.Michael Cohen.University Soccer and also College Basketball Author.MORGANTOWN, W.Va.-- As the officials transformed and encountered West Virginia's leaders complying with a position coin toss that had actually gone the home crew's means, words of senior protection Aubrey Burks reverberated around Mountaineer Area courtesy of a referee's microphone." Our experts want the reception," Burks claimed in an instance of assurance that was actually broadcast throughout the video clip boards at either end of the arena. "And also our experts wan na go score." The moment, twice, three opportunities, Burks duplicated themself up until the referee pointed both collections of players towards the sidelines as kickoff moved toward. The Mountaineers showed up for Saturday's across the country aired opener brimming with confidence after finalizing the 2023 campaign with 5 triumphes in six games, marked through a 20-point gain North Carolina in the Duke's Mayonnaise Dish final December. A meeting file of 6-3 as well as a general proof of 9-4 sufficed to spark optimism, enjoyment and also a contract expansion for head train Neal Brown.But deciding on to get the position kickoff performed bit in West Virginia's quest to follow up on the objective Burks had thus openly laid out. 4 things reoccured prior to the Mountaineers mustered up any points at all, and also also then, after turning the ball over two times in the very first one-fourth alone, they settled for a humble basket. And also basket were never mosting likely to suffice versus a new-look, new-age Penn Condition offense that began to open the potential of previous luxury quarterback Drew Allar (11-of-17 for 216 backyards and three TDs). Under the direction of first-year offensive organizer Andy Kotelnicki, whom head train James Franklin tweezed coming from Kansas, the Nittany Lions finally began to rumble. There were piece plays with the air coming from Allar to wideouts Omari Evans (2 catches, 55 backyards) and also Harrison Wallace III (5 catches, 117 gardens, 2 TDs). There were portion plays on the ground with tailbacks Nicholas Individual and also Kaytron Allen. There were piece use either side of a weather hold-up that kept both crews in their closet rooms for 2 hrs, 19 minutes between the 2nd and third areas. There were enough piece plays to send swaths of the 62,084 supporters home long prior to the last few seconds elapsed.The 34-12 succeed was every thing Franklin and Penn Condition could possibly possess expected in a high-profile opener against a Power-4 challenger. Here are actually some simple takeaways from Milan Puskar Coliseum: Very early differenceA mistimed break that appeared to get Allar by surprise on his group's position property blessed the Mountaineers great field position merely outside the reddish region along with 10:38 remaining in the first zone. It was the first of 4 West Virginia drives that either started or even advanced inside the Penn Condition 30-yard collection during the very first two one-fourths, the combined results of which were actually only 6 factors: a pair of basket through kicker Michael Hayes II coming from distances of 38 lawns and also 39 yards, specifically. And each subsequent drive that stopped working to generate a touchdown siphoned a bit much more electricity from what was, at the very least initially, a reasonably raucous crowd.West Virginia's first play after Allar's early fumble promptly declined into catastrophe when the breeze coming from center Brandon Yates hit the movement male as well as caromed deep in to the backfield, along with Penn State at some point tearing possession away from quarterback Garrett Greene. The upcoming Mountaineer venture into Nittany Lions' area was actually prevented by a neglected "tush push" on fourth and quick as Greene was actually rebuffed at the line of scrimmage. Pair of added pushes that acquired 98 blended lawns throughout the mid and last stages of the 2nd quarter stalled at the outer edge of the reddish zone.Kotelnicki's offense was actually much more purposeful with each possession that ventured in to West Virginia territory. The Nittany Lions accented a 10-play, 71-yard march along with a 20-yard touchdown from Allar to Allen and also covered a three-play, 73-yard digestive tract punch when Allar zoomed a lovely throw to Wallace III for yet another score along with:06 remaining in the 2nd quarter, stretching the Penn Condition bring about 14. Drew Allar connects with Harrison Wallace III who grabs his feets for a TD, expanding Penn Condition's lead over West Virginia Play of the gameOnly a portion of the group continued to be when play lastly resumed at 4:23 p.m. as well as the Nittany Lions leading by 14 factors. For the West Virginia faithful that stayed-- each of them having gathered below the bleachers for more than two hours of lightning and also torrential rains-- it was comprehended simply exactly how crucial the position things of the 3rd quarter would certainly be. If Penn State hit the end area and pressed its conveniences north of 20, it was actually improbable the Mountaineers would certainly