.Michael Cohen.College Football and University Baseball Author.MORGANTOWN, W.Va.-- As the officials switched as well as faced West Virginia's captains complying with an opening piece throw that had gone the home crew's means, the words of elderly protection Aubrey Burks echoed around Mountaineer Area thanks to an umpire's microphone." Our team want the ball," Burks stated momentarily of peace of mind that was relayed around the online video boards at either end of the arena. "And we wan na go credit rating." As soon as, twice, 3 times, Burks redoed themself till the referee aimed both sets of gamers toward the side projects as first moved toward. The Mountaineers got here for Saturday's across the country televised opener overflowing with confidence after shutting the 2023 project with five success in 6 games, stamped by a 20-point draw North Carolina in the Fight it out's Mayonnaise Dish final December. A conference record of 6-3 as well as a total mark of 9-4 were enough to spark confidence, pleasure and a contract expansion for mind coach Neal Brown.But choosing to receive the opening kickoff did bit in West Virginia's quest to follow up on the purpose Burks had actually so openly summarized. Four things reoccured prior to the Mountaineers rounded up any kind of factors in all, and also even at that point, after turning the sphere over two times in the very first fourth alone, they agreed to a meek field goal. And also basket were actually never ever visiting be enough against a new-look, new-age Penn State 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 outrageous coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, whom move instructor James Franklin picked coming from Kansas, the Nittany Lions ultimately started to rumble. There were portion plays via the sky from Allar to wideouts Omari Evans (2 catches, 55 backyards) and also Harrison Wallace III (5 catches, 117 lawns, two TDs). There were actually chunk plays on the ground with tailbacks Nicholas Individual and also Kaytron Allen. There were piece plays on either edge of a weather hold-up that maintained both groups in their locker rooms for 2 hrs, 19 moments between the 2nd as well as 3rd sectors. There were enough portion participates in to send out swaths of the 62,084 supporters home long prior to the last seconds elapsed.The 34-12 win was every thing Franklin and also Penn Condition can have wished for in a high-profile opener against a Power-4 challenger. Below are actually some easy takeaways coming from Milan Puskar Coliseum: Very early differenceA mistimed snap that appeared to catch Allar through shock on his team's opening things talented the Mountaineers terrific field posture merely outside the red area with 10:38 staying in the very first part. It was the first of four West Virginia drives that either started or even evolved inside the Penn State 30-yard product line during the very first 2 fourths, the incorporated outcomes of which were merely six points: a pair of field goals by secret Michael Hayes II from distances of 38 yards as well as 39 lawns, specifically. As well as each successive drive that failed to make a touchdown siphoned a little bit a lot more electricity coming from what was actually, a minimum of initially, a fairly raucous crowd.West Virginia's 1st play after Allar's very early fumble rapidly devolved in to catastrophe when the breeze from center Brandon Yates blew the movement guy and also caromed deep in to the backfield, along with Penn Condition inevitably ripping belongings off of quarterback Garrett Greene. The upcoming Mountaineering foray right into Nittany Lions' region was actually obstructed through a stopped working "tush push" on 4th and short as Greene was repelled at the line of scrimmage. Two extra pushes that obtained 98 incorporated backyards across the mid and also latter stages of the 2nd one-fourth slowed at the exterior edge of the reddish zone.Kotelnicki's offense was actually far more deliberate with each property that ventured in to West Virginia area. The Nittany Lions accented a 10-play, 71-yard march along with a 20-yard goal from Allar to Allen and topped a three-play, 73-yard intestine punch when Allar whized a gorgeous toss to Wallace III for another credit rating with:06 remaining in the 2nd quarter, stretching the Penn State trigger 14. Drew Allar associates with Harrison Wallace III who drags his feet for a TD, stretching Penn Condition's top over West Virginia Play of the gameOnly a fraction of the group stayed when play eventually resumed at 4:23 p.m. and also the Nittany Lions leading through 14 points. For the West Virginia faithful that continued to be-- all of all of them having cuddled below the bleachers for more than pair of hours of lightning as well as downpours-- it was comprehended just how crucial the opening ownership of the 3rd fourth would be. If Penn State hit completion area and pushed its conveniences north of 20, it was actually extremely unlikely the Mountaineers would have any type of possibility to scrape their back right into contention based upon the anemic offensive result coming from the very first half.A pair of 10-yard shuffles coming from Allar and also a successful swing exchange running back Nicholas Singleton moved the Nittany Lions around midfield with relative convenience. Which is actually when Singleton accented Penn State's victory along with a 40-yard touchdown go through the center of West Virginia's self defense. 