MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia bounced again from a blowout loss on the street with a powerful displaying on either side of the ball.
Freshman Jahiem White rushed for a season-high 204 yards, Garrett Greene ran for a career-high 154 and the pair mixed for 5 touchdowns in a 42-21 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday.
West Virginia (7-4, 5-3 Large 12) turned a matchup of two of the league’s high dashing groups right into a one-sided affair early and now has probably the most wins in a season underneath fifth-year coach Neal Brown.
On a day when retired Corridor of Fame coach Don Nehlen was honored on the stadium he opened in 1980, the Mountaineers piled up 424 yards on the bottom behind a veteran offensive line. That is the very best underneath Brown and probably the most for West Virginia since going for 426 in opposition to Kansas in 2015. The 634 whole yards additionally had been the Mountaineers’ highest this season.
“Really, just a dominant performance,” Brown stated.
Brown known as Greene “the ultimate competitor” who took final week’s loss at Oklahoma particularly onerous and private.
In opposition to Cincinnati, “he was on from the very beginning,” Brown stated.
By halftime, Greene had already surpassed his earlier excessive of 119 yards dashing set final yr. He had 117 yards dashing in opposition to Oklahoma State final month. White had 168 yards dashing after halftime.
Cincinnati (3-8, 1-7) has misplaced seven of eight and can end in final place both alone or tied with others in its first season within the Large 12.
The Bearcats, who had surpassed 200 dashing yards of their 4 earlier video games, bought off to a tough begin, punting on their first 4 possessions. By then, West Virginia was already up 21-0, and Cincinnati was pressured to depend on the cross in making an attempt to mount a comeback.
“They kick our butts tonight,” Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield said. “There’s no other way to say it. They were blocking us all night long. Even when we had free hitters, we didn’t tackle.”
Greene had scoring runs of three, 26 and 18 yards. He threw a second-quarter sideline cross that White became a 75-yard rating. White additionally had a 4-yard TD run and CJ Donaldson scored his eleventh landing of the season, a 13-yard run within the second quarter.
Greene, who completed with 210 passing yards, joined Pat White as the one West Virginia quarterbacks with not less than 150 dashing yards and 200 passing yards in a recreation.
Jahiem White had a season-high 21 carries and bought extra work as a result of Donaldson was restricted after sustaining a leg damage final week.
“I knew I had to step up,” White stated. “I simply needed to point out the world my expertise.”
NEHLEN HONORED
Nehlen’s name was added next to Major Harris and five others whose numbers have been retired and displayed along Mountaineer Field’s north end zone. The ceremony occurred two weeks after West Virginia retired the No. 66 of NFL Hall of Famer Chuck Howley.
Nehlen’s first college coaching job was as an assistant at Cincinnati in 1963. His first game at West Virginia in 1980 was against Cincinnati. He retired in 2000 with 202 career wins.
THE TAKEAWAY
Cincinnati: The Bearcats have allowed at least 30 points six times in Big 12 play. Backup quarterback Brady Lichtenberg provided one of the few offensive sparks with a pair of long runs and a 22-yard pass to Evan Prater that set up Emory Jones’ 1-yard TD run in the second quarter. Jones also had a pair of fourth-quarter TD passes to tight end Chamon Metayer.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers, who allowed 644 yards to Oklahoma a week ago, limited the Bearcats to 139 yards in the first half and 344 overall.
“For three quarters, our defensive line was dominant,” Brown said.
