MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — 10:23 a.m.: It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for, and that many of us weren’t sure would happen. The WVU football team is one hour and 45 minutes from kickoff against Eastern Kentucky at Milan Puskar Stadium, and while it appears the Mountaineers will not be affected by COVID-19 as far as personnel goes, the first major news of the day is they will be short-handed anyway.
Eleven players will not play Saturday, serving a one-game suspension for violation of team rules a WVU spokesperson confirmed, including three starters: Left tackle Junior Uzebu, center Chase Behrndt and wide receiver T.J. Simmons. The others are wide receiver Isaiah Esdale, receiver Zack Dobson, tight ends Mike O’Laughlin and T.J. Banks, offensive lineman Tairiq Stewart and Zach Davis, cornerback David Vincent-Okoli and long-snapper J.P. Hadley.
Losing nearly a dozen players is never ideal, but against a 43.5-point underdog in EKU, it could give WVU a chance to allow others to play meaningful snaps.
Kickoff is at noon on FS1. Follow along with me here with sights from the stadium.
10:33 a.m.: Diving into the suspensions a bit more, especially the starters. Behrndt missing out could give way for true freshman and Fairmont Senior alum Zach Frazier, who was listed as the backup center in this week’s initial depth chart. Another option is Briason Mays, who started several games last year as a redshirt-freshman, but moved to right tackle in the offseason.
As left tackle, Uzebu beat out Brandon Yates during fall camp, but I would expect Yates to now get the nod as a redshirt-freshman.
With Simmons and Esdale both out, there could be a more finesse passing game, especially with speed. Winston Wright is listed as at a different receiving slot, but he could get a lot of playing time otherwise. At tight end, Banks and O’Laughlin are the only two TEs on scholarship, so I would not expect many formations involving the tight end.
10:42 a.m.: Music started playing at the stadium, an hour and a half before kickoff. Players’ families are starting to find their seats in the lower bowl on the west side, special-teamers are on the field warming up. Good mix of country and rap on the brand new sound system.
11:00 a.m.: A few of the suspended players are on the sideline, including Behrndt, Esdale, O’Laughlin, Davis, Simmons and Hadley. We’re an hour from kickoff.
11:12 a.m.: Virginia transfer offensive lineman Ja’Quay Hubbard, as well as Arizona transfer safety Scottie Young, are on the sideline without pads. Does not appear either will play.
11:23 a.m.: The meal spread was greatly hit, but I will never complain about free food. Turkey and cheese wrap, pineapple, oatmeal cookie, kettle chips and water are a part of the media and staff bagged lunch.
11:25 a.m.: Most of the Mountaineers make their way onto the field and get juiced before breaking into pregame drills.
11:43 a.m.: I’m sad to say the Pride of West Virginia is not taking the field at the moment, but both teams are off the field for a final word before kickoff.
11:46 a.m.: The new video board in the south end zone is showing FS1’s pregame show, and it is an enormous improvement in every way possible. The thing is huge.
11:49 a.m.: WVU confirms starters for suspended players: Frazier will start for Behrndt, Yates will start for Uzebu, Reese Smith will start at inside receiver and Jackson Knipper will start at tight end.
11:53 a.m.: WVU honors former quarterback Chris Gray, who was killed at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. The school played a recording of the national anthem by the WVU band as we near kickoff.
11:59 a.m.: And the teams take the field! The Mountaineer mascot’s gun did not fire on two attempts, so 2020 is affecting everyone. WVU wins the toss and will receive.
12:04 p.m.: WVU players lock arms and stand in unity as their is a moment of silence for the social issues in the United States. Winston Wright takes the opening kickoff, but a hold on Randy Fields starts the drive at the WVU 18-yard line.
12:11 p.m.: A photo tribute to longtime videographer Jim Galusky appears on the video board.
12:12 p.m.: A four-play, 82-yard drive ends after just 1:32 on a Leddie Brown 10-yard touchdown run. The fight song was played over the speakers and the Mountaineers did a little dance in the end zone.
