MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s first offensive drive took 13 plays for 71 yards in 5:59, topped off with a Kennedy McKoy touchdown Saturday at Kansas. It looked like the Mountaineers picked up right where they left off after dropping 44 points in N.C. State the week prior.
There for the remainder of the first half, WVU only mustered three more points on a field goal as time expired. In the second half, momentum picked up, scoring on four of five possessions, but quarterback Austin Kendall noticed a trend that will drive any offensive coach or player nuts.
West Virginia had eight drives reach the K.U. 30-yard line or further, but it only reached the end zone three times. Three more ended in Evan Staley field goals, while two came up with no points on a missed field goal and turnover on downs.
“We’ve just gotta finish in the red zone,” Kendall said. “I think it was three or four, maybe five times, we didn’t finish near the red zone [Saturday]. That’s on me, that’s on the offensive line and that’s on everyone in the offensive room. We have to capitalize when we’re in the red zone every time.”
While field goals were the difference in the Mountaineers’ 29-24 win over the Jayhawks, Kendall isn’t satisfied with simply getting more. He believes the offense needs to do more.
“At this point, we know we have to get points on the board — three points isn’t enough,” Kendall said.
Lefty draw
Three times, Kendall handed the ball off to the running back with his off-left hand, but there was a small wrinkle meant to throw off the defense.
With the running back behind him, Kendall dropped back faking a throw, but tucked the ball behind him with his left hand for the running back to snag on a run play.
It was similar to a “Statue of Liberty” trick play, made famous by Boise State’s Jared Zabransky on the final play of 2007 Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma.
While Kendall’s attempts weren’t as dramatic, it’s something he learned at Oklahoma from a Heisman Trophy winner.
“We’ve done that since I got here,” he said. It’s actually something I brought over from Kyler (Murray). I just kind of sit there and they don’t know what you’re doing. I brought that in with me and they let me do it this time around.”
Stopping the duo
A head coach is hard to please, and looking at the final rushing stats for Kansas, WVU’s Neal Brown still wasn’t happy with his team’s defensive performance.
“They still ran the ball decently — they had 142 yards,” he said. “Those kids are good players.”
Those kids are K.U. (2-2, 0-1) running backs Khalil Herbert and Pooka Williams, who were in the top five of the Big 12 in rushing coming into Saturday’s game. The duo combined for 229 yards in the Jayhawks’ win the week prior at Boston College, and Herbert slashed West Virginia’s defense for 291 yards in Lawrence two years ago.
They were the focal point for the Mountaineers (3-1, 1-0) coming in, but when the game ended, Williams and Herbert combined for 103 yards on 22 carries. Williams was more successful with 76 yards, but WVU held Herbert completely in check — he had 27 yards on seven carries.
“We knew exactly what type of players those guys were,” said linebacker Josh Chandler, who finished with eight tackles. “We hit them hard. I feel like we did a good job, but I feel like we could have done better.”
