West Virginia

Mountaineers start strong, claim 31-21 victory over UCF in home finale – WV MetroNews

Published

1 year ago

November 24, 2024

Mountaineers start strong, claim 31-21 victory over UCF in home finale – WV MetroNews

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia had received the opening kickoff in every game this season and 17 straight dating back to last year.

That run came to an end in Saturday’s home finale against Central Florida after the Knights won the toss and elected to take the ball first.

It could’ve hardly worked out better for West Virginia, which managed to jump out to a 14-point lead in the opening quarter that helped set the tone in a 31-21 victory in the home finale of the 2024 season.

“We generated momentum at the start of the game,” WVU head coach Neal Brown said. “We had a touchback on the very first kick. That’s huge. We come out and force a three-and-out, and score, so it’s 7-0, and then they turn it over, and it’s 14-0. The game wasn’t really in jeopardy. They continued to keep it close, but there was never a time where you were like, ‘oh I don’t know if we’re going to win this.’”

With the result, WVU (6-5, 5-3) gains bowl eligibility, while the Knights (4-7, 2-6) are assured of a losing season.

West Virginia’s defense forced a three-and-out on the game’s opening series, before the Mountaineers drove 68 yards in eight plays to lead 7-0 on the first of two CJ Donaldson 1-yard rushing touchdowns.

Donaldson had runs of 20 and 31 yards earlier on the possession, the latter of which came on third-and-12 one play before he reached the end zone.

“He got in a little different mode and the offensive line did a good job of getting him to the second level,” WVU quarterback Garrett Greene said. “I like the matchup when it’s CJ versus the safeties.”

UCF threatened to answer and was faced with second-and-6 from the WVU 21, but redshirt freshman quarterback Dylan Rizk fumbled just outside the red zone and Mountaineer cornerback Dontez Fagan came up with the recovery.

The Mountaineers then marched 66 yards in 14 plays and doubled their lead on Jahiem White’s 3-yard touchdown run. All 124 yards over the Mountaineers’ first two series came by way of rush.

“The whole week, the point of emphasis was to be able to run the ball and for our defense to be able to stop the run,” Greene said. “They didn’t have a lot of answers in the first half for our run game.”

Following an exchange of punts, the Knights cut their deficit in half when talented tailback RJ Harvey eluded several defenders in the backfield after fielding a direct snap from the WVU 2 to score his 20th rushing touchdown this year.

The teams traded punts again shortly after, before the Mountaineers put together perhaps the most important possession of the game, moving 71 yards in 12 plays and scoring their third touchdown on Greene’s 12-yard pass to Rodney Gallagher on a third-and-goal play 15 seconds before halftime.

Donaldson gained the necessary yard on a fourth-and-1 run three plays before the score, while wideout Hudson Clement hauled in three passes for 53 yards on what marked WVU’s fifth possession. Greene had completed 2-of-5 passes for 5 yards prior to that series.

West Virginia took a 21-7 lead into halftime and added to the advantage on the first possession of the second half, which covered 56 yards in five plays and ended with Donaldson’s second TD run. The possession was prolonged by a pass interference on UCF that negated what was an incomplete pass on third down. White broke off a 35-yard run on the next play, and the Mountaineers were in the end zone for the fourth time two plays later.

“The middle 8 [last 4 minutes of first half and first 4 minutes of second half], we dominated that, and it was 14-0, and I felt like that was where the game was won,” Brown said.

Rizk threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to wideout Kobe Hudson on UCF’s second second-half series, bringing the Knights to within 14 with 5:38 left in the third quarter.

WVU countered with a 57-yard drive over 14 plays and added to its lead with Michael Hayes’ 35-yard field goal that made it a three-score game with 12:15 remaining. Perhaps most importantly, the series took 8:23 off the clock.

After Rizk was stopped for a 5-yard gain on a fourth-and-10 run from midfield, the Knights regained possession trailing by 17 with 7:08 left.

UCF marched 82 yards in seven plays and produced its third touchdown on Harvey’s 9-yard run, allowing the visitors to trail y 10 with 5:20 to play.

The Knights chose to try and get the ball back immediately with an onside kick, but WVU recovered.

The Mountaineers then kept the ball for all 5:19 that remained, getting separate fourth down conversions on a 10-yard pass from Greene to Robinson and an 18-yard pass from Greene to Clement.

“It’s a two-possession game and a field goal really doesn’t do anything for you, because they can score two touchdowns and beat you,” Brown said. “If you keep the ball, you have an opportunity to end the game. Anytime you have an opportunity to do that, we’re going to. The risk is lower than the reward.”

WVU finishes its home slate 3-4, but has an opportunity to go unbeaten in Big 12 road play with a win next Saturday at Texas Tech. That would also allow the Mountaineers to finish 6-3 in the league for a second straight season.

“People kind of overlook that, but it’s important to us,” Brown said.

Donaldson rushed 19 times for 96 yards, White added 54 yards on 12 carries and Greene totaled 49 yards on 18 attempts as the Mountaineers piled up 200 rushing yards.

“Coach [Chad] Scott and coach Brown get on me about running too high and getting my pads down to be a tough tackle,” said Donaldson, a 238-pound junior.

Greene completed 13-of-21 passes for 118 yards in his final home game. Clement had five catches for 81 yards.

Harvey rushed for 130 yards on 16 attempts and Rizk was 11-for-21 with 172 yards.

The Knights lost for the seventh time in eight games and are winless in four tries against the Mountaineers.

“There’s been tough times throughout the season, but what’s most important is that we stick together and block out the negativity,” WVU safety Anthony Wilson said. “They don’t see what we do day to day, the late nights and early mornings. We’re all we have and we’re all we need.”

