.Michael Cohen.University Regulation Football and also University Basketball Article Writer.MORGANTOWN, W.Va.-- As the representatives switched and also faced West Virginia's captains complying with a position coin toss that had actually gone the home team's technique, words of elderly protection Aubrey Burks echoed around Mountaineering Industry thanks to an umpire's microphone." Our company yearn for the ball," Burks claimed in a moment of confidence that was actually relayed throughout the online video boards at either end of the stadium. "As well as we wan na go rating." When, two times, 3 times, Burks redoed himself until the referee aimed both collections of gamers toward the sidelines as first approached. The Mountaineers got there for Sunday's country wide aired opener overflowing along with confidence after shutting the 2023 initiative with 5 victories in six activities, marked through a 20-point win over North Carolina in the Fight it out's Mayonnaise Bowl final December. A meeting file of 6-3 as well as a general symbol of 9-4 were enough to spark positive outlook, exhilaration and also a contract expansion for head train Neal Brown.But selecting to get the opening kickoff performed little bit in West Virginia's journey to follow up on the intention Burks had therefore publicly described. Four things came and went before the Mountaineers mustered any type of aspects in all, and also also at that point, after switching the ball over two times in the 1st quarter alone, they agreed to a lowly field goal. And basket were actually never mosting likely to be enough against a new-look, new-age Penn State outburst that started to open the potential of previous top-notch quarterback Drew Allar (11-of-17 for 216 backyards and also three TDs). Under the path of first-year annoying planner Andy Kotelnicki, whom head train James Franklin picked from Kansas, the Nittany Lions eventually began to roar. There were part plays by means of the air coming from Allar to wideouts Omari Evans (2 catches, 55 lawns) and Harrison Wallace III (5 catches, 117 gardens, 2 TDs). There were actually part use the ground with tailbacks Nicholas Singleton and also Kaytron Allen. There were actually portion use either edge of a weather hold-up that maintained each teams in their locker spaces for 2 hrs, 19 minutes between the 2nd and also 3rd zones. There sufficed portion plays to send swaths of the 62,084 followers home long before the last few seconds elapsed.The 34-12 succeed was everything Franklin as well as Penn Condition could possibly have anticipated in a high-profile opener against a Power-4 opponent. Below are some fast takeaways from Milan Puskar Stadium: Very early differenceA mistimed snap that showed up to find Allar through surprise on his staff's position possession gifted the Mountaineers great area position simply outside the red area along with 10:38 continuing to be in the very first region. It was the very first of four West Virginia drives that either began or advanced inside the Penn State 30-yard collection during the course of the first 2 quarters, the blended results of which were actually just 6 factors: a pair of field goals by kicker Michael Hayes II from spans of 38 gardens as well as 39 lawns, specifically. And each succeeding push that fell short to make a goal siphoned a bit extra electricity from what was actually, at the very least actually, a fairly rowdy crowd.West Virginia's initial play after Allar's early fumble promptly degenerated in to calamity when the piece of cake coming from center Brandon Yates blew the movement male and also caromed deep right into the backfield, with Penn State ultimately tearing belongings out of quarterback Garrett Greene. The upcoming Mountaineer venture in to Nittany Lions' region was actually foiled by a neglected "tush guts" on fourth and quick as Greene was actually rejected at the line of skirmish. Pair of additional pushes that gained 98 incorporated lawns around the middle as well as second stages of the second one-fourth slowed at the exterior edge of the red zone.Kotelnicki's outburst was much more deliberate with each property that ventured in to West Virginia territory. The Nittany Lions accented a 10-play, 71-yard march with a 20-yard touchdown from Allar to Allen as well as covered a three-play, 73-yard digestive tract drill when Allar zipped a gorgeous throw to Wallace III for one more score with:06 remaining in the 2nd fourth, extending the Penn Condition cause 14. Drew Allar associates with Harrison Wallace III that grabs his feet for a TD, prolonging Penn Condition's top over West Virginia Play of the gameOnly a portion of the crowd stayed when play finally resumed at 4:23 p.m. as well as the Nittany Lions leading through 14 factors. For the West Virginia faithful that remained-- all of all of them having actually snuggled beneath the bleachers for more than two hours of lightning and also torrential rains-- it was know only exactly how pivotal the opening possession of the third one-fourth would be actually. If Penn State arrived at completion area and also pressed its own perk north of twenty, it was extremely unlikely the Mountaineers will have any chance to their way back into contention based upon the anemic outrageous outcome coming from the very first half.A set of 10-yard shuffles from Allar and also an effective swing pass to running back Nicholas Individual relocated the Nittany Lions across midfield with loved one convenience. Which's when Individual punctuated Penn State's triumph along with a 40-yard touchdown go through the middle of West Virginia's protection. 