.Michael Cohen.University Regulation Football and also College Basketball Author.MORGANTOWN, W.Va.-- As the representatives transformed and also experienced West Virginia's captains following a position coin shake that had actually gone the home group's means, words of senior protection Aubrey Burks resounded around Mountaineer Industry thanks to an umpire's mic." Our team desire the ball," Burks pointed out in an instance of peace of mind that was actually transmitted across the video recording boards at either end of the stadium. "And also our company wan na go rating." The moment, twice, three opportunities, Burks redoed themself until the referee directed both collections of gamers toward the side projects as first came close to. The Mountaineers got there for Saturday's country wide televised opener brimming along with confidence after finalizing the 2023 initiative with five success in six activities, branded by a 20-point draw North Carolina in the Duke's Mayonnaise Bowl final December. A conference file of 6-3 as well as a total proof of 9-4 sufficed to stimulate optimism, enthusiasm and an arrangement expansion for head instructor Neal Brown.But deciding on to get the opening first performed bit in West Virginia's quest to follow through on the objective Burks had thus openly outlined. 4 possessions reoccured just before the Mountaineers rounded up any aspects at all, and also then, after switching the ball over two times in the very first one-fourth alone, they chose a lowly basket. And also field goals were actually never ever heading to be enough against a new-look, new-age Penn Condition offense that started to unlock the possibility of previous top-notch quarterback Drew Allar (11-of-17 for 216 yards as well as 3 TDs). Under the path of first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, whom head coach James Franklin plucked from Kansas, the Nittany Lions lastly began to holler. There were portion plays via the air from Allar to wideouts Omari Evans (pair of catches, 55 yards) as well as Harrison Wallace III (5 catches, 117 lawns, 2 TDs). There were actually chunk plays on the ground with tailbacks Nicholas Singleton and also Kaytron Allen. There were actually part plays on either edge of a climate problem that maintained each groups in their closet rooms for 2 hours, 19 moments between the 2nd and also 3rd regions. There sufficed chunk participates in to send out swaths of the 62,084 followers home long before the final seconds elapsed.The 34-12 succeed was actually every thing Franklin and also Penn Condition could possibly have anticipated in a high-profile opener against a Power-4 enemy. Below are some easy takeaways from Milan Puskar Stadium: Very early differenceA mistimed pop that seemed to find Allar through unpleasant surprise on his group's position things blessed the Mountaineers terrific industry position only outside the red region with 10:38 staying in the initial quarter. It was the very first of 4 West Virginia steers that either started or evolved inside the Penn State 30-yard series during the initial pair of one-fourths, the mixed outcomes of which were only six aspects: a set of field goals by twist Michael Hayes II from ranges of 38 yards as well as 39 yards, specifically. As well as each subsequent drive that fell short to create a goal siphoned a little bit a lot more power coming from what was, a minimum of initially, a relatively rowdy crowd.West Virginia's first play after Allar's very early fumble promptly declined into catastrophe when the snap coming from center Brandon Yates hit the movement male as well as caromed deep into the backfield, with Penn State at some point ripping ownership away from quarterback Garrett Greene. The upcoming Mountaineering foray into Nittany Lions' territory was actually obstructed by a neglected "tush guts" on 4th as well as brief as Greene was actually rebuffed at the line of scrimmage. 2 added drives that gained 98 blended yards all over the mid as well as last stages of the 2nd quarter stalled at the outer side of the red zone.Kotelnicki's offense was actually much more deliberate along with each things that ventured right into West Virginia area. The Nittany Lions accented a 10-play, 71-yard march with a 20-yard touchdown coming from Allar to Allen and covered a three-play, 73-yard intestine punch when Allar zipped a wonderful throw to Wallace III for another credit rating along with:06 staying in the 2nd one-fourth, prolonging the Penn State lead to 14. Drew Allar connects with Harrison Wallace III that drags his feets for a TD, expanding Penn State's top over West Virginia Play of the gameOnly a fraction of the crowd remained when play ultimately returned to at 4:23 p.m. and the Nittany Lions leading by 14 aspects. For the West Virginia faithful that stayed-- every one of all of them having actually cuddled beneath the bleachers for greater than pair of hrs of super and downpours-- it was know merely how crucial the position belongings of the 3rd one-fourth will be. If Penn Condition hit completion area and also pressed its benefit north