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West Virginia

Op-ed: Building on progress – my dedication to West Virginia continues

Published

8 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Op-ed: Building on progress – my dedication to West Virginia continues

(A News and Sentinel Op-Ed – Photo Illustration – MetroCreativeConnection)

It has been the honor of my life to serve West Virginia as your United States Senator, fighting for the concerns of our communities and making sure the voices of West Virginians are heard loud and clear in Washington, D.C. As a lifelong native of the Mountain State, I know how diligent and determined the people of our state are, and they deserve representation that works as hard as they do. I’m proud to announce that I’m running for reelection in 2026 to continue my hard work on behalf of West Virginia in the U.S. Senate.

With President Trump’s endorsement of my reelection, it is my goal to continue working with him to deliver on America First policies that strengthen our country and state, ensuring that West Virginia always has a seat at the table.

Since I first came to the Senate, we’ve made significant strides in areas that matter most to West Virginians: strengthening our economy and lowering taxes, securing our borders, providing support for our veterans and law enforcement officers, connecting our communities with broadband access, unleashing American energy through our state’s vast natural resources, and fighting to protect the values, rights, and freedoms that matter most to our people. While these are important successes that I’m proud we’ve accomplished together, I believe there is much more work to be done.

I have risen in the ranks of Senate Republican leadership to the fourth highest position in the U.S. Senate and have never been in a better place than I am now to serve our state and to deliver for West Virginia. Through my leadership on the Senate Appropriations Committee, we have seen tremendous progress in responsibly delivering resources for West Virginia that strengthen our families, authorize critical research, and help local projects reach completion. As Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I have led the charge on investments into our state’s roads, bridges, and drinking water infrastructure, and fought for American energy dominance and those in West Virginia who power our state and our nation.

Every decision I make is steered by the perspectives and stories I hear from constituents along our main streets, in our classrooms, at small businesses, and around kitchen tables. Your concerns shape my priorities, and your resilience inspires my determination. As we move forward, I remain committed to hard work and transparent leadership that ensures your voice is always heard in the halls of Congress, and that West Virginia’s priorities are always put first.

The road ahead is not without challenges, and West Virginians can trust that I will continue to display proven, conservative leadership that meets our country’s most pressing issues head-on. I am dedicated to continuing the fight for solutions that reflect our shared values and protect the principles that matter most to our people, our families, and our communities.

I ask for your support once again, not just for my campaign, but for the work we can do together to build the future that West Virginians deserve. I have never taken for granted the trust that the people of our state have placed in me, and I look forward to earning your vote and continuing our work together in the U.S. Senate.

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West Virginia

West Virginia seeks Purple Hearts for two National Guard members

Published

20 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

West Virginia seeks Purple Hearts for two National Guard members

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WTAP) – Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Friday that the state has requested that the Purple Heart be awarded to the two National Guard members shot in Washington, D.C.

The Governor requested the Purple Heart to be awarded posthumously to U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed in the incident, and be awarded to Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was critically injured.

“Their actions on that tragic day meet the highest and clearest standards for the Purple Heart, a decoration that recognizes those wounded or killed in action against an enemy or during a hostile or terrorist act,” Morrisey said. “I could not think of two servicemembers more deserving of this award.”

Gov. Morrisey also reviewed broader work by the West Virginia National Guard and the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance during 2025.

The National Guard carried out overseas missions, including deployments to the Middle East and Europe, and operations along the U.S. Southwest border. The Guard also responded to two major flooding events in the state. In February 2025, more than 350 service members were mobilized across 14 counties, conducting swift-water rescues, distributing nearly 340,000 bottles of water and clearing more than 17,000 tons of debris.

A separate response to flash flooding in Ohio and Marion counties in June 2025 involved nearly 200 Guard members who cleared an additional 12,000 tons of debris.

When the federal government shut down in October, the National Guard helped ensure families had access to meals. One hundred sixty-four service members distributed more than 1 million pounds of food to over 400 food pantries.

The governor highlighted work by the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance. Services officers secured $5.4 billion in federal benefits for West Virginia veterans in 2025, an increase of $500 million from 2024.

The department also advanced facility modernization projects. The Veterans Home in Barboursville received upgrades to the kitchen, infirmary and HVAC systems.

Major renovations are underway at the Veterans Nursing Facility in Clarksburg, including construction of a new kitchen and installation of a modern nurse call system.

“Taking care of the common, everyday issues can make a huge difference in our everyday lives, and that’s just what Veterans Assistance is doing with these upgrades. Our veterans are fantastic people who don’t ask for much, and it’s great to see this great work being done on their behalf,” Gov. Morrisey said.

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West Virginia

More than 30,000 without power in West Virginia after strong winds overnight

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

More than 30,000 without power in West Virginia after strong winds overnight

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — A large portion of the Mountain State saw storms with gusty winds last night, which has resulted in several trees coming down across roads, thousands of power outages and schools being delayed and closed.

As of Friday morning, the WV 511 website displays multiple warnings of fallen trees and debris in roadways, including several in north-central West Virginia. Both Harrison and Marion County 911 logs show crews responding to several reports of trees down.

WV 511

The First Energy website also shows that a total of 36,688 of its customers are currently without power, with many still waiting for an estimated restoration time.

Due to these power outages, multiple schools throughout West Virginia have been delayed or closed for the day, including those in Barbour, Gilmer, Lewis, Marion, Ritchie, Taylor, and Upshur counties.

Regular trees weren’t the only ones forced down due to the winds. Christmas decorations, including the Bridgeport Christmas tree, were knocked over as well.