West Virginia University

West Virginia faces another elite quarterback

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by • Coverage •

By D.J. DESKINS

After a 3-0 start to what looked to be a promising season, the West Virginia Mountaineers have gone 0-4 in the Big 12, losing each game to a top-25 conference rival.

Facing Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor and TCU in consecutive weeks is no easy task for any football program, but in his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Dana Holgorsen refused to make excuses because he can’t control the schedule:

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West Virginia junior Kadeisha Buchanan shows off her Best Young Player award at the 2015 Women's World Cup -- FIFA

West Virginia junior Kadeisha Buchanan shows off her Best Young Player award at the 2015 Women's World Cup -- FIFA

West Virginia duo boasts world-class talent

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by • Coverage •

By C.J. CUNNINGHAM

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s 1,650-capacity Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium has a slightly different atmosphere than the one juniors Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence experienced this summer.

Instead of playing in front of a few hundred students, as they do for their school, the Mountaineers’ stars played in front of sold-out crowds while competing for the Canadian national team in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Best friends since the age of nine, Buchanan and Lawrence’s careers have always been on the same track. They started building an unbreakable bond while with the Brams United Girls Soccer Club in Brampton, Ontario.

Both earned spots on the senior national team at the same time when they were just 17. Then, in June, they embarked on every soccer player’s dream of playing in the World Cup.

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Podcast: DK on KDKA-TV’s Sports Showdown

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by • Podcasts, Videos • , , , ,

DEJAN
Here are all four video segments of KDKA-TV’s ‘Sports Showdown’ Sunday night, this episode covering Steelers, Penguins and college football. I was joined on panel by Andrew Fillipponi and Colin Dunlap of 93.7 the Fan. Host: Bob Pompeani.

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College football outlook: Who is Penn State?

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by • Coverage • , , , ,

By ALAN SAUNDERS

This season’s Penn State team has been an enigma. The Nittany Lions, 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, haven’t looked particularly dominant in any of their wins, but their two losses are to teams with a combined record of 15-0.

Is Penn State good but not great, or just better than the dregs of the league?

The answer starts with the clear reason for those losses, and that’s a lack of scoring. James Franklin came in with an offensive background, and the team’s best player — or at least the one that will be the most sought on Sundays — is quarterback Christian Hackenberg, but in the team’s two setbacks, the offense produced 20 total points.

Most teams throw the ball more when they’re trailing, but Hackenberg’s least prolific performances have been in the losses. He had only 13 attempts two weeks ago against Ohio State. Clearly, for Penn State to be successful, their quarterback is going to have to be the one leading the way, and his three-touchdown performance against Maryland last week can either be a building block toward a successful second half or an outlier in a disappointing season.

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TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin carries the ball past WVU's Edward Muldrow on Thursday. -- GETTY

TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin carries the ball past WVU's Edward Muldrow on Thursday. -- GETTY

West Virginia tips its cap to Boykin, No. 5 TCU

10

by • Coverage •

By DAVID STATMAN

FORT WORTH, Texas — Sometimes, when facing an opponent that is overwhelmingly good, there’s little else you can do except stop, smile and appreciate greatness.

Midway through West Virginia’s 40-10 loss at No. 5 TCU on Thursday night, the Mountaineers’ fourth straight loss to open the Big 12 schedule, they reached that point.

While WVU took itself out of the game early with some critical drops and needless pass interference penalties, TCU’s Heisman candidate quarterback Trevone Boykin put on an absolute show, making multiple highlight plays — and even earning a high-five from Dana Holgorsen along the way.

“We lost to a really good football team,” Holgorsen said. “I’m tired of saying it, but it’s true. They’ve won 22 out of the last 23, and there’s a reason for that. With all due respect to (Baylor receiver) Corey Coleman from two weeks ago, Boykin’s the best player in college football. You can’t tackle him.”

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Final: TCU 40, West Virginia 10

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by • Game previews •

By DAVID STATMAN

FORT WORTH, Texas — Looking ahead to kickoff …

Game: West Virginia (3-3) vs. TCU (7-0), 7:30 p.m., Amon G. Carter Stadium

TV, radio: Fox Sports 1, Variety 101

Online: GameTracker | Multimedia | Media notes

DAVID’S PREGAME NOTES:

• West Virginia-TCU has been one of the tightest matchups in the Big 12 since both teams joined the conference in 2012. Their three conference games have been decided by a total of five points, with all three of them being decided on the game’s final play — and the Mountaineers are 1-2.

