CountdowntoKickoff-Main5.jpg
Countdown to Kickoff
November 28, 2014 12:16 PM | General
West Virginia concludes the 2014 regular season with today’s game against Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.The Mountaineers (6-5) are looking to snap a three-game losing streak that has seen them drop games against TCU, Texas and Kansas State heading into today’s finale. Iowa State, too, is seeking to get back into the win column after dropping four in a row against Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Tech to bring a 2-8 overall record into today’s game.
This will be the second appearance for West Virginia in Ames; the Mountaineers held on for a 31-24 win two years ago in 2012. In last year’s regular season finale Iowa State came back from 24 points down in the second quarter to defeat West Virginia 52-44 in triple overtime.
Here is today’s Countdown to Kickoff, presented by the Friends of Coal:
10 – Iowa State junior quarterback Sam Richardson ranks among the school’s career top TEN in these categories: completions (6th), touchdown passes (5th), total offense (7th), passing yardage (8th) and completion percentage (8th).
9 – NINE of the 13 plays of 40 yards or longer the Mountaineer defense has allowed this year have been through the air, including six for touchdowns.
8 – The two games against Iowa State were decided by EIGHT points or less since the Mountaineers joined the Big 12 in 2012; West Virginia defeated Iowa State 31-24 in 2012 and lost last year 52-44 in triple overtime.
7 – Iowa State has won or tied the turnover battle in SEVEN of 10 games so far this season and ranks 11th nationally in fewest turnovers with 12. West Virginia, meanwhile, has turned the ball over 26 times this year and comes into today’s game ranked 120th in turnover margin.
6 – West Virginia ranks SIXTH in the nation in total first downs with 291 heading into today’s game against Iowa State.
5 – The Mountaineers have had FIVE 100-yard rushing performances so far this year: Rushel Shell (2), Wendell Smallwood (2) and Dreamius Smith.
4 – Iowa State has lost FOUR games by 20 points or more and five by 17 points or more so far this season.
3 – Kevin White ranks THIRD nationally in receptions per game (8.9), fourth in receiving yards (1,270) and 11th in touchdowns (11) heading into today’s game.
2 – Last Thursday night’s game against Kansas State was quarterback Skyler Howard’s SECOND appearance for the Mountaineers, the sophomore completing 15-of-23 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns in the second half of WVU’s 26-20 loss.
1 – West Virginia has scored 20 points or more in a quarter just ONE time so far this year against Towson. Dana Holgorsen’s WVU teams have done so 13 times prior to this season.
Enjoy today’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete postgame coverage.
Andrew Powdrell | April 15
Thursday, April 16
Coach Pat Kirkland | April 15
Thursday, April 16
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 15
Thursday, April 16
Alumni Series | Louisa Morgan Hoogduin
Wednesday, April 15
