Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Countdown to Kickoff - UAlbany
September 07, 2024 10:00 AM | Football
| Tale of the Tape |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 27.0 | 12.0 |
| Points Against | 21.0 | 34.0 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 90.0 | 85.0 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game | 179.0 | 222.0 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 165.0 | 161.0 |
| Passing Yards Allowed Per Game | 179.0 | 235.0 |
| Total Yards Per Game | 255.0 | 246.0 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Game | 358.0 | 457.0 |
| First Downs For | 12 | 19 |
| First Downs Against | 20 | 21 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 0/0 | 4/2 |
| Interceptions/Return Yards | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| Net Punting | 37.3 | 44.0 |
| Field Goal/Attempts | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| Time of Possession | 27:56 | 29:35 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 3/13 | 4/14 |
| 3rd Down Conversion Defense | 3/12 | 5/11 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 0/1 | 3/4 |
| 4th Down Conversion Defense | 1/2 | 1/1 |
| Sacks By/Yards Lost | 2/15 | 0/0 |
Last Saturday, the Mountaineers (0-1) stumbled out of the gate with a disappointing 34-12 loss to eighth-ranked Penn State before an overflow crowd of 62,084.
Coach Neal Brown praised the atmosphere leading up to the nationally televised game on FOX, but admitted his team did not deliver.
"We need to make a big jump, regardless of whatever week it is," Brown said. "We didn't play well enough in week one. It was below our standards on offense and defense, so regardless of opponent, location or week on the schedule, we've got to step it out and play to our expectations."
Penn State outgained West Virginia 457 to 246, despite WVU having just two fewer first downs than the Lions (21 to 19). A couple of mishandled snaps skewed West Virginia's rushing total, but quarterback Garrett Greene's passing numbers were very similar to what he produced last year in State College when the Lions won 38-15.
In that game, Greene completed 16 of his 27 pass attempts for 162 yards. Last Saturday, he was 15 of 28 for 161 yards. WVU's rushing attack, which generated 146 yards against the Lions last year, could muster just 85 yards on 37 attempts last Saturday.
Brown indicated earlier this week that special teams were the lone bright spot in last Saturday's defeat. The kick and punt coverages, an issue last year, were solid and kicker Michael Hayes II managed to convert both of his field goal tries from distances of 38 and 39 yards.
Meanwhile, up in Albany, New York, UAlbany, ranked 13th in the FCS Coaches' poll, struggled to put away Long Island University in its season opener.
The Sharks limited the Great Danes to 255 yards of total offense and 10 first downs and had the football nearly five minutes longer than UAlbany, who got a 55-yard punt return from Jamal Cooney to put it into position for a go-ahead touchdown, and John Opalko added a 41-yard field goal in a 27-21 triumph.
Oregon transfer Seven McGee led the Great Danes with five catches for 119 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown. Quarterback Myles Burkett, making his first start, connected on 12 of 26 passes for 165 yards, while Griffin Woodell led the ground attack with 91 yards on 20 carries.
"They've won, and anytime you have an opponent that's used to winning those are hard outs," Brown pointed out. "If you look at what Albany has done, FCS semifinals a year ago and lots of success in the CAA – a league I played in and coached in. They play quality football and (UAlbany) is used to winning.
UAlbany made the jump to Division II in 1995 and then to Division I FCS in 1999. Now in its 50th season, UAlbany boasts a 325-226 overall record with three FCS playoff appearances in 2011, 2019 and 2023.
Tonight's game will be the 22nd time West Virginia has faced an FCS opponent, the Mountaineers winning all 21 prior meetings. Last year, WVU defeated Duquesne 56-17 at Milan Puskar Stadium.
However, there have been some close contests throughout the years. In 2019, Brown's first at WVU, the Mountaineers squeaked by James Madison 20-13. In 2016, Youngstown State led 14-7 until late in the second quarter before falling 38-21.
In 2013, WVU rallied from a 17-7 halftime deficit to deposit William & Mary 24-17, and in 2009, Liberty proved pesky in a 33-20 Mountaineer victory.
West Virginia's first-ever game against an FCS opponent was in 1982, a 43-10 home victory over Richmond.
Here is tonight's Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – The Mountaineer defense has held opponents to fewer than 300 passing yards in all but TEN of its last 59 games.
9 – Senior safety Anthony Wilson Jr. registered a career-high NINE tackles in West Virginia's season-opening loss to Penn State and was one of a handful of players who drew praise from coach Neal Brown afterward.
8 – Since Neal Brown's arrival in 2019, his teams have generated EIGHT turnovers in games played against FCS teams and is plus-five overall in the turnover battle.
7 – Freshman linebacker Josiah Trotter ranks SEVENTH in the Big 12 in total tackles and 26 nationally this week with 10 stops in last Saturday's loss to Penn State.
6 – Senior right tackle Nick Malone was tops among WVU offensive linemen last week with SIX knockdown blocks against Penn State.
5 – West Virginia had FIVE first-time starters in its season-opening loss to Penn State last week: Tyrin Bradley Jr., Ayden Garnes, Garnett Hollis Jr., Kekoura Tarnue and Josiah Trotter.
4 – Quarterback Garrett Greene threw a career-high FOUR touchdown passes in his last game against an FCS opponent, Duquesne, last season.
3 – West Virginia has won all THREE times it has played at home on this date, Sept. 7. The last home game on this date was in 1996 when the Mountaineers defeated Western Michigan 34-9.
2 – The Mountaineer defense has recorded at least four tackles for loss in all but TWO of their last 22 games dating back to the 2022 season.
1 – UAlbany is making its FIRST-ever appearance at Milan Puskar Stadium tonight.
Tonight's game has been designated a Gold Rush with fans encouraged to wear their gold, and it's also a Coca-Cola Family Day featuring four tickets and a $25 concession voucher for as low as $150. Tickets are still available and can be purchase by logging on to WVUGAME.com.
Additional game, parking and stadium information can be accessed here.
"We're going to have a really good football team, and one game does not define our season or define who we are, and we're going to play better football and hopefully it will start on Saturday," Brown said.
Mountaineer Sports Network coverage begins at 3 p.m. with the GoMart Mountaineer Tailgate Show leading into regular network coverage with Tony Caridi, Dwight Wallace and Jed Drenning at 5 p.m. on stations throughout West Virginia, online via WVUsports.com and the popular Varsity Network and WVU Gameday apps.
ESPN+ (Richard Cross and Barrett Brooks) will provide television coverage for tonight's game, which gets underway at 6 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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