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Dri Archer is brought down on a kick return by the Chiefs' Jamell Fleming Sunday in Kansas City. -- GETTY

Dri Archer is brought down on a kick return by the Chiefs' Jamell Fleming Sunday in Kansas City. -- GETTY

Tuesday Takes: Hey, about those bad drafts …

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by • Columns • , , , , , ,

DEJAN
Brief and to the Point …

• While no one was looking, the Steelers’ Dri Archer climbed to No. 5 on the NFL’s list of most productive kick returners, thanks in part to a career-best 38-yard return early in Sunday’s game. He’s averaging 26.7 yards, this despite still not having broken the big one.

TueTakes

While everyone was looking, Landry Jones showed well enough the past two weeks to finally be considered a legit backup quarterback moving forward.

Those two players have been cited as often as anyone by those critical of Kevin Colbert’s recent drafts. And to an extent, any such criticism remains fair. Better players at positions of greater need were taken.

But I’ll say this: If they’re all the ammo anyone has left, it isn’t much.

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Another ranked challenge awaits West Virginia

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by • Columns •

By DAVID STATMAN

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Spiraling to an 0-3 start to Big 12 play, West Virginia needs a lifeline.

A win on the road against No. 5 TCU would be one heck of a lifeline. The Mountaineers face one of the biggest challenges of their season Thursday, and an upset win could both turn their season around and quiet some of the rumors swirling about the head of coach Dana Holgorsen.

“It’s always a fun game with TCU,” Holgorsen said. “These guys are good. They came into the league the same time that we came into the league, and they’ve put themselves into a position where they’re pretty hot lately. It’ll be a huge challenge for our team, one I know our guys are looking forward to.”

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Injuries mount for weary West Virginia

by • Coverage •

By D.J. DESKINS

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Depth wasn’t an issue at most positions entering the season for the West Virginia football team, but the wear and tear the Mountaineers have faced through the first portion of Big 12 play has taken its toll.

The obvious loss has been All-American safety Karl Joseph. A non-contact practice drill proved to be the last football activity he would partake in, as it led to a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago.

Joseph led the nation in interceptions and maintained his role as one of the hardest hitters in college football by routinely separating his man from the ball. Considered to be one of the team’s inspirational leaders on defense, the Mountaineers have had to look to other seniors such as K.J. Dillon and Terrell Chestnut to take the reigns.

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Baylor's Jay Lee catches a touchdown pass in front of Jarrod Harper and Daryl Worley. -- GETTY

Baylor's Jay Lee catches a touchdown pass in front of Jarrod Harper and Daryl Worley. -- GETTY

West Virginia realistic after blowout by Baylor

by • Coverage •

By NICOLE CURTIN

WACO, Texas — Few would have thought the October road schedule for West Virginia was going to be easy. Saturday supported that stance powerfully, as the Mountaineers lost to No. 2 Baylor, 62-38.

Dana Holgorsen, while obviously hoping to come out with a win, expressed more realistic expectations afterward.

“With the experience they have on offense, we can’t outscore them,” the coach said. “We’ve got to get them on a bad day, miss some throws and create some turnovers. Our game plan offensively (was) try to control the ball a little bit. I thought we did that decently in the first half.”

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Final: Baylor 62, West Virginia 38

by • Game previews •

By NICOLE CURTIN

WACO, Texas — Looking ahead to kickoff …

Game: West Virginia (3-2) vs. Baylor (5-0), 12 p.m., McLane Stadium

TV, radio: FOX, Variety 101

Online: GameTracker | Multimedia | Media notes

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Mike Johnston looks over his bench during the loss last week in Arizona. -- GETTY

Mike Johnston looks over his bench during the loss last week in Arizona. -- GETTY

Column: Johnston better win one of next two

by • Columns • , , , , ,

DEJAN
Brief and to the Point …

Mike Johnston’s job isn’t in immediate jeopardy, but the Penguins won’t wait long to make a move if the Ws don’t come mighty soon.

As in this week.

The Senators are on tap Thursday at Consol Energy Center, and they’re 3-1 with an NHL-high 16 goals. It might not qualify as a crime to lose to this opponent, even if Ottawa played the previous night in Columbus and should be tired.

But the same can’t — and undoubtedly won’t — be said if the Penguins lose this one and the next one Saturday when the completely rebuilding Maple Leafs visit. They’re 0-2-1 and expected to be one of the league’s worst teams, if not the worst. There won’t be many uglier ignominies here or anywhere in 2015-16 than losing to Toronto.

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