.Michael Cohen.University Football and also College Basketball Author.MORGANTOWN, W.Va.-- As the officials transformed and encountered West Virginia's captains adhering to a position piece throw that had gone the home group's means, the words of senior safety Aubrey Burks resounded around Mountaineer Field courtesy of an umpire's microphone." Our team wish the ball," Burks mentioned in an instance of confidence that was actually transmitted throughout the video clip boards at either end of the stadium. "And also our team wan na go rating." When, two times, three times, Burks redoed himself until the referee pointed both sets of gamers toward the subsidiaries as kickoff came close to. The Mountaineers got here for Sunday's nationally televised opener overflowing along with peace of mind after finalizing the 2023 campaign with 5 victories in 6 video games, branded through a 20-point win over North Carolina in the Fight it out's Mayo Dish last December. A seminar file of 6-3 and also a total mark of 9-4 were enough to trigger optimism, enthusiasm as well as an arrangement extension for mind trainer Neal Brown.But choosing to receive the position first performed bit in West Virginia's journey to follow through on the intent Burks had actually therefore openly described. 4 things came and went prior to the Mountaineers collected any sort of aspects in all, and also even then, after turning the ball over twice in the first one-fourth alone, they opted for a meek basket. And basket were actually certainly never mosting likely to suffice versus a new-look, new-age Penn State offense that began to unlock the possibility of past top-notch quarterback Drew Allar (11-of-17 for 216 backyards and also three TDs). Under the direction of first-year repulsive planner Andy Kotelnicki, whom move trainer James Franklin plucked coming from Kansas, the Nittany Lions ultimately began to roar. There were actually part plays with the sky coming from Allar to wideouts Omari Evans (pair of catches, 55 backyards) as well as Harrison Wallace III (five catches, 117 yards, pair of TDs). There were actually portion use the ground along with tailbacks Nicholas Individual as well as Kaytron Allen. There were actually chunk use either side of a weather condition delay that always kept both groups in their closet spaces for 2 hrs, 19 mins between the 2nd and also third sectors. There sufficed piece participates in to send swaths of the 62,084 followers home long just before the final seconds elapsed.The 34-12 gain was actually everything Franklin and also Penn Condition could possess expected in a top-level opener against a Power-4 opponent. Listed below are some quick takeaways from Milan Puskar Stadium: Very early differenceA mistimed pop that seemed to get Allar by surprise on his crew's position belongings gifted the Mountaineers terrific industry setting simply outside the red area along with 10:38 continuing to be in the initial part. It was actually the first of 4 West Virginia drives that either started or even progressed inside the Penn State 30-yard collection during the course of the first 2 one-fourths, the integrated end results of which were merely six factors: a set of basket by twist Michael Hayes II from ranges of 38 lawns as well as 39 lawns, respectively. And each subsequent push that stopped working to produce a touchdown siphoned a little bit a lot more energy coming from what was, at the very least originally, a fairly raucous crowd.West Virginia's initial play after Allar's very early fumble swiftly declined into calamity when the breeze coming from center Brandon Yates attacked the activity guy as well as caromed deep right into the backfield, with Penn State inevitably tearing ownership off of quarterback Garrett Greene. The upcoming Mountaineering invasion right into Nittany Lions' region was obstructed by a neglected "tush guts" on fourth and brief as Greene was actually rebuffed at free throw line of skirmish. 2 added drives that got 98 mixed backyards all over the middle and second phases of the 2nd fourth stalled at the exterior edge of the red zone.Kotelnicki's outburst was actually much more deliberate along with each property that ventured in to West Virginia region. The Nittany Lions punctuated a 10-play, 71-yard march along with a 20-yard goal from Allar to Allen and also capped a three-play, 73-yard intestine drill when Allar zipped a beautiful throw to Wallace III for yet another score along with:06 remaining in the 2nd quarter, prolonging the Penn State cause 14. Drew Allar gets in touch with Harrison Wallace III who drags his feet for a TD, expanding Penn State's top over West Virginia Play of the gameOnly a fraction of the group stayed when play lastly resumed at 4:23 p.m. and the Nittany Lions leading by 14 points. For the West Virginia faithful that stayed-- each one of all of them having huddled underneath the bleachers for much more than pair of hrs of lightning and downpours-- it was actually understood merely how pivotal the opening possession of the third one-fourth would be actually. If Penn State got to the end zone as well as pressed its advantage north of 20, it was not likely the Mountaineers would certainly possess any opportunity to their back right into contention based on the anemic objectionable result from the 1st