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Virginia
West Virginia Housed in Orlando, Remain Winless in Big 12
West Virginia received its fourth-straight beatdown after UCF hammered the Mountaineers (2-5, 0-4) for a homecoming win Saturday afternoon 45-13 at the Acrisure Bounce House, the first WVU loss in the five-game series history against the Knights (4-3, 1-3).
The Mountaineers had lost by an average margin of 26.3 through their first three Big 12 Conference games and were hoping to begin the back half of the season with a much-needed win, following a bye week and against a fellow winless Big 12 foe.
“We stunk in every phase, in every way,” West Virginia University head coach Rich Rodriguez said. “I thought we had a good week in practice. I’ve done this a long time – I thought the guys were ready to play. We didn’t do anything well – Looked slow, out of position, missed tackles, didn’t block. Hell, [we] had two holding penalties on draw plays. That should never happen. Again, poorly coached, poorly executed, poorly played, poorly everything.”
Rodriguez opted to start freshman Scotty Fox Jr. ahead of redshirt freshman Khalil Wilkins, who started in the previous outing against BYU.
“Just trying,” Rodrguez said. “Got to give everybody a shot and do it based on what they’ve done in the game, but also what they’ve done in practice. I’ve got to make a decision based on practice and to have the two young guys, the only guys that are healthy are the two young guys. So, Scotty got the first shot based on practice the last two weeks, but it’s a lot on them. It’s a lot on them more when the pieces around them aren’t helping,”
Fox and the offense struggled to find footing on the first three possessions. The longest drive went 33 yards on 10 plays and ended after failing to convert fourth and 13 at the UCF 36.
While West Virginia was searching for its offense, UCF scored on its first two drives of the game. The Knights offense started their day from their own three-yard line. Nonetheless, the first play was a 39-yard run from redshirt senior running back Myles Montgomery. Five plays later, redshirt junior Tayven Jackson connected with redshirt senior receiver Chris Domercant for a 40-yard touchdown pass and the 7-0 lead.
Jackson and the Knights, again, made quick work of the defense on the second drive. He hit junior receiver Duane Thomas Jr. for 25 yards before Domercant for the 34-yard touchdown pass in the back of the endzone for a 14-0 edge.
“I got to find out why we had so many guys so wide open,” Rodriguez stated. “I know one time we were supposed to have a deep safety in the middle of the field, and we didn’t, and I think it was the second touchdown of the game. It should never happen. So, there were some breakdowns there. Why it happened, I got to find out why. We played really poorly as poorly as we played defensively of I’ve had a team play defensively in a long, long time. Our guys are pretty consciousness – coaches and they’ll do what they can to fix it.“
After UCF failed to convert on a fourth and one from its own 39, Wilkins entered the game and immediately gave the Mountaineers a threat in the running game. Back-to-back keepers produced 27 yards, then scrambled six yards to cap five-play drive to cut the lead in half as the defense held the Knights scoreless in the second quarter to trail 14-7 at halftime. Wilkins finished the half with 58 rushing yards.
UCF opened the second half with a 92-yard touchdown drive. Jackson had three completions for 60 yards and redshirt senior running back Jaden Nixon finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run. Jackson finished the day 23-34 for 277 yards and two touchdowns.
“Three drive started inside the 10-yard line, and they scored,” Rodrigeuz said. “We missed some tackles. Looked slower if that’s the right word. Weren’t playing as fast as we needed too. The execution part, the scheme part we will have to look at. It was not a good effort from any facet.”
On West Virginia’s opening possession of the second half and facing a third and eight, Wilkins was hit from behind, stripped, and redshirt senior linebacker Keli Lawson for the 32-yard scoop and score and the rout was on.
Nixon finished with a game-high 116 yards and two touchdowns with the bulk of producing from an explosive 83-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to stretch the UCF lead, 35-7.
West Virginia produced a mere 63 total yards in the quarter and never recaptured the little momentum from the second quarter. Wilkins was held in check to just five yards before Fox re-entered the game.
“I don’t think we sustained blocks as well… Their defense got off blocks better than our defense did. I don’t’ know if we challenged them enough like we needed to. From a schemed standpoint we got to look at that,” Rodriguez said.
UCF tacked on 10 points in the fourth quarter, receiving three points on a 51-yard field goal from Redshirt senior Noe Ruelas and backup redshirt freshman quarterback Davi Belfort led the Knights 72 yards on his only drive of the day with a one-yard run for a 45-7 advantage.
West Virginia found the end zone for the final time after redshirt senior safety Jordan Walker intercepted the pass from redshirt junior Brock Hansel and returned it 31 yards to the one-yard line.
The Mountaineers would not make easy. On the first play, a botched snap, was recovered at the 20. A 19-yard completion put WVU back at the one before redshirt freshman running bac Diore Hubbard punched it in and the missed extra point put the final score at 45-13.
MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In this world of college football, with the transfer portal and recruiting battles, bad blood is present more than ever before between head coaches.
That’s not the case between the Virginia Tech head coach and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, however. In fact, Franklin revealed at ACC Kickoff on Thursday that the two are actually close friends, dating back to their time at the Nike trip that various coaches take over the summer.
