Countdown to Kickoff
October 03, 2008 11:42 AM | General
October 3, 2008
TONY CARIDI'S GAME CHARTS
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia faces Rutgers in the Big East Conference opener for both teams on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at Milan Puskar Stadium in a noon game to be televised on the Big East Network.
This will be the 36th meeting between the two schools with West Virginia holding a 29-4-2 record against the Scarlet Knights. The Mountaineers have won 13 straight against Rutgers dating back to 1994.
The 18th annual WVU Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will take place in the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility prior to the game. The newest class of inductees includes Eddie Bartrug, Bob Gresham, Roy Lester, Lowes Moore, Dr. Martin Pushkin and Jim Sottile. Also, a 20th reunion of the 1988 team will take place as part of the Varsity Clue weekend with many team members being recognized on the field during the first half of Saturday’s game.
Here is Saturday’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – The Mountaineers’ TEN-point third quarter last weekend against Marshall expanded their third quarter scoring advantage to 27-7. The West Virginia defense has allowed only one third quarter score so far this year against East Carolina.
9 – Backup quarterback Jarrett Brown averaged more than NINE yards per carry against Marshall last weekend, finishing the game with eight carries for 78 yards. This year Brown has carried 10 times for 95 yards and shows a career 6.6 yards-per-carry average on 91 rushing attempts.
8 – West Virginia and Rutgers combined for EIGHT touchdowns in a classic 41-39 triple-overtime victory for the Mountaineers the last time these two teams met in Morgantown in 2006.
7 – The Mountaineer defense has allowed only SEVEN 100-yard rushers in its last 42 games dating back to 2005.
6 – SIX true freshmen have seen action for West Virginia through the first four games this year: Josh Jenkins, Ricky Kovatch, Mark Rodgers, Robert Sands, D.J. Shaw and Tyler Urban.
5 – Only FIVE times in the last 18 home games has West Virginia failed to score at least 40 points in a game, the last time being last weekend in a 27-3 win over Marshall.
4 – The Mountaineers have lost only FOUR of their last 21 Big East games dating back to 2005.
3 – Pat White is THIRD among active players with 41 career rushing touchdowns. Boise State’s Ian Johnson is No. 1 with 49 career rushing touchdowns.
2 – Pat White needs 21 yards to move into SECOND place on the NCAA all-time rushing list for quarterbacks and he needs just 415 yards to become the top rushing QB in NCAA history.
1 – The Mountaineers have lost only ONCE in their last 54 games when scoring 30 points or more in a contest.
Enjoy Saturday’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete post-game coverage.
