West Virginia
Iowa State football opponent preview: Loaded West Virginia offense will test Cyclones
Dual-threat quarterback Garrett Greene among key players back from 9-win season
Editor’s note: Sixth in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa State’s 2024 regular-season opponents.
AMES — West Virginia football coach Neal Brown not only saved his job, but also established goodwill after guiding the Mountaineers to their first season featuring nine wins or more since 2016.
West Virginia is poised to build off of that in 2024 — and will get to face Matt Campbell’s Cyclones in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers are loaded on offense. Dual-threat quarterback Garrett Greene (29 total touchdowns, four interceptions) returns, as do top running backs C.J. Donaldson and Jaheim White. That duo combined for 1,640 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns last season, making it one of the most potent in the Big 12 — although Donaldson has been injury-prone. Greene led West Virginia in rushing touchdowns with 13 last season, but he completed just 53 percent of his passes.
West Virginia must replace leading receiver Devin Carter, but the addition of Oklahoma State’s Jaden Bray via the transfer portal — along with a long list of talented returners — should help in that regard.
The Mountaineers’ offensive line is one of the best units in the Big 12. Senior tackle Wyatt Milum is the program’s lone preseason all-conference selection by the media.
So does West Virginia have a weakness? Possibly. The defense needed to rebuild at cornerback via the transfer portal and was middling last season (64th in scoring defense nationally, 68th in total defense). The Mountaineers led the league in sacks last season with 33 and should boast a strong pass rush again.
Iowa State vs. West Virginia: 3 things to watch
1. Can the Cyclones’ offense achieve balance? West Virginia’s defense was marginally better against the run than the pass last season and features playmakers at each level. ISU will need a blend of solid runs from Abu Sama and company and big passing connections from Rocco Becht and his cohort of pass catchers in order to keep up on the scoreboard.
2. How will ISU’s defense contain Greene? The Mountaineers are adept at springing big plays in the run game, so keeping Greene off balance will be critically important if the Cyclones want to have a chance to win this one. His inaccuracy through the air is offset by his efficiency (16 passing touchdowns to just four interceptions last season). Staying gap sound while still applying a strong pass rush will be key, as Greene is capable of breaking off runs of 10 yards or more frequently.
3. How does ISU’s defensive line find a way to thrive? The Cyclones are deep up front on the defensive side of the ball, but stars must emerge from that group. Seniors such as Joey Peterson and J.R. Singleton may be poised to take that next step, as are juniors Tyler Onyedim and Domonique Orange. Sprinkle in talented transfer edge rusher Kenard Snyder and others (including redshirt freshman Zaimir Hawk), and ISU’s D-line should at least hold its own against West Virginia’s burly offensive front.
Iowa State vs. West Virginia: 2024 prognosis
This matchup will likely come down to a key series or two. The team that commits the fewest turnovers will win in a game that should remain close into the final minutes.
Comments: robgray18@icloud.com
West Virginia
West Virginia Academy hosts 3rd Annual Fall Fest
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) -Friday afternoon Morgantown’s West Virginia Academy will be throwing it’s Third Annual Fall Fest. The event will take place at the Mon County Event Center, located at Mylan Park. For an event that officially marks the conclusion of the school year’s first term. WVA is the state’s first public charter school and has been recognized for their excellence both locally and nationally; and this afternoon they look forward to giving back to the community that’s helped establish them as one of the best schools throughout the wild and wonderful. The event will feature plenty of fall festivities such as games, pumpkin carvings, and even a scarecrow contest. Leaving school officials like, Heidi Treu, hoping to not only help celebrate the fall season, but also showcase their students in a big way.
” The biggest thing is that we want community members to see what we learn throughout the term. This is a chance for the students to show off . They create games of everything that they’ve learned from science to history, to even math stuff is in there. We like them to show off, but also to have some fun. We’ve got some Scarecrow’s; we’ve got some food. We’ve got some activities obviously, our Book Fair, everything like that. So, it’s really exciting.”
Although this afternoon’s event is completely free, there’s still ways to give back to the educators that put so much in to students everyday.
” Everybody knows that teaching is hard and it is day in, day out, really working hard. This is kind of their reward at the end of the term to get excited to see the kids in a new light. To have fun with the students at the very end of a long term. So, all of the proceeds go directly to our teachers. It goes to our Faculty Senate and just teachers. It’s not for administration or anything else and this is all their idea. They brought it in and anything that you see here when you purchase; it goes directly back into their pockets and in the classrooms.”
