(Football News – Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)
West Virginia football’s passionate fan base has been calling for Trust the Crime for the past six years. There have certainly been some good moments along the way, including a great 9-4 season in 2023.
But for the third time in a 2024 home game, disappointed Mountaineers fans simply watched their team run out of their own stadium and left in droves with minutes left. Despite winnable games against Iowa State, Kansas State, and Baylor, WVU trailed at halftime and all games were one-score games. But in the second half, those three opponents outscored West Virginia a combined 49-0 before the Mountaineers scored late TDs long after each game was decided. They have lost four home games this season by a total of 75 points.
WVU’s defense was abysmal in the first half against Baylor, allowing an embarrassing 35 points. However, he managed to get three stops in the third quarter, giving the Mountaineers good position near midfield and a chance to tie the game and change the momentum. The offense was impressive in the first half, but failed to capitalize on two missed quarter-down conversions.
It’s a usual pattern for the offense to stagnate in the second half of home Big 12 games. While their opponents made adjustments in the first half, West Virginia had no answers. On Saturday, quarterback Garrett Green ran for 109 yards in the first half, but Baylor contained him on the first four possessions of the second half with the game still in question. And when they can move the ball through the air, the WVU offense sputters. Green didn’t complete half of his passes in the game.
Neil Brown lamented the mistake after the game. Defenders take the wrong gaps, overrun plays, don’t get off blocks, and miss tackles. He dropped passes in important situations and was unable to execute attacks. Special forces failure.
In an inexplicable anomaly this season, West Virginia plays much better football on the road, but at home we’ve seen good teams come in and bully the Mountaineers when it counts. So for fans in our area, walking home across Route 50 in the dark becomes a tedious long drive.
WVU can still get back to its winning season by winning its remaining two games, but confidence in achieving that goal is waning.
This Saturday: Central Florida is another team that had high hopes for the 2024 season, but is struggling with a 2-5 conference record. However, in their last four games, they have averaged 36 points per game while losing three of them by less than one point. From what we’ve seen, there’s no reason to believe WVU’s defense can stop a good offense that has found its mojo. Central Florida 42 West Virginia 37.