2 pulling electrician removed a path that left Singleton untouched up until he got to the 3rd degree, where the flailing branch of safety and security Anthony Wilson Jr. was actually nowhere near adequate to reduce the velocity. Individual competed downfield and in to the end region as Penn State's lead swelled to an impossible 21-point margin. The one-two hit of Individual and also Allen blended for 167 hurrying yards (134 hurrying, 33 getting) and two touchdowns.Key statOne of the steering elements behind Franklin's choice to go for Kotelnicki as his 6th annoying organizer in 11 seasons was actually due to the track record for dynamite plays at Kansas, where the Jayhawks had actually developed into a high-octane attack under Kotelnicki's guidance. Throughout a three-year extent coming from 2021-23, the Jayhawks ranked 12th nationally in percentage of plays obtaining at least 20 gardens (8.3%) and 15th in percent of passing plays acquiring at least 30 lawns (3.9%). Kansas exceeded 40 factors 9 attend that span and covered fifty factors five times, even as unpleasant injuries to starting quarterback Jalon Daniels checked the outburst's adaptability.Those sorts of field-tilting increases disclosed themselves early as well as frequently in Kotelnicki's debut versus West Virginia on Saturday, with Allar and the group's high-ranking running back duo shredding the Mountaineers in additional ways, as well as periods, than one. Allar simply needed to have 11 completions to go over 200 passing backyards and locate completion region three opportunities with the sky. Individual averaged almost 9 gardens per continue his first thirteen attempts, two of which obtained 40 lawns and also among which located the end area. Wallace exceeded one hundred getting gardens for the first time in his profession on just five receptions.By the 8:13 result of the fourth quarter-- when the Nittany Lions started sending droves of back-ups onto the industry-- Kotelnicki's offense was still balancing an amazing 8.4 yards per play.What's following for Penn State?Departing West Virginia with a thoroughly impressive road triumph positions the Nittany Lions for a possible climb in the nationwide positions in the coming full weeks. Certainly not only are going to Penn Condition be a hefty favorite in its next four activities versus Bowling Environment-friendly, Kent Condition, Illinois and UCLA-- the last two of which are event rivals-- but they additionally will not must leave the helpful confines of Beaver Coliseum. A quartet of home dates always keeps the Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania until mid-October, at which point they'll fly to The golden state of what should be actually a top-level matchup along with Major 10 newbie USC. By then, Franklin's group should be 5-0 overall, 2-0 in the organization as well as straight in the conversation to get to the University Soccer Playoff for the first time as the layout extends to 12 teams. As well as if Saturday's repulsive blast versus the Mountaineers is any type of indicator of where Kotelnicki can easily take his device in the happening weeks, then it may be worth featuring Penn Condition in discussions concerning genuine contenders for the Big 10 Championship and also the national championship. What's upcoming for West Virginia?After an opener through which Penn Condition tossed for 199 yards and also 3 goals in the initial fifty percent alone, the concern for Brown as well as defensive organizer Jordan Lesley between right now as well as Week 2 need to be solidifying a leaking secondary. The Mountaineers ranked 86th across the country and also eighth in the Huge 12 in passing protection final time even with possessing an all-conference cornerback in Beanie Diocesan Jr., whose 24 passes protected (four INTs, 20 breakups) led the nation. However Bishop is right now betting the Pittsburgh Steelers, and also West Virginia's staying corners battled to slow the Nittany Lions' downfield passing attack, specifically without the perk of a practical successfully pass rush. Northwestern transactions Garnett Hollis Jr., that pulled out the major assignment against Wallace, was beaten for a 17-yard finalization on a drive that finished along with Penn State hitting completion zone and also later on relinquished a back-shoulder goal that cut the game open quickly before halftime. West Virginia need to have a less complicated difficulty next Sunday versus Albany.Michael Cohen covers university volleyball as well as basketball for FOX Sporting activities along with a focus on the Big 10. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13. [Want excellent accounts delivered right to your inbox? Make or even visit to your FOX Athletics account, comply with games, groups and also players to receive an individualized bulletin daily.] Adhere to Follow your preferences to tailor your FOX Athletics knowledge Obtain more coming from College Football Follow your favorites to receive relevant information regarding games, headlines and additional.