“Dabo’s my guy,” Franklin said on Thursday. “We go way back. We’ve been on the Nike trip for a long time. His wife and my wife are friends.”
The long-time Penn State head coach is making the move to the ACC after being fired from the Nittany Lions in October. 12 seasons of being with the program had Franklin hold a 44-21 record against top 10 opponents, an impressive record for a new conference foe of Swinney’s.
But when that trip comes around, there’s a camaraderie between Swinney and Franklin and both of their wives. In fact, the two hang out with each other instead of the other coaches at times. It simply comes to an “edgy” time in college athletics that raises tempers.
“I’m going to be honest, I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily like the type of people that love a lot of other coaches and a lot of other programs,” Franklin said. “It’s hard when you just compete year-round.”
On Swinney’s end, there are a few who could immediately come to mind among Clemson fans. Perhaps the most recent would be Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who played the most significant role in the tampering of former linebacker Luke Ferrelli.
It’s a select list of coaches who make the good side of the Tigers’ head coach, and Franklin is certainly on that list. On the other hand, Hokies’ head coach has Swinney on his own shortlist.
“Obviously, tremendous respect for what he has built at Clemson and what he’s done at Clemson, and what he’s done for the ACC,” he said.
The two will see that close relationship face off at Memorial Stadium this upcoming season. Clemson will host the Hokies on Oct. 24 in what could be a potential title-eliminator for the ACC Championship.
Of course, the last game that we’ve seen the Tigers play in was against Franklin’s former team in Penn State at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. That game ended in a 22-10 contest that saw a foundation of Franklin players end Clemson’s season in disappointment.
Swinney will see many of those players once again in October, including starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, in that contest. The anticipated Hokie starter recorded 260 yards and two passing touchdowns on the Tigers in the Bronx that day.
Although friends become foes, another ACC coach has given Swinney his flowers for what he’s been able to do for the conference. In the upcoming moments, Franklin will look to prepare his team to prove itself on one of the biggest stages in the ACC, while Swinney looks to put his team back at the top of a conference he’s dominated for over 15 years.
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Extreme drought conditions in parts of Virginia have prompted an emergency drought warning for a wide swath of the region, including Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties, along with the cities of Danville, Roanoke, Salem and Martinsville.
The governor has warned that if conditions worsen, she will activate mandatory nonessential water-use restrictions.
In Martinsville, city leaders have issued a voluntary water conservation notice and are urging residents and businesses to cut back where they can. The request comes as local businesses that rely heavily on water say the drought is already affecting day-to-day operations.
SEE ALSO: Botetourt County residents adjust daily routines as voluntary water restriction continues
John Hughes, owner of John’s Car Wash, said the dry conditions have hit his business hard in recent weeks. “For the last 3 weeks, it’s been hitting pretty hard. We done three yesterday and haven’t done anything today with the drought and hot weather. Yeah, I’m really concerned about it,” Hughes said.
Restaurants are also feeling the strain. David Kitzmiller, an owner of Be Wiched, said water is essential for routine tasks such as washing dishes and preparing some menu items.
“We use a lot of water for washing dishes and some of our recipes if they limit us in anyway defiently can’t produce and its a scary aspect,” Kitzmiller said.
Kitzmiller added that cutting back is not always realistic for businesses that must meet sanitation needs. “Not really feasible for a business that depends solely relies on water to wash their dishes, so that can’t definitely be an impact there,” he said.
City leaders emphasized that the conservation request is voluntary for now, but they are encouraging everyone to do their part by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when it is not in use, washing only full loads of laundry, and limiting outdoor watering whenever possible.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Five people were charged after Virginia Beach Police conducted a two-day human trafficking and vice operation on July 3, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
The department’s Special Investigations Bureau conducted the operation, which was aimed at identifiying human trafficking victims, reducing the demand for commercial sex and targeting individuals seeking to exploit or recruit children for prostitution.
Detectives used many investigative techniques to proactively identify individuals involved in criminal activity related to prostitution, human trafficking and offenses against children. The operation was conducted in Virginia Beach, involving personnel from all of the bureau’s squads.
As a result of the operation, five people were identified and charged with offenses ranging from solicitation of prostitution to sex trafficking and crimes involving minors. Two vehicles and U.S. currency were seized during the operation. Other people were connected to victim services through Samaritan House.
The operation led to the following people being charged:
- Shane Carter, 28, of Norfolk, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.
- Robert Harris, 64, of Virginia Beach, was charged with solicitation of prostitution and assault and battery.
- Larry Pittman, 53, of Portsmouth, was charged with sex trafficking and use of electronic devices to facilitaate certain offenses involving minors.
- Kenric Frazier, 46, of Portsmouth, was charged with sex trafficking, use of electronic devices to facilitate certain offenses involving minors and solicitation of child pornography.
- Cameron Lewis, 24, of Norfolk, was charged with solicitation of prostitution.
Investigators also developed leads about people who are suspected of trafficking and exploiting others for commercial sex. Those are now active and ongoing investigations. There may be more charges and arrests pending further investigation and consultation with the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
If you’re a human trafficking victim or know someone who is, you can report it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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