MORGANTOWN — With WVU trailing 20-17 last Saturday against Texas Tech, the Mountaineers faced a 3rd and 4 from the Red Raiders’ 6-yard line, and according to offensive coordinator Gerad Parker, they had the exact play call they wanted from that spot to get the go-ahead touchdown.
“It’s a common call for us, guys hit their spots and we did what we were supposed to do,” he said. “Unfortunately, it was one of those deals where we missed a read in it. We just didn’t get through our progression and if we do, it probably goes really well.”
Wide receiver Winston Wright went in motion before the snap to the right on a swing route, quarterback Jarret Doege took the snap and ended up throwing to running back Leddie Brown toward the side of the end zone, but Brown couldn’t make the catch, toeing the end zone.
The crowd at Milan Puskar Stadium did its best to let Doege know just how open Brown was before the throw, but Doege couldn’t get it to him.
The Mountaineers ended up kicking a field goal to even the score at 20-20, but Texas Tech drove down and kicked the game-winning field goal on its next possession.
“We had a route to the running back but the Will linebacker took it away, but he kind of sat in between it,” Doege said. “We had a mesh route coming across, which if I’m more decisive and hit that, he walks in for a touchdown. I thought the Will was going to be able to take away the mesh, so then I went to the over-the-ball route, which was also covered. I saw Leddie jumping up and down in the back of the end zone and I just barely missed him for the touchdown, as well.
“It’s a very small margin for error and I’ve got to make the play when it counts.”
Doege and the noise
Many have been critical of Doege’s performance through the first five games of the season because of self-admitted inconsistent play.
While it can be tough to tune out, Doege knows the standard he’s held to as the quarterback, a position that has been consistently strong at WVU for over two decades.
“At Bowling Green, you don’t really have that kind of noise at such a small school. It’s a little different when you get here,” he said. “When you lose, you’re held to a very high standard here and I know that standard, and I want to hold myself to that standard.
“You have to tune it out, stay off social media a little bit and just go back to work. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. We know what goes on in this building and how much hard work I’ve put into this game, so I’m just going to go back to work and keep playing.”
Neal Brown on slow start
Head coach Neal Brown continued to vent his frustration on the slow start and lack of energy last week that led to the Mountaineers losing 17-0 at halftime.
“I’m so pissed about how we played at the beginning of the game,” he said. “In other sports, I kind of understand. You got all these games in other sports. In football, you’ve got 12. How the hell do you not get ready to play one game a week? I don’t get it.”
WVU (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) will take on Baylor (4-1, 2-1) on the road at noon Saturday.
TWEET @DominionPostWV
