Countdown to Kickoff
October 17, 2009 10:40 AM | General
October 17, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.. – West Virginia faces Marshall today in the 2009 Friends of Coal Bowl at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, W.Va.
Today’s game will be televised on the Big East Network (John Sanders and Danny Kannell). This is the ninth meeting all-time between the two schools with West Virginia holding an 8-0 record in the series. Last year in Morgantown West Virginia defeated the Herd 27-3.
This game marks the fourth consecutive year the two schools have played the Friends of Coal Bowl. It is the final non-conference game of the regular season for the Mountaineers.
Here is today’s Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – Jeff Casteel’s defense has allowed only TEN 100-yard rushers in the last 56 games.
9 – The Mountaineers have won NINE times when Noel Devine runs for more than 100 yards in a game.
8 – West Virginia has defeated Marshall EIGHT times in series play dating back to 1911. The two schools have played in 1911, 1914, 1915, 1923, 1997, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
7 – Mountaineer coach Bill Stewart is searching for his SEVENTH non-conference home victory at WVU. Stewart is 6-0 in non-conference home games since taking over the coaching reins in 2007.
6 – West Virginia’s offense has a streak of SIX straight games scoring at least 30 points dating back to last year’s Meineke Car Care Bowl victory over North Carolina.
5 – Marshall’s defense has picked off FIVE passes so far this year and has produced 12 turnovers, getting at least one turnover in each game this season.
4 – Noel Devine has had FOUR runs of more than 31 yards so far this season and 16 of more than 31 yards for his career.
3 – West Virginia quarterback Jarrett Brown has had THREE 300-yard offensive performances including a season-high 407 yards against East Carolina earlier this season.
2 – Marshall running back Darius Marshall is ranked SECOND in the nation in rushing heading into today’s game averaging 147.4 yards per game. Marshall ran for a season-best 203 yards in a 27-16 win over Memphis on Sept. 26.
1 – WVU is averaging 7.0 yards per play on FIRST down this year.
Enjoy today’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete post-game coverage.