12:18 p.m.: EKU goes 3-and-out as fake crowd noise booms at Milan Puskar Stadium. Alec Sinkfield calls fair catch and the Mountaineers will try again.
12:29 p.m.: Leddie Brown scores his second touchdown, this time of the passing variety. Quarterback Jarret Doege finds him in the flat and Brown rumbles for a 15-yard score. WVU dominating outside of two plays, which were both 5-yard losses on tackles by EKU’s Antonio Smith.
12:36 p.m.: WVU has a scored on the kickoff as EKU returns it for a score, but offsetting penalties forces a re-kick. Alonzo Addae demolished the returner, and then the Colonels go 3-and-out on a big stuff by Darius Stills on 3rd and inches. The Mountaineers will take over at their own 40-yard line. Another scare for the Mountaineers as Sinkfield muffs the kick but recovers.
12:45 p.m.: After an hour long discussion by the officials on two flags, EKU will take over at the 1-yard line. WVU goes 3-and-out.
12:48 p.m.: At the end of the first quarter, VanDarius Cowan’s sack will give WVU the ball back as EKU is set to punt. This is weird, but it was highly competitive football. The Mountaineers don’t seem to have a problem getting up for this one.
12:51 p.m.: Though suspended, T.J. Simmons is standing on the bench waving the West Virginia state flag. Juice Squad has been up all game trying to get the crowd and sideline hyped up.
12:54 p.m.: Another drive less than two minutes long ends with another Mountaineers’ touchdown. This time, Doege hits Sam James on a pretty ball in the middle of the end zone. WVU leads 21-0 with 12:59 to go in the second quarter.
1:02 p.m.: EKU scores its first touchdown on the year on a drive that was just over two minutes. Pretty easy looking for the Colonels as WVU still leads 21-7.
1:12 p.m.: Alec Sinkfield finds the end zone for the Mountaineers as their offense is rolling outside of one drive. Let’s see how the defense responds now as WVU takes a 28-7 lead.
1:31 p.m.: Shades of Josh Norwood last season against Kansas State, Alonzo Addae grabs a diving interception for West Virginia. The Mountaineers are driving behind Leddie Brown, and now we’re having a targeting call under review against EKU.
1:36 p.m.: Leddie Brown scores again, and with that, gives WVU three rushing touchdowns Saturday after having just seven all of last season. The Mountaineers take a 35-7 lead.
1:47 p.m.: I missed the incomplete call on a pass to Bryce Ford-Wheaton in the end zone, thinking it was a touchdown. Doesn’t matter, because Ford-Wheaton hauls one in for a score on the next play. Mountaineers lead 42-7 as we near the end of the first half.
1:49 p.m.: We made it! WVU leads 42-7 at halftime, and it was dominant from start to finish. The WVU offense struggled on just two drives, while the defense did one. Otherwise, the Mountaineers blasted the Colonels.
2:08 p.m.: The Mountaineers are back on the field for the second half. EKU has been out for about five minutes and barely stretched, Colonels seem ready to get back to the Bluegrass State. EKU will receive the second half kickoff.
2:18 p.m.: EKU gets into the double-digits with a 32-yard field goal after it appeared the Mountaineers made a stop, but a roughing the passer call on VanDarius Cowan kept the drive alive. Attendance was also announced at 976.
2:22 p.m.: Hey! It’s Austin Kendall!
2:40 p.m.: Alec Sinkfield scores his second rushing touchdown of the day. Thirteen plays, 75 yards on the drive, led by Austin Kendall. Mountaineers lead 49-10.
2:54 p.m.: Press box has turned into a discussion the last time WVU had two running backs each score two touchdowns. Answer? Rushel Shell and Wendell Smallwood in 2015. By the way, Evan Staley just missed a chip-shot field goal.
3:34 p.m.: Oh, we’re still here Anyway, WVU crushes Eastern Kentucky with a 56-10 win. Stick around for more coverage at dominionpost.com.