of twenty, it was improbable the Mountaineers will have any kind of possibility to claw their in the past right into opinion based upon the anemic objectionable result coming from the very first half.A set of 10-yard scrambles coming from Allar as well as a productive swing exchange managing back Nicholas Individual moved the Nittany Lions all over midfield along with loved one simplicity. And that is actually when Individual stressed Penn State's victory with a 40-yard touchdown go through the middle of West Virginia's protection. Two pulling linemen cleared a path that left behind Singleton untouched up until he arrived at the third level, where the flailing branch of security Anthony Wilson Jr. was no place near enough to slow the acceleration. Individual competed downfield and into the end area as Penn State's top swelled to an overwhelming 21-point scope. The one-two punch of Singleton and also Allen mixed for 167 hurrying gardens (134 rushing, 33 getting) and 2 touchdowns.Key statOne of the driving factors responsible for Franklin's decision to go for Kotelnicki as his sixth repulsive coordinator in 11 periods was actually because of the online reputation for dynamite dips into Kansas, where the Jayhawks had actually become a high-octane assault under Kotelnicki's support. Throughout a three-year extent from 2021-23, the Jayhawks placed 12th across the country in percentage of plays obtaining at least 20 backyards (8.3%) and 15th in percent of passing plays getting a minimum of 30 backyards (3.9%). Kansas exceeded 40 points nine times in that stretch and topped 50 factors 5 times, also as nagging injuries to beginning quarterback Jalon Daniels examined the outburst's adaptability.Those kinds of field-tilting gains uncovered themselves early and also commonly in Kotelnicki's launching against West Virginia on Saturday, with Allar and also the team's high-ranking operating back duo shredding the Mountaineers in more methods, and also periods, than one. Allar just required 11 completions to go beyond 200 passing gardens and also find completion area three times with the sky. Singleton balanced virtually 9 yards every carry on his 1st 13 efforts, 2 of which got 40 yards and also one of which located completion region. Wallace outdoed 100 acquiring yards for the very first time in his career on simply five receptions.By the 8:13 mark of the 4th quarter-- when the Nittany Lions started delivering droves of data backups onto the area-- Kotelnicki's offense was still averaging an unbelievable 8.4 yards per play.What's upcoming for Penn State?Departing West Virginia along with a carefully remarkable road victory places the Nittany Lions for a possible climb in the nationwide rankings in the arriving weeks. Not simply will Penn State be actually a heavy fave in its following four video games against Bowling Green, Kent State, Illinois as well as UCLA-- the last two of which are conference rivals-- however they likewise won't must leave the helpful limits of Beaver Coliseum. A quartet of home times always keeps the Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania up until mid-October, whereupon they'll soar to California wherefore should be a top-level matchup along with Major Ten beginner USC. By then, Franklin's team should be 5-0 general, 2-0 in the organization and also directly in the conversation to arrive at the University Football Playoff for the first time as the format extends to 12 crews. And also if Saturday's offending explosion against the Mountaineers is actually any kind of indicator of where Kotelnicki can easily take his unit in the coming full weeks, then it could be worth consisting of Penn Condition in dialogues concerning valid challengers for the Big 10 Championship and also the national championship. What is actually next for West Virginia?After an opener in which Penn Condition tossed for 199 gardens and 3 goals in the initial half alone, the priority for Brown and protective organizer Jordan Lesley between now as well as Full week 2 need to be actually strengthening a dripping second. The Mountaineers stood 86th country wide and eighth in the Major 12 in passing defense last time even with possessing an all-conference cornerback in Beanie Bishop Jr., whose 24 elapseds fought for (4 INTs, 20 breaks up) led the nation. But Diocesan is now betting the Pittsburgh Steelers, and West Virginia's continuing to be corners had a hard time to slow the Nittany Lions' downfield passing strike, particularly without the perk of a worthwhile pass rush. Northwestern transfer Garnett Hollis Jr., who pulled out the main task versus Wallace, was beaten for a 17-yard completion on a drive that ended along with Penn Condition hitting the end region and also eventually relinquished a back-shoulder touchdown that broke the video game accessible shortly before halftime. West Virginia need to have a less complicated challenge next Saturday versus Albany.Michael Cohen deals with university soccer and also baseball for FOX Sports along with an importance on the Big Ten. 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