half.A set of 10-yard scrambles coming from Allar and an effective swing exchange running back Nicholas Singleton relocated the Nittany Lions around midfield along with loved one convenience. And that's when Singleton stressed Penn Condition's success with a 40-yard touchdown go through the center of West Virginia's defense. Two drawing linemen removed a course that left behind Individual untouched until he hit the third amount, where the flailing branch of protection Anthony Wilson Jr. was nowhere near adequate to reduce the acceleration. Individual dashed downfield as well as in to the end zone as Penn Condition's top swelled to an unbeatable 21-point margin. The one-two strike of Singleton and Allen combined for 167 rushing lawns (134 hurrying, 33 getting) and also pair of touchdowns.Key statOne of the steering elements behind Franklin's decision to go for Kotelnicki as his 6th outrageous coordinator in 11 times was because of the track record for explosive plays at Kansas, where the Jayhawks had actually turned into a high-octane assault under Kotelnicki's advice. During a three-year stretch coming from 2021-23, the Jayhawks rated 12th across the country in portion of plays getting a minimum of twenty gardens (8.3%) and 15th in portion of passing plays getting at least 30 backyards (3.9%). Kansas outperformed 40 aspects nine attend that span and covered 50 points 5 opportunities, even as irritating accidents to starting quarterback Jalon Daniels tested the outburst's adaptability.Those types of field-tilting gains revealed themselves early and also usually in Kotelnicki's debut versus West Virginia on Saturday, with Allar and also the team's top-level operating back duo shredding the Mountaineers in more methods, as well as phases, than one. Allar just required 11 completions to go over 200 passing lawns and also locate completion area 3 opportunities by means of the sky. Individual averaged nearly 9 gardens per proceed his first thirteen efforts, 2 of which got 40 backyards and also some of which discovered the end zone. Wallace exceeded 100 acquiring lawns for the very first time in his profession on simply five receptions.By the 8:13 result of the 4th quarter-- when the Nittany Lions started sending droves of data backups onto the field-- Kotelnicki's offense was actually still averaging an incredible 8.4 lawns every play.What's next for Penn State?Departing West Virginia with a carefully excellent street victory positions the Nittany Lions for a potential climb in the nationwide ranks in the arriving weeks. Not only are going to Penn Condition be actually a massive fave in its own next 4 activities versus Bowling Eco-friendly, Kent Condition, Illinois as well as UCLA-- the final two of which are actually event rivals-- however they likewise won't need to leave the friendly boundaries of Beaver Coliseum. A quartet of home days maintains the Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania till mid-October, whereupon they'll soar to California wherefore must be a high-profile competition with Huge Ten beginner USC. By then, Franklin's team should be actually 5-0 general, 2-0 in the organization and also directly in the chat to hit the University Soccer Playoff for the very first time as the layout extends to 12 groups. As well as if Saturday's annoying surge against the Mountaineers is actually any kind of sign of where Kotelnicki can easily take his device in the happening weeks, at that point it could be worth including Penn State in dialogues concerning reputable contenders for the Big 10 Championship and also the championship game. What's following for West Virginia?After an opener in which Penn Condition tossed for 199 backyards and 3 touchdowns in the initial half alone, the priority for Brown as well as protective organizer Jordan Lesley between now and Full week 2 ought to be actually strengthening a leaky additional. The Mountaineers ranked 86th nationally as well as 8th in the Major 12 in passing protection last season even with having an all-conference cornerback in Beanie Diocesan Jr., whose 24 successfully pases protected (4 INTs, twenty separations) led the nation. Yet Diocesan is currently betting the Pittsburgh Steelers, and also West Virginia's continuing to be sections struggled to decrease the Nittany Lions' downfield passing assault, specifically without the benefit of a viable elapsed surge. Northwestern transmission Garnett Hollis Jr., that drew the key assignment against Wallace, was actually beaten for a 17-yard finalization on a push that finished with Penn Condition hitting the end zone and also later on gave up a back-shoulder touchdown that cut the video game available shortly prior to halftime. West Virginia ought to have a simpler challenge next Saturday versus Albany.Michael Cohen covers university soccer as well as basketball for FOX Sports along with an emphasis on the Big Ten. Observe him at @Michael_Cohen13. [Want excellent tales provided straight to your inbox? Create or even visit to your FOX Sports account, comply with organizations, groups and gamers to get a personalized email list daily.] Observe Observe your faves to tailor your FOX Athletics expertise Get much more from College Football Follow your preferences to receive information concerning games, updates and also additional.