WVU Has Hands Full With Experienced ISU
Mountaineers coming off first win in a month
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MORGANTOWN -- For the West Virginia University football program, the first win in more than a month came at the right time.
Dating back to Sep. 18, last week's victory over TCU finally put the brakes on the Mountaineers' three-game skid.
But it's more than just a tick in the win column. The bye week two weeks ago, followed by last week's victory, represents a rejuvenation for West Virginia. A momentum shift. An increased vigor for a bowl game push.
Carrying that energy into this weekend's game is likely high on the team's list of priorities, considering that the Mountaineers haven't beaten this week's opponent, Iowa State, since 2017. The No. 22 Cyclones come to Morgantown this week in the midst of a three-game win streak, most recently besting No. 8 Oklahoma State a week ago.
The game kicks off at 2 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.
"I think we're catching them playing their best football of the year," head coach Neal Brown said. "They're a team that gets better; much has been said about their October record."
Iowa State was among the top teams in the Big 12 last season, playing for a conference championship at season's end. To the disdain of the Mountaineers, many of the Cyclones' key players from that 2020 run are still around and have helped the team enter this week with a 5-2 record.
Among the threats on defense is redshirt junior Will McDonald IV, an agile defensive end who sacked WVU quarterback Jarret Doege twice when the two teams met last season. With fellow lineman Eyioma Uwazurike, who is tied with McDonald for the team lead in sacks this season, the play of the Cyclones' defensive line has been a crucial contributor to Iowa State's current rank as the Big 12's top defense.
"What makes them great on defense, and what has made them great, really, since I've been in the league, is their defensive line," head coach Neal Brown said.
"They've got a minimum of two NFL players up there. McDonald is as good a pass rusher as (there is) in our league ... [Uwazurike] is a load. His presence was definitely felt against us last year."
A stout defensive line is supplemented by a handful of playmakers elsewhere, including 2020 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and All-American Mike Rose, among others.
There's no shortage of weapons offensively, either. Running back Breece Hall anchors the Cyclones' backfield, currently with 818 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.
Hall was the Big 12's leading rusher last season and was considered by many to be a Heisman Trophy contender. While he has been overtaken as the conference rushing leader this season, Hall is still seen as one of the nation's premier running backs.
"He's really patient," defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley said. "He holds, and when he accelerates through the seam of the gap that he has, he's as good as anybody at, No. 1, the speed of that, and, No. 2, breaking tackles. Keeping his shoulders square, getting downhill. Normally a guy like that is strictly a power guy, but Breece is good in space."
Despite the successes of Hall and the offense, Iowa State ranks No. 6 in the conference in scoring offense. Still, with many of the catalysts behind Iowa State's 42-6 win over WVU last season still in the picture, vengeance is on the mind of many in the Milan Puskar Center.
"(It's) helpful to know that they're pretty good," quarterback Jarret Doege said. "You just gotta go prepare really well."