possess any kind of opportunity to claw their way back in to contention based on the anemic offensive outcome from the initial half.A pair of 10-yard scrambles coming from Allar and a successful swing pass to running back Nicholas Singleton moved the Nittany Lions around midfield along with loved one convenience. Which is actually when Singleton accented Penn State's success along with a 40-yard goal run through the middle of West Virginia's self defense. Two pulling electrician removed a pathway that left behind Individual untouched until he reached the third amount, where the smacking branch of protection Anthony Wilson Jr. was no place near sufficient to reduce the velocity. Individual competed downfield as well as into the end area as Penn State's lead swelled to an overwhelming 21-point frame. The one-two strike of Individual as well as Allen incorporated for 167 hurrying backyards (134 hurrying, thirty three getting) and two touchdowns.Key statOne of the driving elements behind Franklin's decision to go after Kotelnicki as his sixth annoying planner in 11 periods was actually because of the reputation for explosive plays at Kansas, where the Jayhawks had actually turned into a high-octane strike under Kotelnicki's direction. In the course of a three-year stretch from 2021-23, the Jayhawks ranked 12th nationally in percent of plays acquiring at the very least twenty gardens (8.3%) and also 15th in percent of passing plays getting at the very least 30 yards (3.9%). Kansas exceeded 40 points nine attend that stretch and also topped fifty points 5 times, also as unpleasant injuries to beginning quarterback Jalon Daniels evaluated the outburst's adaptability.Those sorts of field-tilting gains disclosed on their own early as well as usually in Kotelnicki's launching versus West Virginia on Saturday, with Allar and also the staff's high-ranking managing back duo shredding the Mountaineers in even more ways, as well as stages, than one. Allar merely needed to have 11 finalizations to go beyond 200 passing gardens and discover completion area 3 times by means of the sky. Individual averaged almost 9 gardens per proceed his very first thirteen tries, 2 of which got 40 yards and one of which located the end area. Wallace topped one hundred obtaining yards for the very first time in his profession on just 5 receptions.By the 8:13 mark of the fourth one-fourth-- when the Nittany Lions began sending out wents of backups onto the area-- Kotelnicki's offense was actually still averaging a fabulous 8.4 gardens per play.What's upcoming for Penn State?Departing West Virginia along with a carefully remarkable roadway success places the Nittany Lions for a prospective climb in the nationwide positions in the coming full weeks. Not simply are going to Penn State be actually a hefty favorite in its own following 4 video games versus Bowling Eco-friendly, Kent Condition, Illinois as well as UCLA-- the last 2 of which are actually association opponents-- however they likewise won't need to leave the welcoming boundaries of Beaver Stadium. A quartet of home times maintains the Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania until mid-October, at which point they'll soar to California for what should be a top-level competition with Large 10 beginner USC. Already, Franklin's team must be 5-0 total, 2-0 in the game and also squarely in the chat to hit the University Football Playoff for the very first time as the layout broadens to 12 staffs. And if Saturday's annoying blast versus the Mountaineers is any evidence of where Kotelnicki can easily take his device in the happening full weeks, at that point it could be worth including Penn State in conversations concerning genuine opponents for the Big Ten Championship and the national championship. What is actually next for West Virginia?After an opener in which Penn State threw for 199 yards as well as three goals in the 1st fifty percent alone, the top priority for Brown and also defensive organizer Jordan Lesley between right now and Week 2 must be actually strengthening a leaky additional. The Mountaineers ranked 86th country wide and 8th in the Huge 12 in passing defense last time in spite of having an all-conference cornerback in Beanie Diocesan Jr., whose 24 successfully pases fought for (4 INTs, 20 breakups) led the country. However Bishop is actually right now playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as West Virginia's continuing to be corners battled to reduce the Nittany Lions' downfield passing strike, especially without the advantage of a practical pass thrill. Northwestern transmission Garnett Hollis Jr., who pulled out the key task versus Wallace, was beaten for a 17-yard finalization on a drive that ended along with Penn Condition reaching completion region and also later submitted a back-shoulder touchdown that broke the game open quickly before halftime. West Virginia should have an easier challenge next Saturday versus Albany.Michael Cohen deals with college soccer and basketball for FOX Sports with an emphasis on the Big 10. 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