing Effort
Patrick White rushed for 150 yards against the Sooners marking his 15th career 100-yard rushing performance and sixth of the season. It marked his fifth 100 yard rushing game in his last six games.
White’s Total Offense
Patrick White combined for 326 yards of total offense against Oklahoma marking his 16th career 200-yard total offense game. It marked his sixth career 300-yard total offense game and third of the season (Rutgers and Louisville).
White and NCAA Single Season Quarterback Rushing List
With his 150 yards rushing against Oklahoma, White moved up 12 spots into sixth place on the single season NCAA Quarterback Rushing list now boasting 1,335 yards.
He also broke his previous single season BIG EAST rushing mark of 1,219 yards which he set last season.
White and NCAA Career Quarterback Rushing List
With his 150 yards rushing against Oklahoma, White moved up three spots to sixth on the NCAA career quarterback rushing list now boasting 3,506 yards. Missouri’s Brad Smith (2002-05) is the all-time career QB rushing leader boasting 4,289 yards.
Reynaud’s Touchdown on Reverse
Darius Reynaud scored his second career rushing touchdown on his 30-yard reverse late in the third quarter. Ironically, his first career touchdown came on a reverse in WVU’s 38-35 Sugar Bowl win two seasons ago.
Gonzales’ Touchdown Reception
Tito Gonzales’ 79-yard touchdown reception from Patrick White early in the fourth quarter was a career long reception. It marked the longest touchdown reception in WVU bowl history breaking the previous record of 74 yards by Jerry Porter from Marc Bulger in the 1997 Insight.com Bowl.
The pass marked the longest completion of White’s career. His previous career long was a 67-yard touchdown pass to Steve Slaton at Pitt in 2006.
Rushing for 300
WVU improves to 28-2 since 2001 when it reaches the 300-yard rushing mark. It marks the sixth game this season that West Virginia has amassed 300 yards of rushing in a game.
Total Offense Bowl Record
WVU’s 525 yards of total offense against Oklahoma set a new school bowl record for total offense in a game breaking the Mountaineers previous mark of 502 yards set in the 2006 Sugar Bowl and the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl.
30 Is Enough
Dating back to 1980, WVU now holds a 135-7-1 record when scoring 30 or more points in game. West Virginia is now 53-1 since 2000 when scoring 30 points or more in a game.
Third Straight BCS Win for BIG EAST
WVU’s 48-28 win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl marks the third straight BIG EAST win in the BCS (WVU over Georgia/2006; Louisville over Wake Forest/2007).