2 pulling electrician got rid of a path that left Individual untouched till he hit the 3rd amount, where the smacking arm of protection Anthony Wilson Jr. was no place near enough to decrease the velocity. Singleton dashed downfield and also right into completion area as Penn Condition's top swelled to an impossible 21-point margin. The one-two blow of Individual and Allen incorporated for 167 hurrying yards (134 hurrying, thirty three acquiring) and also pair of touchdowns.Key statOne of the driving variables responsible for Franklin's choice to go after Kotelnicki as his 6th objectionable organizer in 11 periods was because of the reputation for explosive dips into Kansas, where the Jayhawks had actually developed into a high-octane attack under Kotelnicki's guidance. During a three-year stretch coming from 2021-23, the Jayhawks positioned 12th country wide in amount of plays obtaining at least twenty yards (8.3%) as well as 15th in portion of passing plays obtaining at least 30 backyards (3.9%). Kansas exceeded 40 aspects 9 attend that stretch and also covered fifty aspects five opportunities, even as bothersome personal injuries to starting quarterback Jalon Daniels assessed the outburst's adaptability.Those types of field-tilting increases exposed themselves early as well as frequently in Kotelnicki's debut versus West Virginia on Saturday, along with Allar as well as the group's high-ranking managing back duo shredding the Mountaineers in more techniques, and stages, than one. Allar merely needed to have 11 fulfillments to exceed 200 passing gardens as well as find completion area three opportunities through the air. Singleton balanced almost 9 gardens every continue his 1st 13 attempts, 2 of which gained 40 lawns as well as some of which found the end zone. Wallace beat 100 receiving yards for the first time in his job on simply 5 receptions.By the 8:13 mark of the 4th one-fourth-- when the Nittany Lions started sending out wents of data backups onto the industry-- Kotelnicki's outburst was still averaging an awesome 8.4 backyards every play.What's upcoming for Penn State?Departing West Virginia along with an extensively excellent roadway triumph places the Nittany Lions for a potential climb in the national ranks in the coming weeks. Not only are going to Penn Condition be actually a hefty preference in its own following four activities versus Bowling Eco-friendly, Kent Condition, Illinois and UCLA-- the last 2 of which are association rivals-- but they likewise will not must leave the pleasant limits of Beaver Arena. A quartet of home dates always keeps the Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania until mid-October, whereupon they'll soar to The golden state for what ought to be actually a prominent matchup with Large 10 newcomer USC. By then, Franklin's crew need to be actually 5-0 general, 2-0 in the organization and also squarely in the chat to reach the College Regulation football Playoff for the very first time as the format grows to 12 groups. And also if Saturday's offending surge against the Mountaineers is any kind of indicator of where Kotelnicki can take his unit in the coming weeks, then it could be worth featuring Penn State in conversations concerning genuine challengers for the Big Ten Championship and the championship game. What's following for West Virginia?After an opener in which Penn State threw for 199 gardens and 3 goals in the 1st one-half alone, the top priority for Brown and protective planner Jordan Lesley in between right now and Full week 2 should be actually solidifying a dripping additional. The Mountaineers ranked 86th across the country and eighth in the Large 12 in passing self defense final season even with having an all-conference cornerback in Beanie Bishop Jr., whose 24 successfully pases guarded (four INTs, twenty splits up) led the nation. But Diocesan is actually right now betting the Pittsburgh Steelers, and also West Virginia's remaining sections struggled to slow down the Nittany Lions' downfield passing strike, particularly without the perk of a realistic successfully pass thrill. Northwestern transactions Garnett Hollis Jr., who got the main task against Wallace, was hammered for a 17-yard conclusion on a drive that finished along with Penn State reaching completion zone and later surrendered a back-shoulder touchdown that cut the video game accessible quickly just before halftime. West Virginia should have an easier problem next Sunday versus Albany.Michael Cohen covers college soccer and also baseball for FOX Sports with an importance on the Big 10. 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