The first quarter was exciting, then it got boring as hell:
Steve Slaton’s speed and Maryland’s sloppiness turned No. 5 West Virginia’s first anticipated test of the season into a laugher.
Slaton rushed for 195 yards and the Mountaineers forced two turnovers in a 28-0 first-quarter blitz on the way to a 45-24 victory over the Terrapins on Thursday night.
Slaton, a sophomore, scored twice in the opening quarter of his first career action against Maryland, the school that offered him a scholarship, then withdrew it.
Pat White threw for a TD and ran for another while Darius Reynaud scored twice, including a 96-yard kickoff return, for the Mountaineers (3-0), who extended their winning streak to 10 games, second in the nation to TCU’s 12 in a row.
Pretty dominating performance by the Eers.
craigie
This post is a metaphor for something, isn’t it?
Nikki
I saw this on this morning’s news and promptly thought of you, John, and how you must be gloating. The morning anchor stated how the Terrapins made a huge mistake withdrawing Slaton’s scholarship after trying to force him to play another position. During the post-game interview, he tried to be humble about the win, but then burst out laughing with glee. Can’t say I blame him. Terrapins football has been pretty crappy for quite some time.
Buck
The first quarter brought back horrible memories of last years Sugar Bowl. The first beer was still cold and it was 28-0.
I was proud that the Dawgs scratched and clawed and made a game of it but the bottom line was that we too got our ass kicked.
Louisville is all that stands between West Virginia and an undefeated regular season. I think the only question is which BCS Bowl ya’ll will play in.
Vince Lombardi
Yes it’s a metaphor. John punts more Oakland.
Tony Alva
Yep, my Terps looked pretty bad out there. College football is a funny game like that. Three years ago, the mighty turtles were beating the snot out of the Eers on a regular basis with one of your cast aways at QB and now they struggle to win five games a season. The single factor making the difference: QB, or the lack there of (your schedule is pretty weak too).
We’re Georgia Tech seasons ticket holders and the Jackets are suffering from the same problem. If GT had a solid QB, they’d be in the running (massive defensive power), but they have an “also ran” QB too. My Terps are even worse off (an abundance of inexperience on both sides of the ball AND no QB leadership).
The hidden truth about Slaton was that he couldn’t meet UM’s rigorous academic standards so he opted for a WV after hearing that there were a few professors up there that’d let him slide if they’d vow to post favorable comments on their blogs… Who said that?! Darrell, are you back?
:-p
Punchy
National Championship asperations…
I’ve never seen a team so friggin DOMINANT in their running game. Just amazing.
Sstarr
Punchy,
Didja see the 1996 Nebraska – Florida Fiesta Bowl?
Punchy
I meant recently. Of course the mid 90s Nebraska teams were great…hell, running was like 80% of their offense back then. But nowadays so many schools are balanced, or even promoting the West Coast (like 2006 NE), that one rarely sees such an obvious, yet effective, running game.
They will have trouble with Brohm (sp?) and Co. from Louey, but without Bush, they’re a weakened team. I don’t know how effective WV’s secondary will be against such a wickedly accurate passing game, but should they get past Louey, they really have few opponents aside from Pitty and a HUGELY improved Rutgers that could beat them.
Of course, they’ll get less pub than Notre Damn and O-Suck, so it’s very possible their doughnut in the loss column will be ignored and they’ll find themselves in the Chik-fil-et Bowl in Walla Walla…
Davebo
Yeah, tell it to TCU.
Longest running winning streak in the nation and they get no love.
Andrew
This may be the most on topic snark ever.