Apart of what makes fall fest special for those at WVA is the chance is gives to celebrate their students. Showing them how much they are appreciated and admired.
” It’s the growth of the students, we really have seen our students step up as leaders not only in the community, but in the school. It’s been wonderful to see them grow for these past three years and we can’t wait to see our first graduating class next year and see what they become. It has been really rewarding for me. We have had scarecrows in different areas of the building. Students have been opening doors and getting scared because the older kids like to put them on for the younger kids and scare them. So, I think they’re just excited to see the whole event and come and play. Last year it was very successful, lots of treats, lots of fun activities; and we expecting the same this year.”
Copyright 2024 WDTV. All rights reserved.
West Virginia
ESPN2 Broadcast Team Announced for West Virginia vs. Oklahoma State
Mike Monaco and Kirk Morrison will be on the call once again for this week’s West Virginia game against Oklahoma State on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. EST. This is the same broadcast duo that called the Backyard Brawl last month.
If you like offense, this game is likely going to be right up your alley. Oklahoma State does have one of the best running backs in all of college football in Ollie Gordon II although he’s yet to hit his groove. The Cowboys’ passing attack is one of the best in the country with a very experienced Alan Bowman at quarterback and some receivers that have produced at a high level throughout their careers such as Brennan Presley, Rashod Owens, and De’Zhaun Stribling.
West Virginia’s defense has had issues through the first month of the 2024 season defending the pass, allowing over 250 yards per game, but so has Oklahoma State. As a matter of fact, the Cowboys are allowing a full 20 yards more through the air than WVU. Bryan Nardo’s defense hasn’t been able to stop a thing ranking 15th in the Big 12 in pass defense and 16th (dead last) in run defense.
Buckle up folks, this one could feature a ton of yardage and points.
MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI
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West Virginia
WVU Extension’s Energy Express awarded grant to enhance literacy education in West Virginia
West Virginia University Extension’s Energy Express program has been awarded a $50,000 Sparking Early Literacy Growth grant, a statewide initiative to enhance literacy instruction for elementary-aged children. The grant was made possible by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
This funding will kickstart the creation of the Energy Express Literacy Leaders program. The Literacy Leaders program will engage up to 10 site supervisors who are certified teachers in an action research project that focuses on supporting and extending early elementary-aged students’ learning through a literacy activity plan.
“This grant will allow us to review and enhance our high-quality programming and instruction, as well as foster deep learning and creative exploration, thereby closing academic and opportunity gaps,” said Melissa Calabrese, director of Energy Express.
Throughout the grant cycle, Energy Express site supervisors will participate in monthly meetings and enroll in literacy education graduate coursework through WVU to become certified reading specialists. This initiative aims to empower site supervisors, deepen their understanding of effective literacy instruction practices, and foster community engagement and service learning within Energy Express.
Participants also will conduct a research project based on the Energy Express curriculum, looking at specific lesson plans. They will examine the plans to pinpoint activities that are effective and promote literacy, while also suggesting solutions to improve upon the current methods, to create the best possible learning environment. Each participant will cover a specific area of the lesson plan– like writing or art– and present their findings at the annual Energy Express conference next summer.
“Our site supervisors are already extraordinary teachers throughout West Virginia, and with support from this grant, they will become certified reading specialists, not only benefitting Energy Express participants but also their students during the school year,” said Calabrese.
Teachers must have their application endorsed by a school administrator or fellow teacher who will support their professional growth. Throughout the grant, this person will serve as a “thought partner” to exchange ideas and findings. This partnership will facilitate discussions and encourage feedback and research within and beyond their home schools.
Participants in this first cohort will share their findings during the June 2025 kickoff meeting with all Energy Express site supervisors and AmeriCorps members. They can then bring these insights to colleagues in their school to enrich the learning environment.
Energy Express is committed to addressing educational disparities in West Virginia. During the 2022-2023 academic year, only 44% of fourth graders in West Virginia achieved proficient reading levels, highlighting the urgency of comprehensive literacy interventions. This summer, Energy Express is hosting 48 sites in 26 counties, helping an estimated 2,000 children maintain and increase their literacy levels during the summer.
Energy Express is offered in various counties at select locations. To learn more about the program, visit extension.wvu.edu/energy-express. Contact your local WVU Extension office for more information about sites in your area.
If you want to learn more about WVU Extension, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow @WVUExtension on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.
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