THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 13B
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014
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WVU seeks improvements during bye week
Oklahoma's Samaje Perine runs for a first down during the fourth quarter of the game against West Virginia in Morgantown, W.Va., on Sept. 20.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia fell flat late twice on a national stage over the first month of the season, and coach Dana Holgorsen wants to use a bye week to better position the Mountaineers for a solid run in the Big 12.
— an up-tempo offense that sometimes sputters and the occasional meltdowns on defense and special teams.
Coming off a 45-33 loss to No.4 Oklahoma, Holgorsen will work on some of the same problems that have plagued the Mountaineers for years
Avoiding those meltdowns could make the difference between competing in the Big 12 and becoming the first West Virginia team in 22 years not to go to a bowl in back-to-back seasons.
In two double-digit losses, the Mountaineers stayed close most of the game with No. 3 Alabama in the season opener and with Oklahoma.
homa until after the Sooners had scored three touchdowns. The Mountaineers had turnovers on two of their six second-half possessions.
"In order for us to be able to win that game against a Top 5 opponent, then we needed to be able to score a couple more touchdowns, which we didn't," Holgorsen said. "Why? I don't know. It's a whole bunch of
things — not making guys miss, not finishing blocks, not calling the right plays."
"The teams that we're going to be playing are going to continue to improve, so we need to do the same thing."
Nobody was happy about coming up a little bit short a couple games against what I consider the best two teams in the country," Holgorsen said. "With that said, we can't feel sorry for ourselves or pout. We have to move forward."
of former longtime Penn State assistant Tom Bradley and a switch to a 3-3-5 scheme.
"I do like what the attitude is." Holgorsen said. "I like how they're attacking everything that we're asking them to do."
The Mountaineers have allowed touchdowns on punt or kickoff returns the last two games. There also have been mixed results on defense following the promotion of Tony Gibson to defensive coordinator — the team's fourth in four years — along with the hiring
The offense amassed more than 600 yards in wins over Towson and Maryland, then couldn't find the end zone in the second half against Okla-
Despite shutting out Towson, the Mountaineers are allowing 29 points and 404 yards per game, both among the worst in the Big 12. West Virginia is one of only 12 teams nationally that has yet to recover an opponents' fumble.
At least Holgorsen believes the problems can be fixed. That has to do with his roster being older and more mature compared to last year when the Mountaineers went 4-8.
After the Mountaineers intercepted Trevor Knight in Oklahoma territory in the third quarter, Clint Trickett threw an interception on West Virginia's ensuing possession.
"One play doesn't make the difference in a game," Holgorsen said. "It did, however, suck the momentum out of everybody at that point in time, which is unfortunate."
APPLICATIONS
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DATE: 2023-07-14
The Mountaineers (2-2,
0-1 Big 12) are off until Oct. 4 when they play Kansas in Morgantown. The Jayhawks snapped a 27-game Big 12 losing streak in last year's 31-19 win.
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"Miserable performance," Holgorsen said. "I've been watching it for two days and want to puke."
Thornton scores 2 goals,
Sharks top Canucks 5-2
STOCKTON, Calif. — Joe Thornton scored two goals, and Nikolay Goldobin and Barclay Goodrow each had a goal and an assist to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in a split-season preseason matchup Tuesday night.
The Sharks gave the crowd plenty to cheer about in their first game in Stockton. San Jose dominated and outshot Vancouver 34-12.
Joe Pavelski, San Jose's leading scorer last season, also had a goal. Dylan DeMelo had an assist on each of the Sharks' final two goals.
Thornton began a three-goal flurry by the Sharks in the second period, rushing the net to beat goalie Jakob Markstrom. He also scored San Jose's final goal midway through the third.
Goldobin, San Jose's first-round pick in this year's draft, completed San Jose's second-period run by beating goalie Joacim Eriksson with a slick wraparound.
Goodrow was set up by Goldobin eight minutes earlier, sending Markstrom, to the bench.
Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS
San Jose Sharks' Nikolay Goldobin celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game Sept. 23 in Stockton, Calif.
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