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Countdown to Kickoff
November 14, 2015 08:06 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia looks to push its overall record back of .500 today when the Mountaineers face Texas in a noon Big 12 Conference game that will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
The Mountaineers (4-4) snapped their four-game losing streak with a 31-26 victory over Texas Tech last Saturday in Morgantown, while the Longhorns (4-5) are coming off a 59-20 victory over Kansas in Austin.
All four of West Virginia’s wins this year have come at Milan Puskar Stadium, while three of Texas’ five losses this year have come on the road.
This will be Texas’ second trip to Milan Puskar Stadium. The first, in 2013, was decided in overtime when the Longhorns pulled out a 47-40 victory.
Kickoff is set for noon and the contest will be televised nationally by ESPNU. The Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG’s pregame coverage begins at 8:30 a.m. with the Mountaineer Tailgate Show leading into game coverage at 11 a.m.
Here is today’s Countdown to Kickoff, presented by the Friends of Coal:
10 – Junior running back Wendell Smallwood is averaging TENTH nationally averaging 6.7 yards per rush. Smallwood needs just 46 yards to reach 1,000 for the season.
9 – West Virginia’s opponents have had NINE scoring plays of 28 yards or longer, including a 41-yard fumble recovery return by Oklahoma’s Jordan Evans in week four.
8 – West Virginia was one of only EIGHT teams since 2000 to have 13 or more interceptions in the first five games of the season. Since then, the Mountaineers have picked off just one additional pass.
7 – The Mountaineers are seeking their SEVENTH 100-yard rushing performance this season. Smallwood has five 100-yard games, including a season-high 163 yards last weekend against Texas Tech, while Rushel Shell has topped the century mark once with 111 yards, also coming against the Red Raiders.
6 – SIX different West Virginia defensive players saw action on more than 70 snaps last Saturday against Texas Tech.
5 – Sophomore wide receiver Shelton Gibson ranks FIFTH nationally with an average of 23 yards per reception.
4 – All FOUR West Virginia touchdowns last Saturday against Texas Tech came on the ground: two from Rushel Shell and one each from Wendell Smallwood and Skyler Howard.
3 – West Virginia’s THIRD down defense ranks among the best in the country, allowing its opponents to convert just 31 percent of their third-down tries.
2 – Junior Josh Lambert now ranks SECOND in school history in career field goals made with 58.
1 – West Virginia punter Nick O’Toole ranks FIRST in the Big 12 and seventh nationally in net punting.
Enjoy today’s game and be sure to stop back afterward for complete postgame coverage.
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